Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship

About the program

The Fellowship Program in Pediatric Rheumatology is a three-year program designed for physicians trained in pediatrics and selected on the basis of excellence in their credentials and training programs.

Our program combines a one-year clinical experience followed by at least two years of scholarly work, which can include advanced training in basic, translational or clinical research, while continuing a longitudinal patient care experience. The program is led by a broadly experienced faculty who will train physicians to be pediatric rheumatologists and leaders in pediatric rheumatology.

Fellowship training program director

Jay Mehta, MD, MSEd
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Leonard and Madlyn Abramson Pediatric Research Center
Division of Rheumatology
3615 Civic Center Boulevard - Room #1102
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4399
215-590-2547
mehtaj@chop.edu

The history, expertise and compassion that make Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia unique are also what makes it the best place for medical trainees.

Fellowship goals

The key goals of the fellowship program are to:

Develop collaborative clinical care expertise

To lead the comprehensive care of children with rheumatic diseases.
To incorporate the role of medical and allied healthcare professionals in patient care.
To understand the role of community resources in the care of children with rheumatic diseases.
To work within interdisciplinary teams.

Foster independent basic science, translational and clinical investigation

To offer formal post-doctoral course work in basic science, translational and clinical research.
To provide mentoring to develop and complete innovative and feasible research projects.
To ensure academic achievement by rigorously supervising academic progress.

Invest in the future of pediatric rheumatology

To promote management skills for independent direction of a rheumatology team, including formal participation in divisional quality and patient safety initiatives.
To solidify research skills to further independent research careers.
To foster mentoring skills to educate subsequent trainees.
To cultivate leadership skills to advance the field of pediatric rheumatology.

Unique information about the program

An independent Division of Rheumatology was established in 1999 within the Department of Pediatrics. In 2000, the American College of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited the Rheumatology Fellowship Program. We have fifteen pediatric rheumatology faculty members and two fellowship slots available each year. Our faculty are actively engaged in both basic and clinical investigation, and have a longstanding commitment to Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance's (CARRA) efforts. Additionally, CHOP Rheumatology has a long-term involvement in participation and leadership within the Pediatric Rheumatology Care & Outcomes Improvement Network (PR-COIN) Network.

Fellows and nurses celebrating National Nurses Week

Clinical training occurs in our busy outpatient clinic, as well as on the inpatient side with both our primary rheumatology service and a robust consult service. CHOP not only serves as the main pediatric care site for much of Philadelphia, but also welcomes patients from throughout the mid-Atlantic region, the United States, and the world. We conduct four multi-disciplinary clinics which fellows actively participate in, the Uveitis Coordinated Care Clinic, the Lupus Integrated Nephritis Clinic, Rheumatology-Dermatology Clinic, and the Immune Dysregulation Clinic. In addition to these, we have an Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain Multidisciplinary Clinic which is available for interested fellows. Rheumatology clinicians are supported by 5 nurses and 2 social workers, including a dedicated lupus social worker.

Fellows practicing their ultrasound skills

Musculoskeletal ultrasound, arthrocentesis, and intraarticular corticosteroid joint injections are commonly performed. In addition to clinic-based training, fellows enroll in ultrasound educational offerings at the ACR Annual Scientific Conference or at the CARRA Annual Conference. We currently have two ultrasound devices for use in our clinic, which has enhanced our diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities.

Pediatric rheumatology has a strong clinical and research relationship with the University of Pennsylvania Division of Adult Rheumatology. We have shared conferences, and pediatric fellows attend adult clinics in their first year. Importantly, we have shared funding opportunities and developed a Medicine-Pediatrics Rheumatology Fellowship.

Specific information by years and/or rotation

First year

Fellows become proficient in the history, physical exam, differential diagnosis, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment of pediatric rheumatic diseases. Sensitivity to psychosocial aspects of chronic illness is emphasized.

First year fellows split the year between our inpatient and outpatient services, and spend 16 weeks on our recently developed longitudinal rotation, which includes experiences in our multidisciplinary clinics, adult rheumatology clinics, and other subspecialty clinics. First year fellows have a once-weekly continuity clinic in which they follow patients for whom they are the primary rheumatologist.

The fellows share night and weekend care with the pediatric rheumatology attending. Additionally, the fellows prepare multidisciplinary conferences and take a major role in teaching residents and students rotating through the service.

During the first six months, under the mentorship of the faculty, the fellows consider available research training opportunities. In the second half of the first year, the fellows develop an appropriate research training plan and identify a research mentor.

Second and third year

Clinical responsibilities during the second and third years consist of a longitudinal patient care experience in continuity clinic and 4-6 weeks of inpatient service. Fellows are encouraged to take advantage of a number of opportunities to further their teaching skills with CHOP residents, Penn medical students, and other hospitals within the region.

The majority of time in the second and third years is devoted to research training — a critical component of the fellowship program. Fellows interested in basic/translational science may enroll in courses offered through the UPENN Graduate Program in Immunology and work as a post-doctoral fellow in their mentor’s laboratory. Fellows planning on a career in clinical research can enroll in the two-year Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology (MSCE) Program at the UPENN Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB).

Those seeking formal training in translational research may enroll in the two-year Masters in Translational Research (MTR) Program.

If you have other scholarly interests, please let us know so we can connect you with opportunities across the extensive CHOP and Penn campuses.

Didactic program

Division chair holding an impromptu teaching session in the fellow workroom

Each week, faculty and fellows participate in a 60-minute didactic session, and a 60-minute inpatient and outpatient case discussion. Our didactic curriculum is designed on a three-year cycle to ensure that fellows have exposure to outstanding CHOP and UPenn faculty with diverse expertise. Dr. Mehta reviews the Petty Textbook of Pediatric Rheumatology chapters each week with the first-year fellows.
Fellows lead a journal club with guidance from faculty.  Major current or recent manuscripts in basic or clinical investigation relevant to rheumatic diseases as well as seminal articles are prioritized.  Fellows receive feedback on their knowledge of the content in the manuscript and their analysis of study methods.
Fellows participate in all divisional QI activities. Fellows learn improvement methodology and tools to systematically shepherd projects through define, diagnose, test/implement, and sustain phases. We actively participate in the Pediatric Rheumatology Care & Outcomes Improvement Network (PR-COIN), which focuses on QI training and improvement activities.  One fellow has the opportunity to attend each biannual PR-COIN conference.  Fellows have access to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) curriculum, and a resident/fellow QI lecture series.
We augment didactic sessions with interdisciplinary conferences with Radiology, Nephrology, Dermatology, Neurology, and UPenn Rheumatology.  With guidance from attendings, fellows organize case presentations during these interdisciplinary conferences.  Additionally, fellows are encouraged to attend the weekly Immune Dysregulation and monthly Interstitial Lung Disease interdisciplinary conferences.
CHOP and, specifically, our division have a strong interest in helping fellows and faculty identify and address health disparities. We have a four-part didactic series, including 1) The role of implicit bias in patient care; 2) rheumatology health disparities and social determinants of health; 3) Using QI methodology to address healthcare disparities; 4) Communication skills for a diverse patient population.
At the start of fellowship, we conduct a series of lectures focusing on major pediatric rheumatic diseases, therapeutics, laboratory testing and imaging, and how to be an effective consultant pediatrician. In addition, fellows attend the Immunology Lecture Series. Led by Dr. Behrens and Dr. Canna and taught by leading basic investigators, this 10-lecture curriculum covers innate and adaptive immunity and prepares fellows to understand the pathophysiology of rheumatic diseases and rational choice of disease modifying and biologic therapies.
Fellows are encouraged to participate in the Department of Pediatrics Fellowship Core Curriculum with a variety of fellows from across the institution. 
Fellows are encouraged to integrate opportunities for patients and families to participate in clinical research (trials, national registries, ongoing interventional and non-interventional studies) in the everyday clinical care setting.

Department of Pediatrics Fellows’ core curriculum

The Department of Pediatrics organizes a common core curriculum for all fellows at CHOP. Fellow Core Curriculum will cover multiple topics relevant to all pediatric subspecialty fellows, including professional development. Core Curriculum begins with sessions during the Departmental New Fellow Orientation and continues with multiple offerings throughout the year. Topics included include:

Quality Improvement Methodology
Half day retreats by year of training
Orientation First Year: Time management, Fatigue mitigation, Introduction to CHOP and Penn, Wellbeing, Tips and Tricks to Success as a Fellow; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Spring First Year: Grant funding, Mentee-Mentor Relationship, Research Design, Advanced library skills
Second Year: Leadership, Communication skills, Presentation, Health Care Disparities, Teaching skills
Fall Third Year – Success in the Job Search: Job search overview, interview skills, CV and Cover letter workshop,
Spring Third Year – Transition to Attending: Leadership skills, Work-life integration, Time management, Billing, Life-long learning, Personal Finance

These sessions occur multiple times per year and offer the added benefit of allowing fellows from different subspecialities an opportunity to engage and network over the course of their training at CHOP. Additional educational and community building events are offered by the Fellows Association (FA). The FA is a volunteer organization that is comprised of multi-disciplinary senior fellows and a faculty advisor. The FA’s mission is dedicated to representing the interests of subspecialty fellows at CHOP and to promoting the continuous improvement of their training experience.

More information about the Department of Pediatrics Graduate Medical Education office, Fellow Core Curriculum and the Fellows Association can be found at the following website.

General information on outcomes of fellows

Faculty and fellows honoring Dr. David Sherry in his classic attire

The CHOP Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship is designed to allow graduates the flexibility to seek the career of their choice. Most graduates seek academic positions at tertiary care centers.

In addition to the fourteen graduates who currently hold faculty positions at CHOP, recent graduates have positions at Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, Riley Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Atlanta, Dell Children’s Hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center, University of Utah, Boston Children’s, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Lurie Children’s Hospital at Northwestern, Children’s Hospital of Alabama at UAB, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Mayo Clinic, University of California San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Golisano Children’s Hospital at the University of Rochester, Children’s Mercy Kansas City, the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, University of Michigan, and the University of Kentucky.

About the faculty

Edward Behrens, MD (Division Chief): Ed first discovered his passion for Pediatric Rheumatology during his medical school rotation in the Division at CHOP in 2000. It was so awesome that he never left. Now as chief, he aspires to lead the Division to provide the same incredible training experience he was fortunate to receive.  His research interests include Toll-like Receptor and cytokine biology, particularly as they relate to cytokine storm syndromes. Dr. Behrens started the CHOP Immune Dysregulation Program. When not at work he enjoys duplicate contract bridge, playing the trombone, and watching The Office with his daughter.

Jay Mehta, MD (Fellowship Program Director): Jay came back to CHOP after 5 years away after fellowship. He was drawn back to CHOP by the incredible fellows, faculty, and resources (both clinical and research) that are here. Nationally, he serves as the Vice President for CARRA. Jay's fun fact: he won a car on an episode of Wheel of Fortune in high school, but sadly lost the evidence when he left the VHS tape on top of a toaster oven in college. When not at CHOP, Jay loves exploring Philly restaurants with his wife, throwing spontaneous dance parties with his daughter, and watching Premier League soccer and cheering on the Philadelphia Union with his son.

Melissa Lerman, MD, PhD, MSCE (Associate Fellowship Director): Melissa moved to Philadelphia for medical/graduate school, completed her pediatrics residency and fellowship in rheumatology at CHOP, and has been on the faculty since 2011. Dr. Lerman is a full-time clinician at CHOP and is the assistant Fellowship Director for the division.  Her particular clinical and research focus is in uveitis. Along with an ophthalmology colleague, Dr. Stefanie Davidson, she co-founded and co-directs the Uveitis Coordinated Care Clinic.  She is also actively involved in the Uveitis Study Group of the Childhood Arthritis & Rheumatology Research Alliance. She is particularly interested in using, and helping others to perform, MSK ultrasound. Dr. Lerman, her husband and two children are committed city dwellers who love the ability to walk or bike almost anywhere.  She looks forward to introducing new fellows both to rheumatology and to Greater Philadelphia.

Jon (Sandy) Burnham, MD, MSCE (Clinical Director): Sandy has lived in Philly since coming to medical school at Penn in 1993. After completing his training at CHOP, he joined the Rheumatology faculty in 2004, served as Fellowship Director from 2013-2019, and is now the Rheumatology Clinical Director. He is currently involved in numerous quality improvement activities within CHOP focusing on treat-to-target approaches in juvenile idiopathic arthritis and developed the Lupus Integrated Nephritis Clinic (LINC). LINC is a multidisciplinary clinic that launched in 2018 and includes rheumatology, nephrology, social work, and psychology providers.  Nationally, he is a member of the Pediatric Rheumatology Care and Outcomes Improvement Network (PR-COIN) Executive and Steering Committees, and co-leads its Outcomes Committee.  He is co-leading PR-COIN’s efforts to deploy a treat-to-target approach across its centers in the United States and Canada.  He enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, and in his free time can be found playing squash or tennis, taking photographs, cheering for the Phillies, barbecuing, and fly fishing.

Pam Weiss, MD, MSCE (Director of Clinical Research): Pam joined the rheumatology faculty in 2008 after completing her training at CHOP. She directs the Rheumatology Research Core, which supports recruitment for studies involving children seen in the clinic. With advanced training in clinical epidemiology, her work focuses on patient-oriented investigations in children with inflammatory arthritis, including spondyloarthritis (SpA), psoriatic arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease-associated arthritis. Her areas of research expertise include epidemiology, pharmacoepidemiology, biostatistical methods for observational studies, and clinical trials. She serves as the Clinical Futures’ Associate Co-Director for Clinical Trials and leads the CHOP Clinical Trials Research Affinity Group. Pam enjoys mentoring trainees who are enthusiastic about pursuing research careers. Outside of work, Pam loves cooking (especially spicy food), gardening (flowers and spicy peppers are favorites), skiing, and spending time with her family (including her 2 dogs).

Sabrina Gmuca, MD, MSCE: Sabrina joined the faculty in 2017 after completing her fellowship training at CHOP and an MSCE degree at Penn. She cares for patients in both our rheumatology and AMPS clinic. Sabrina is a core faculty member in Clinical Futures and PolicyLab at CHOP.  Her research interests are neurocognitive impairment in adolescents with juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome and the role of resilience among youth with chronic musculoskeletal pain syndromes. Her current work, conducting a randomized controlled trial of a resilience coaching program for youth with chronic musculoskeletal pain, is supported by a K23 from NIAMS. She and her husband enjoy taking their dog and daughter on long walks and hikes out in the burbs.

Lehn Weaver, MD PhD: Lehn is a former graduate of the CHOP Rheumatology Fellowship with a particular interest in the basic immunologic mechanisms driving systemic inflammation in autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. He enjoys spending time with his wife and 2 children, coaching and playing sports with Carter and Annabelle, mountain biking, and planning the next family adventure.

Emily Liebling, MD: Emily completed her fellowship at CHOP in June 2020. She currently cares for patients at the CHOP Specialty Care Center in Princeton-Plainsboro, NJ. Her clinical interests lie in uveitis, particularly JIA-associated uveitis. She is a born and bred New Yorker and completed residency training at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, but now calls Philadelphia home. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family (at home and at work), being the brunt of divisional jokes, reading, exploring Philadelphia museums, and being a champion board gamer.

Beth Rutstein, MD, MSCE: Beth completed medical school, residency, and fellowship in Philadelphia at UPENN/CHOP. She has a particular interest in the infectious complications and vaccination recommendations for immunosuppressed patients and is always happy to field any vaccine-related questions you may have. She is an 100% clinician and thinks that clinic is the best! She mostly sees patients at the Brandywine Valley CHOP Specialty Care Center but has also recently started a joint rheumatology/dermatology clinic twice monthly at CHOP main campus. She loves to share her awesome and interesting patients with her trainees at both locations. At home, she has a rambunctious and opinionated 3-year-old boy as well as a new baby boy born in April 2024. In her free time, she mostly just tries to keep her kids alive, but also tries to work in some long runs whenever possible.

Scott Canna, MD: Scott was born in the Philly suburbs but trained in Baltimore, DC, Denver, Philly (as a CHOP rheum fellow), Bethesda, and Pittsburgh before returning home as faculty in 2021. He is clinically focused on providing exemplary care to immunologically complex patients as part of the CHOP Immune Dysregulation Program. Dr. Canna has been studying mechanisms of autoinflammation and hyperinflammation since 2005 and has led a translational research program since 2016. He also enjoys geeking out about immunology with fellows, embarrassing his two daughters, and testing his mettle in the outdoors. He is an insufferable advocate of bike commuting and thinks you should be too. 

Malki Peskin, MD: After completing medical school, residency, and fellowship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the Children's Hospital at Montefiore in Bronx, NY, Malki recently made the big move down to Philly to begin as an academic clinician here at CHOP. Her clinical interests include lupus, particularly patients with lupus nephritis. Her research interests include quality improvement work, specifically focused on improving medication adherence among adolescents with rheumatologic disease. When not at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 children, running, spinning, and finding the best coffee shops. Malki sees patients on the main hospital campus as well as at the CHOP specialty care center in Princeton-Plainsboro, NJ.

Julia Rood, MD, PhD: Julia joined the faculty in 2024, after completing her MD/PhD at Penn and clinical training at CHOP. She discovered her love for pediatric rheumatology while pursuing her graduate studies in Dr. Behrens' lab and continues to be inspired by her patients to unravel the immunologic mechanisms underlying autoimmune disease. Her research and clinical interests focus on lupus, particularly the role of viral infections in driving disease. When not at work, she can be found in the pool, biking through Fairmount Park and Wissahickon, or exploring Philly with her husband and daughter.

Sarah Capponi, MD: Sarah is a Med Peds Rheumatologist at CHOP and HUP. She went to Johns Hopkins for college and majored in Writing Seminars, and then migrated back to her home state of Pennsylvania for medical school at Jefferson and Med Peds residency at Penn and CHOP. She completed her fellowship in Med Peds Rheumatology at Penn and CHOP as well. She is interested in transitions of care, medical education, and excellent clinical care for medically complex Rheumatology patients across the lifespan. She loves playing tennis, reading Romantasy novels, eating at all the amazing Philadelphia restaurants, watching reality TV, and hanging out with her husband, two daughters, and mini Australian pup Theo.

Hallie Carol, MD: Hallie is an attending within the rheumatology division, , born and raised in Massachusetts. Her love of the east coast and outdoor activities was solidified at Bowdoin College, where she studied Biochemistry. She completed her medical school training at Columbia University, followed by pediatric residency at Lurie Children's hospital in Chicago. Hallie was initially drawn to Rheumatology for its close tie with the immune system and diagnostic dilemmas. She knew CHOP was for her after she met the enthusiastic, welcoming faculty and heard about the immune dysregulation program. She is particularly interested in autoinflammatory diseases and the dermatologic manifestations of rheumatic disease. Her third year of fellowship was focused on honing her rheum/derm skills, while continuing her work in the Canna Lab. Hallie considers herself a Trader Joe's enthusiast. She loves the outdoors, especially enjoying an afternoon along the Schuylkill river (which must involve picnicking and/or hammocking). When stuck inside, she is known to brew kombucha and watch F1.

Anna Costello, MD: Anna attended Brown University for undergraduate and medical school. She completed her Pediatrics Residency, chief residency, and several years as a Pediatric Hospital Medicine Attending at CHOP before completing her Pediatric Rheumatology fellowship. During fellowship, she completed the Master’s in Health Policy Research program at UPenn, completed a Fellowship in Diagnostic Excellence with the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine, and became a board certified musculoskeletal ultrasonographer. Her research focuses on improving the diagnostic process for children with rheumatic diseases, particularly Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Clinically, she has an interest in the use of diagnostic and therapeutic musculoskeletal ultrasound and leads the Rheumatology Ultrasound Clinic. Her husband is a Pediatric sports medicine attending at CHOP, and they have two amazing little girls, Zoe and Lily!

About the fellows

Sarah McCuaig, MD, PhD: Sarah is a third-year fellow from Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. She has had a long-standing scientific passion for immunology and discovered her clinical love of pediatric rheumatology as a medical student. She completed her PhD (DPhil) at the University of Oxford with Fiona Powrie studying mucosal immunology. She then completed her medical degree at UPenn and her Pediatric Residency at CHOP. She is on the Accelerated Research Pathway and hopes to pursue a career as a physician-scientist. She is interested in tissue-specific drivers of inflammation in multi-organ system inflammatory disease. Most of all, she is excited to take care of our incredible patients and to have the privilege of being part of their journey! When not in the hospital or in the lab, she is an avid runner, enjoys all things outdoors (with a predilection for Nordic pursuits like cross country skiing), learning new skills (guitar, raised bed gardening), and spending time with friends and family. She is blissfully unaware of her Canadian accent and quintessentially loves maple syrup.

Brittney Newby, MD, PhD: Brittney is a third-year rheumatology fellow. Originally from Atlanta, she completed her undergraduate studies at FAMU before pursuing her MD-PhD at the University of Florida. Her thesis focused on unraveling the diabetogenic potential of Type 1 Interferon in Type 1 Diabetes. Following medical school, she completed her residency and a chief year at CHOP, where she discovered her true clinical passion in Rheumatology. Brittney has joined Dr. John E. Wherry's lab to utilize advanced immunoprofiling, proteomic, and transcriptomic approaches to predict clinical responses in rheumatologic and autoinflammatory diseases. She is particularly intrigued by the interplay between environmental factors and the shaping of the immunological landscape, leading to autoinflammation, autoimmunity, and immune dysregulation. Brittney aims to contribute valuable insights to this dynamic field to enhance the lives of her patients.

Outside of her professional pursuits, Brittney finds joy in spending quality time with her friends and family. Some of her favorite pastimes include softball, roller skating, reading, and traveling. Additionally, she indulges her passion for R&B and Soul music by attending concerts whenever her schedule allows, embracing the artistic and creative aspects of life.

Isabel Armendi, MD: Isabel Armendi is a second-year Rheumatology fellow and active-duty medical officer in the U.S. Army. She received her medical degree at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in Buffalo, New York. She then completed her residency training at Madigan Army Medical Center in the Pacific Northwest. Isabel was drawn to Pediatric Rheumatology given the field’s breadth of complex pathology, its multidisciplinary nature, and opportunities to forge long-lasting relationships with patients, their caregivers, and fellow care-team. She is eager to partake in the field’s strong research efforts to better understand novel therapeutic potential to the full, and in turn, continue to improve the quality of life for those with Pediatric Rheumatologic disease. She also has strong interests in medical education, community outreach, and global health. Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her partner and two pups – whether that be at a dog park, on a paddleboard, or somewhere exploring all that Philly has to offer.

Matthew Grunewald, MD: Matt is a second year Rheumatology fellow at CHOP. He attended Texas A&M for college where he majored in Biochemistry and Genetics. He then completed his MD/PhD at the University of Iowa with research focus in the immunologic response to coronavirus infection (finishing ironically the year before the COVID pandemic). He completed his pediatric residency training at Washington University in St. Louis before heading to Philadelphia. Matt is fascinated by immune dysregulation and how many diseases can be both pro- and anti-anti-immune at that the same time. Matt enjoys traveling with his family and can be found exploring the Philadelphia food scene with his wife and young daughter (who can be found choreographing dances to the Frozen soundtrack).

Vinchelle Hardison, MD: Vinchelle is a 2nd year fellow from rural Waynesville, MO. Though originally from the south (Mobile, AL) she spent most of her time in the mid-west, attending Mizzou for undergrad and Northeast Ohio Medical University for medical school. She completed her pediatric residency at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Vinchelle has always had interest in rheumatology, as she herself was diagnosed with various rheumatologic conditions as a child, and as she grew, decided to pursue medicine with a particular interest in Lupus and Mixed Connective Tissue Disease.

Outside of work, Vinchelle enjoys reading and geeking out on all things Marvel, Nintendo, and Anime. She's not above watching reality TV as well, snuggled on the couch with family, friends, and her 16 year old toy poodle.

Stephanie Lee, MD: Stephanie is a second-year Med-Peds Rheumatology fellow. Originally from Oklahoma City, she earned dual degrees in Biochemistry and Psychology before completing medical school at the University of Oklahoma. She then headed to sunny Miami, Florida for Med-Peds residency at University of Miami/Jackson Health System, where she graduated with distinction in medical education and also pediatric-to-adult transition medicine. She continues to be very interested in medical education and transitions of care, but also is interested in musculoskeletal ultrasound and reproductive health. She loves board games and jigsaw puzzles, is an avid fan of all things Pokemon-related, and has been learning how to play tennis from her CHOP colleagues.

Anu Goel, MD: Anu was born in Washington D.C. and raised in Northern Virginia. He studied Neuroscience, Spanish, and Music at Washington University in St. Louis, where he discovered he wanted to be a doctor. He moved to New York City to attend Weill Cornell Medicine, where a strong desire to have both breadth and depth in clinical training led to a combined residency in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics (Med-Peds) at Brown in Providence, Rhode Island. Through exposure to a MIS-C peak, a longitudinal rheumatology clinic, attending ACR Convergence, and mentorship on both the adult and pediatric sides, Anu discovered he wanted to complete fellowships in both adult and pediatric rheumatology. His goal is to provide lifelong care to children and adults with inflammatory conditions. In residency he also developed an interest in preventive care for young adults with childhood onset disease, and plans to develop more clinical research skills in fellowship. Outside of medicine, Anu continues to enjoy performing music wherever and with whomever he can, hunting for records, practicing and preaching mindfulness and meditation, binging standup comedy on YouTube, cooking, baking, and eating yummy food.

Conor Gruber, MD, PhD: Conor is a first-year rheumatology fellow. He was born, raised and trained in New York—much to the chagrin of Philly sports fans—ultimately completing his MD/PhD training and pediatric residency at Mount Sinai Hospital. He has longstanding research interests in the basic science and personalized medicine of rare monogenic inflammatory diseases. This natural connection between science and medicine initially drew him to Rheumatology, where he has since loved building long-term relationships with patients and co-workers. Outside of work, Conor can be found exploring Philly’s amazing food scene, enjoying the outdoors, and spending time with his wife and two “children” (his dog and cat).

Monica Manglani, MD, PhD: Monica is a first-year rheumatology fellow. She completed her undergraduate degree at Lafayette College. She obtained her MD at the Pennsylvania State University and her PhD at the National Institutes of Health through the Graduate Partnership Program. Her PhD focused on antigen cross-presentation and CD8 T cell dynamics during malaria. Her interest in rheumatology took root during her residency at CHOP, where she was drawn to the complexity of immune-mediated diseases and the long-term relationships she could build with patients. As a rheumatology fellow, she hopes to study immune dysregulation following infection.

Outside of medicine, Monica recharges by hiking—especially in the White Mountains—sampling South Jersey’s best pizza spots, and spending time with her husband and toddler. A Star Wars enthusiast, she’s always happy to dive into a deep conversation about a galaxy far, far away.

Research opportunities

Four members of CHOP Rheumatology research team

Both clinical research and basic science research tracks are available to the fellow. The fellow is expected to lead a research project, of either a clinical or basic science nature, during the last two years of the fellowship program.

The program ensures a meaningful, supervised research experience based on early establishment of a mentor appropriate for the fellow's interests. The fellow is guided into appropriate training in order to successfully complete a research project over the course of the three-year program. The fellow may choose a clinically-based research project for which several mentors are available through the Divisions of Rheumatology at Penn or CHOP, or the fellow may choose a basic research laboratory-based project, for which there are dozens of mentors throughout the CHOP/Penn immunology community.

Related programs

Recent publications by fellows (last 5 years)

Abel D, Anderson D, Kallan MJ, et al. Assessing Methotrexate Adherence in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Using Electronic Health Record-Linked Pharmacy Dispensing Data. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2025;77(3):300-308. doi:10.1002/acr.25441

Aisenberg L, Rasooly IR, Weiss PF, Burnham J, Costello A. Telehealth triage in pediatric rheumatology: a diagnostically accurate tool to improve access to care. Diagnosis (Berl). Published online May 23, 2025. doi:10.1515/dx-2025-0031

Costello A, Rasooly I, Weiss P. Rheum for Improvement? Delayed Diagnosis of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Narrative Review. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2025;77(3):283-290. doi:10.1002/acr.25438

Costello A, Weiss P. The Challenges of New Biologic Therapies in Pediatrics: An Update on the Limited Therapeutic Options for Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2025;51(3):469-481. doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2025.05.002

Goldberg DJ, Costello A, Goldstein BH. Is It Safe to Exhale?. JAMA Pediatr. 2025;179(3):237-238. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.5474

Gomes LLA, Silva GS, Carol HA, Subhadarshani S, Rutstein BH, Shaw KS. Thromboembolic Risk in Juvenile Dermatomyositis Patients Treated With Intravenous Immunoglobulin. Pediatr Dermatol. 2025;42(3):577-579. doi:10.1111/pde.15865

Eugene JM, Nelson M, Neergaard R, Edmondson, E, Capponi, S, et al. Pediatrician perspectives on incorporating discussion of police encounters into anticipatory guidance for Black youth and their caregivers. JAMA Pediatr. 2025;179(3):350-352.

Mayer A, Brandon TG, Aggarwal A, et al. Effect of Characteristic Inflammatory and Structural Pelvic Magnetic Resonance Imaging Lesions on Expert Assessment of Axial Juvenile Spondyloarthritis. J Rheumatol. 2025;52(2):165-172. Published 2025 Feb 1. doi:10.3899/jrheum.2024-0696

Mayer AS, Craig E, Parian A. Practical Considerations for the Treatment of Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis and Comorbid Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2025;51(3):525-536. doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2025.05.010

Shen CZ, Carol H, Feng R, et al. Risk of interstitial lung disease in adult patients with dermatomyositis treated with methotrexate: A retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2025;92(5):1098-1100. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2025.01.002

Bamat T, Gula A, Sieke EH, Newby, B, et al. Implementation of a Trauma-Informed Challenging Interactions Reporting Tool to Improve our Clinical Learning Environment. Acad Pediatr. 2024;24(6):883-888. doi:10.1016/j.acap.2024.04.001

Carol HA, Mayer AS, Zhang MS, et al. Hyperferritinemia Screening to Aid Identification and Differentiation of Patients with Hyperinflammatory Disorders. J Clin Immunol. 2024;45(1):4. Published 2024 Sep 12. doi:10.1007/s10875-024-01797-4

Congdon M, Rasooly IR, Toto RL, Capricola, D, Costello, A, et al. Diagnostic Safety: Needs Assessment and Informed Curriculum at an Academic Children's Hospital. Pediatr Qual Saf. 2024;9(6):e773. Published 2024 Oct 21. doi:10.1097/pq9.0000000000000773

Costello A, Carol H, Abel D, Bayefsky S, Capponi S, Mayer A, Rood J, Spichiger K, Madas J, Cecere L, Roman M. Improving JIA outcomes assessments in a large pediatric rheumatology practice: a fellow quality improvement project. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2023;75:2143-2145.

Costello A, Twilt M, Lerman MA; CARRA Registry Investigators. Provider assessment of the temporomandibular joint in Juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a retrospective analysis from the CARRA database. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. 2024;22(1):41. Published 2024 Apr 8. doi:10.1186/s12969-024-00968-2

Kennedy KV, Costello A, Lerman MA, et al. Granulomatous hyperinflammatory state induced by dupilumab treatment for eosinophilic esophagitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol Glob. 2024;3(4):100314. Published 2024 Jul 26. doi:10.1016/j.jacig.2024.100314

Landy E, Carol H, Ring A, Canna S. Biological and clinical roles of IL-18 in inflammatory diseases. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2024;20(1):33-47. doi:10.1038/s41584-023-01053-w

Zhang E, Capponi S, Scobell R, Alonzi G, Hlobik M, Daga A, et al. Real-world application of the pediatric Glucocorticoid Toxicity Index in childhood-onset lupus. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2024;68:152516.

Abel D, Drucker G, Leander R, et al. Assessment of a Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program in the Northern Manhattan Community. Am J Health Promot. 2022;36(6):1014-1018. doi:10.1177/08901171221076778

Abel D, Weiss PF. When to stop medication in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2023;35(5):265-272. doi:10.1097/BOR.0000000000000948

Bilgic Dagci AO, Chang JC, Xiao R, Grossman AB, Weiss PF. Opioid use in children with inflammatory bowel disease-related arthritis. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2023;41(7):1553-1560. doi:10.55563/clinexprheumatol/3bu1sf

Carol HA, Chauvin NA, Weiss PF. Imaging in pediatric spondyloarthritis. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2023;35(4):226-234. doi:10.1097/BOR.0000000000000942

Congdon M, Rauch B, Carroll B, Costello A, et al. Opportunities for Diagnostic Improvement Among Pediatric Hospital Readmissions. Hosp Pediatr. 2023;13(7):563-571. doi:10.1542/hpeds.2023-007157

Fatemi Y, Costello A, Lieberman L, et al. Clinical pathways and diagnostic reasoning: A qualitative study of pediatric residents' and hospitalists' perceptions. J Hosp Med. 2023;18(2):139-146. doi:10.1002/jhm.13010

Gmuca S, Abel D, McGill M, et al. A Pilot Study on the Freelisting Method Among Adolescents with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Feasibility, Acceptability and Study Findings. Children (Basel). 2024;12(1):48. Published 2024 Dec 31. doi:10.3390/children12010048

Lieberman L, Rajeshuni N, Shirey E, Fatemi Y, Costello A. A 12-day-old Infant Presents with Eye Discharge. Neoreviews. 2023;24(8):e511-e513. doi:10.1542/neo.24-8-e511

Lubell TR, Gorelik M, Abel D, et al. Development of a Model to Identify Febrile Children at Low Risk for Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2023;39(7):476-481. doi:10.1097/PEC.0000000000002983

Mai MV, Muthu N, Carroll B, Costello A, West DC, Dziorny AC. Measuring Training Disruptions Using an Informatics Based Tool. Acad Pediatr. 2023;23(1):7-11. doi:10.1016/j.acap.2022.03.006

Rood JE, Rezk A, Pogoriler J, et al. Improvement of Refractory Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-Associated Lung Disease with Single-Agent Blockade of IL-1β and IL-18. J Clin Immunol. 2023;43(1):101-108. doi:10.1007/s10875-022-01353-y

Bilgic Dagci AO, Chang JC, Brandon TG, Goheer HE, Weiss PF. Clinical features, treatment patterns and short-term outcomes of children with inflammatory bowel disease evaluated in rheumatology clinic. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2022;40(5):1045-1051. doi:10.55563/clinexprheumatol/2xhxrk

Diamond T, Burn TN, Nishiguchi MA, Minichino, D, Chase J, et al. Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis hepatitis is mediated by IFN-γ in a predominantly hepatic-intrinsic manner. PLoS One. 2022;17(6):e0269553. Published 2022 Jun 7. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0269553

Mayer A, Sperry A, Quimson L, Rhee RL. Long-Term Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes in Patients With Clinically Isolated Aortitis. ACR Open Rheumatol. 2022;4(12):1013-1020. doi:10.1002/acr2.11504

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Rutstein BH, Gmuca S, Gerber JS, Lim T, Argraves M, Ogdie A. Validation of coding algorithms for the identification of herpes zoster among children. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2021;30(9):1162-1167. doi:10.1002/pds.5264

Vella LA, Giles JR, Baxter AE, Oldridge DA, Diorio C, Kuri-Cervantes L, Alanio C, Pampena MB, Wu JE, Chen Z, Huang YJ, Anderson EM, Gouma S, McNerney KO, Chase J, et al. Deep immune profiling of MIS-C demonstrates marked but transient immune activation compared to adult and pediatric COVID-19. Sci Immunol. 2021;6(57):eabf7570. doi:10.1126/sciimmunol.abf7570

Anderson EM, Diorio C, Goodwin EC, McNerney KO, Weirick ME, Gouma S, Bolton MJ, Arevalo CP, Chase J, et al. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) Antibody Responses in Children With Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) and Mild and Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2021;10(5):669-673. doi:10.1093/jpids/piaa161

Diorio C, Anderson EM, McNerney KO, Goodwin EC, Chase J, et al. Convalescent plasma for pediatric patients with SARS-CoV-2-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2020;67(11):e28693. doi:10.1002/pbc.28693

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Quimson L, Mayer A, Capponi S, Rea B, Rhee RL. Comparison of aortitis versus noninflammatory aortic aneurysms among patients who undergo open aortic aneurysm repair. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020;72(7):1154-1159.

How to apply

Our three-year fellowship seeks physicians who will have completed two to three years of training in an accredited residency program in order to sit for the American Board of Pediatrics certifying examination. Our fellowship program participates in the ERAS universal application process. Please visit their Web site for application information about this program.

The following information should be uploaded into this program:

Completed ERAS application
At least three letters of reference, including one from your residency program director
MSPE and medical school transcript
A personal statement describing career goals and reasons for continuing training in pediatric rheumatology
Parts 1, 2 and 3 of the USMLE taken within the seven year time frame as required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or equivalent scores
If a graduate of a medical school outside the United States, Canada or Puerto Rico, valid ECFMG certificate or one that does not expire prior to the start of the fellowship
If not a citizen of the United States, copy of permanent resident card or copy of current, appropriate visa

National resident matching program (NRMP)

The Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship program participates in the National Resident Matching Program (http://www.nrmp.org).

Other requirements

To carry out its mission, it is of critical importance for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to keep our patients, families and workforce safe and healthy and to support the health of our global community. In keeping with this, CHOP has mandated all workforce members (including trainees) on site at any CHOP location for any portion of their time be vaccinated for COVID-19 as a condition of employment.

This mandate also applies to workforce members or trainees performing work for CHOP at non-CHOP locations. Additionally, all workforce members based in or regularly scheduled to work at any New Jersey location are mandated to be both vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19, with booster timing consistent with applicable guidelines. The CHOP COVID-19 vaccine mandate is in alignment with applicable local, state and federal mandates. CHOP also requires all workforce members and trainees who work in patient care buildings or who provide patient care to receive an annual influenza vaccine. Employees may request exemption consideration for CHOP vaccine requirements for valid religious and medical reasons. Please note start dates may be delayed until candidates are fully immunized or valid exemption requests are reviewed. In addition, candidates other than those in positions with regularly scheduled hours in New Jersey, must attest to not using tobacco products.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other protected category. CHOP is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor seeking priority referrals for protected veterans.

CHOP is committed to building an inclusive culture where employees feel a sense of belonging, connection, and community within their workplace. We are a team dedicated to fostering an environment that allows for all to be their authentic selves. We are focused on attracting, cultivating, and retaining diverse talent who can help us deliver on our mission to be a world leader in the advancement of healthcare for children.

We strongly encourage all candidates of diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

Contact

Jenna Kiely
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship
3615 Civic Center Blvd., 1107 ARC
Philadelphia PA 19104-4318
215-590-29387180
kielyj@chop.edu