Welcome to RheumMadness 2024: Practically Perfect
RheumMadness is a FREE educational tournament for everyone who is crazy about rheumatology. The project is funded by a Clinician Scholar Educator Award from the Rheumatology Research Foundation and inspired by a similar project in nephrology called NephMadness.
Our theme for RheumMadness 2024 is “Practically Perfect,” and we’re on the hunt for absolute gems among recent articles vying to be named “the most practically useful article in the tournament.” These aren’t just your run-of-the-mill reads; they’re the ones you’ll want to keep handy in your back pocket for real-world applications in clinical practice.
How to Play RheumMadness
- Read "scouting reports" reviewing each team in the tournament (click for links to the reports). You can also find links to the reports when filling out your bracket.
- Click "Submit Your Picks Now" to fill out your bracket. You will be asked to register so we can keep track of your scores. IT IS FREE to submit a bracket. Brackets must be entered before March 20, 2024 at 11:59pm ET.
- Enjoy the tournament! The tournament results will be released in 4 rounds from March 21 through March 28, 2024.
Want to learn more? Click here to watch a quick explainer video about RheumMadness.
How are matches determined?
The winner of each match-up is decided by a 7-member "Blue Ribbon Panel" of rheumatologists. The panel will vote based on which topic they think is the most practically useful article in the tournament. The more your picks match those of the panel, the more points you get! Scroll down to learn more about the panel.
What do I get if I win?
Participants with the most correct predictions will "win" RheumMadness. Prizes will be given to participants with the top scores in the following categories: (1) Attending / APP, (2) Fellow, and (3) Resident / Medical Student. The prize is a custom RheumMadness coffee mug and a lifetime of bragging rights. But really, everyone wins in RheumMadness because you get to connect, collaborate, compete, and learn together.
Other ways to connect with RheumMadness
- Subscribe to the RheumMadness newsletter.
- Join the conversation on X, formerly known as Twitter using #RheumMadness.
- Explore even more RheumMadness content our website.
RheumMadness on theMednet!
The RheumMadness team is excited to announce continued collaboration with theMednet.org for our 2024 tournament. theMednet is a physician only site providing a space for physicians to tackle difficult clinical questions and see how colleagues are practicing. theMednet will be featuring select Q&A relevant to articles in our 2024 tournament and will provide a space for further discussion and polling around clinical application. Register here for a free account with full access to the site and RheumMadness content!
The 2024 Blue Ribbon Panel
This panel of distinguished rheumatologists will vote to determine which teams advance in the tournament. The more your predictions match those of the panel, the more points you will get in the tournament! Learn more about our panelists below.
- Sarah Bayefsky, MD, is a combined adult and pediatrics rheumatology fellow at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania. Follow on X at @SarahBayefskyMD.
- David Bulbin, DO, is a rheumatologist at Geisinger in Pennsylvania, where he also serves as Program Director of the Geisinger Adult Rheumatology Fellowship Program. Follow on X at @NeonFloRheum.
- Noelle A. Rolle, MBBS, is Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia, where she also serves as Associate Program Director of the MCG Adult Rheumatology Fellowship Program. Follow on X at @noellealicia242.
- Didem Saygin, MD, is Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, where she specializes in inflammatory myopathies. Dr. Saygin was a founding member of the RheumMadness leadership team in 2021. Follow on X at @DidemSayginMD.
- Rachel Tate, DO, is a rheumatologist practicing in Palm Beach, Florida. In March 2024, she will transition to a new role as an Autoimmune Disease Medical Director for Novartis. Follow on X at @uptoTate.
- Donald Thomas, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR, RhMSUS, is a rheumatologist at Arthritis and Pain Associates of PG County, MD. He is author of the Lupus Encyclopedia. Follow on X at @lupuscyclopedia.
- Kenneth Warrington, MD, is Professor of Medicine and Chair of the Division of Rheumatology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Follow on X at @MdWarrington.
The RheumMadness Leadership Team
Our leadership team is comprised of attendings, fellows, residents, and medical students from multiple different institutions.
Faculty Leadership
- David Leverenz, MD, MEd is the creator and director of RheumMadness. He is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology.
- Akrithi Udupa Garren, MD is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Medstar / Georgetown Washington Hospital Center.
- Guy Katz, MD is an Instructor in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.
- Iman Qaiser, MD is a a rheumatologist at Choctaw Nation
- Lisa Criscione-Schreiber, MD, MEd is an advisor and mentor for RheumMadness. She is a Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology.
- Matthew Sparks, MD is the creator of NephMadness and serves an advisor and mentor for RheumMadness. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology.
Fellow Leaders
- Laura Arneson, MD is a rheumatology fellow at Northwestern
- Lauren He, MD is a rheumatology fellow at the University of Michigan.
- Ben Kellogg, MD is a rheumatology fellow at Duke University.
- Michael Macklin, MD is a rheumatology fellow at the University of Chicago.
Resident Leaders
- Meridith Balbach, MD is an internal medicine resident at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
- Amanda Rodriguez, DO is an internal medicine resident at Lankenau Medical Center
- Sabahat Usmani, MD is a chief resident at Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago
- Eric Wilson, MD is an internal medicine resident at Duke University
Medical Student Leaders
- Courtney Bair is a medical student at Duke University School of Medicine.
- Ben Lueck is a medical student at Duke University School of medicine.