Underserved and Under-treated Save

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Speaker bios:

Daric Mueller, PA-C
Daric Mueller PA-C has practiced at a private rheumatology clinic, Shores Rheumatology, in St. Clair Shores, MI since 2019. He also holds a monthly rheumatology/ophthalmology uveitis co-management clinic at Associated Retinal Consultants in Royal Oak, MI. He received his Masters of Physician Assistant Studies from The University of Detroit Mercy in 2019. He serves as an adjunct professor for the Michigan State University PA program. He is a member of the Rheumatology Advanced Practice Providers (RhAPP). His main professional interests include managing conditions which involve interdisciplinary management such as inflammatory myopathy, sarcoidosis, and spondyloarthritis. He is a former collegiate and semi-professional lacrosse goalie and still enjoys playing weekend leagues and tournaments.

Lindsay Tom, PA-C
Lindsay Tom, PA-C, is a physician assistant at Northern Virginia Center for Arthritis, where she has spent the last six years practicing rheumatology. Prior to transitioning to rheumatology, she practiced as a physician assistant in gastroenterology, which strengthened her understanding of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases across organ systems. She earned her undergraduate degree from The George Washington University and her master’s degree from South College. Lindsay is a provider at a busy rheumatology practice and also serves as a mentor through multiple programs. She additionally is a speaker and published author with experience presenting locally, regionally, and nationally. She is a strong advocate for the role of APPs in rheumatology and has contributed multiple written pieces highlighting their value in patient care.

Iris Zink, NP
Iris Zink, NP has been a rheumatology Nurse Practitioner since 2000. She is one of a handful of Certified Rheumatology Nurse Practitioners by the American Nurses Credentialing Center in the United States. She is the past president of the Rheumatology Nurses Society where she was president from 2015 to 2017. She has served on the Rheumatology for Advanced Practice Provider (RHAPP) steering committee. She has traveled extensively lecturing on a variety of topics pertaining to arthritis, women and auto immune disease, laughter for healing as well as intimacy and chronic disease. She has published articles on topics about patient care and intimacy. In March of 2020, she co-authored the book Sex Interrupted: Igniting Intimacy while living with illness or disability. She is adjunct faculty at Wayne State University and Grand Valley State University and a passionate teacher, lecturer, and caregiver. Iris Zink has found a way to use humor to educate on tough topics that impact individuals’ lives. In 2016, Iris Zink and her husband Chris Title, Nurse Practitioner, opened the first Early Arthritis Specialty Clinic in Michigan. Iris and Chris have opened their rheumatology practice to serve the underserved. They are one of three clinics in the state of Michigan that accept Medicaid and uninsured patients.

Elizabeth Kirchner, DNP
Elizabeth “Betsy” Kirchner, DNP is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She earned her undergraduate degree in English Literature and Medieval Studies from Ohio Wesleyan University, her Master of Science in Nursing from Case Western Reserve University, and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from The Ohio State University. Dr. Kirchner has been a member of the Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation since 2000. She is board-certified in Rheumatology Nursing, and is a co-founder and past co-President of RhAPP (Rheumatology Advanced Practice Providers). Dr. Kirchner has published numerous articles and book chapters and has spoken at select national and international meetings.

Vanessa Hill, NP-C
Vanessa Hill, NP-C started her career at the University of Alabama at Birmingham 20 years ago as a research coordinator in Rheumatology then earned her Master’s Degree in 2009. She has been a Rheumatology NP since that time. While working at UAB, she has had the opportunity to precept many nurse practitioner students and managed to win many over to Rheumatology and they have each continued their careers in Rheumatology as well. In the past, she had the pleasure of serving on the board for the Rheumatology Nurses’ Society and currently serves as faculty for the RhAPP organization.

Barbara Slusher, MSW, PA-C, DFAAPA, DipACLM
Barbara Slusher, MSW, PA-C, DFAAPA, DipACLM is a Physician Associate with Hope Health in rural South Carolina, where she delivers whole-person care by integrating her background in social work with her medical training. With over 19 years of rheumatology experience and board certification in Lifestyle Medicine, she is passionate about advancing patient and community health through evidence-based, holistic approaches.

Christine A. Stamatos, DNP, ANP-C
Christine A. Stamatos DNP, ANP-C has been a Rheumatology Nurse Practitioner (NP) since 2002 when she graduated from Stony Brook University, completing a post master’s certificate as an adult NP. Since then, she has completed a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with research focused on non- pharmacologic strategies for chronic pain. She received her bachelors of Nursing from Georgetown University and a Masters of Science in Nursing in Trauma/ Critical Care from the University of Maryland at Baltimore She is also actively involved in the American College of Rheumatology as an active volunteer throughout the college and is a Past President of the Association of Rheumatology Professionals, currently serving on the Workforce Solutions Committee with a goal of increasing access for patients living with rheumatic disease. Throughout her career, Christine has made significant contributions to the care and education of critically ill and rheumatology patients and their families while serving in the Army Nurse Corps, Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland, the Washington Hospital Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, and several Rheumatology private practices over the past twenty years, most recently Northwell Health, Division of Rheumatology. Additionally, Christine has worked as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland, Columbia Union College, Stony Brook University School of Nursing and currently Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. Dr. Stamatos has published and lectured extensively in the area of critical care and rheumatology nursing for the past 30 years. She is currently the Director of the Fibromyalgia Long Covid Wellness Clinic at Northwell Health, a Division of the Katz Institute for Women’s and the Division of Rheumatology. This program is based on an integrative health delivery model with patients and their families at the center to address the biopsychosocial needs of living with chronic pain and fatigue through evaluation, education, treatment and social support.