Section of Pediatric Rheumatology

Thank you for visiting the website for the Section of Pediatric Rheumatology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, and Arkansas Children’s Northwest.

The experts in the Section of Pediatric Rheumatology provide top-notch care for kids and teens in Arkansas and beyond who are dealing with rheumatologic disorders. We do this by offering cutting-edge clinical services, educating future doctors, staying active in research and advocating for children and their families. Our clinical care team includes physicians, advanced practice nurses, specialized nurses and a supportive administrative staff. Together, we manage autoimmune, autoinflammatory and rheumatologic conditions for children. We provide care in various ways, from inpatient consults to outpatient services at ACH and at ACNW. We also offer infusion treatments and use telehealth to connect with families across the state.

Dr. Saumya Joshi treats a patient in the Rheumatology Clinic at Arkansas Children’s Hospital

Beyond general rheumatology, we have multidisciplinary teams for complex cases such as lupus and vasculitis. The Section operates specialty clinics focused on juvenile arthritis, uveitis and chronic diseases. Our team prides itself on delivering compassionate, evidence-based care with the latest diagnostic tools and therapies.

We’re also a training ground for medical students, pediatric residents and rheumatology fellows. We’re working toward establishing a Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship Program to address our region’s growing need for specialists. Our faculty members are nationally recognized educators, contributing to board reviews and exam committees and teaching locally and nationally.

On the research front, we’re growing through new patient registries, clinical trials for juvenile idiopathic arthritis and a grant from the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance. This grant focuses on understanding the impact of cutaneous lupus and social factors on mental health in children.

We’re continually inspired by the legacy of Dr. Betty A. Lowe, a pioneer in pediatric rheumatology, and remain committed to advancing care, education and research for the benefit of the children and families we serve. 

Thank you again for visiting our site. I hope you enjoyed learning about our program. We look to the future of pediatric rheumatology as a program that will make vast contributions in academic medicine through meaningful initiatives in clinical care, education, research and advocacy that will ultimately result in the provision of exceptional care for the children and families we serve. Please continue browsing our site to learn more about our team and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Branson B. Bolden, MD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Interim Section Chief of Pediatric Rheumatology