Dr. Marisa Klein-Gitelman has been the division head in pediatric rheumatology since 2002. She has expertise in pediatric lupus, vasculitis, uveitis and neuro inflammatory diseases. She has published/co-authored over 100 journal articles, case reports and reviews, 107 abstracts, 10 chapters in textbooks, and has received over 3500 citations. Her roles as a team member, consensus builder and division head have led to leadership positions and the opportunity to mentor others. She has served in leadership positions both regionally and nationally, and is a current board member of the American College of Rheumatology. She is also a founding member of the ACR/CARRA mentoring interest group (AMIGO) which pairs fellows and young faculty with mentors from another institution. She continues to mentor in this role as well as mentors after visiting professor role at other programs and within her own institution and, thus, has developed expertise in career development oversight.

Primary clinical research efforts focus on pediatric onset systemic lupus. Active clinical research projects include development of tools to assess cognitive changes in pediatric lupus, development of best tools to assess disease flare and remission, best practices for treatment of lupus nephritis and development of biomarkers for nephritis and overall disease activity. Other clinical lupus studies have included assessment of corticosteroid therapy practices, assessment of ovarian suppression during treatment with cytotoxic agents, and multicenter studies to identify important genetic risks for pediatric lupus. I participate in in studies of the genetics of pediatric arthritis as well as new therapies and phase IV drug registries, and a pediatric autoimmune encephalitis working group to develop definitions and treatment for pediatric patients facing these recently defined diseases. At Lurie Children’s Hospital I participate in the hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis working group to improve on screening and diagnostic tests for patients developing this set of disorders, and an interdisciplinary exercise physiology research working group. I have also participated in vasculitis registries in North America and Europe. Lastly, I have an interest in cost effectiveness and initiatives in health quality of care.

My clinical focus is with pediatric lupus, pediatric vasculitis and autoinflammatory disorders with specific interest in Systemic onset JIA/macrophage activation syndrome.