What is RheumMadness?

Welcome to RheumMadness – the place for everyone who is crazy about rheumatology to connect, collaborate, compete, and learn together.  RheumMadness is a project funded by a Clinician Scholar Educator Award from the Rheumatology Research Foundation and inspired by a similar project in nephrology called NephMadness.

How does RheumMadness work?

The main event of RheumMadness is a tournament of rheumatology concepts that occurs every year in March. The tournament bracket will be comprised of 16 rheumatology concepts that compete against each other just like basketball teams in the NCAA March Madness tournaments.  The winner of each match-up will be decided by a blue ribbon panel of rheumatology experts who will vote to determine which topic they think is more important to patients, providers, and the field of rheumatology.  Before the tournament starts, you will get a chance to fill out your own bracket to try to predict each match-up.

Watch the 4-minute explainer video below to learn more.

How to Submit a Bracket

The bracket will be unveiled in late February to early March, along with “scouting reports” that review the strengths and weaknesses of each team in the bracket.  Click Join the Competition here or in the top menu for more details.

How to connect with RheumMadness

Even when the tournament is not happening, there is always something going on in the RheumMadness community!  Here are some ways to connect.

  1. Subscribe to the RheumMadness Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.
  2. Check out #RheumMadness on Twitter to follow the latest updates and conversation.
  3. For rheumatology fellows, internal medicine residents, medical students, advanced practice provider trainees, or any other trainee interested in rheumatology, please join the private RheumMadness Facebook group to connect with your peers!

RheumMadness Leadership

David Leverenz, MD 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, MD serves on the RheumMadness Leadership Team.  She is a second year rheumatology fellow at Duke University School of Medicine.

Guy Katz, MD serves on the RheumMadness Leadership Team.  He is a first year rheumatology fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).

Didem Saygin, MD serves on the RheumMadness Leadership Team.  She is a first year rheumatology fellow at the University of Chicago.

Christopher “Allen” Witt, MD serves on the RheumMadness Leadership Team.  He is a third year internal medicine resident at Duke University School of Medicine.

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 Assistant Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology.