Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and now living in Morgantown, West Virginia, Mckenna Bowes has turned her personal journey with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) into a lifelong mission to advance research, improve patient care, and empower others living with pediatric rheumatic diseases. A Journey of Strength and Purpose Mckenna was diagnosed with lupus in 2019 at …
Miriah Gillispie-Taylor, MD, is a dedicated and dynamic pediatric rheumatologist based in Houston, Texas. Dr. Taylor is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, where she plays a vital role in both patient care and medical education. Beyond her clinical responsibilities, Dr. Taylor is deeply invested in educating the next generation of …
Lawrence Ng is a current Research and Healthcare Professional member of CARRA. He works as a Clinical Research Project Manager at SickKids Hospital in Toronto, Canada, where he combines scientific expertise, personal dedication, and a strong commitment to patient-centered care. His work spans a wide range of pediatric rheumatology research initiatives, including co-managing a lupus …
Dr. Brittany Huynh, currently based in Indianapolis, IN, is a combined fellow in pediatric rheumatology and adolescent medicine at Riley Hospital for Children and the Indiana University School of Medicine. She will soon begin her new role as an attending physician at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she plans to continue her work …
Sarah Hunt of Jupiter, Florida is an active Patient/Caregiver Member of the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA). Her family’s journey with pediatric rheumatic disease began when her son, Aaron, developed unexplained high fevers and intense abdominal pain at 6 months old. Initially dismissed as viral infections, his symptoms escalated to emergency visits and …
WASHINGTON, DC, (April 16, 2025) – The Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 CARRA Community Awards. The awards, which were presented at CARRA’s Annual Scientific Meeting in Denver this month, honor people who have made outstanding achievements in advancing pediatric rheumatology research and have worked …
What is translational medicine and how does it impact our CARRA community? To answer these questions, we turn to Dr. Joni Rutter, the Director of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Tune in to hear about how she’s focused on breaking down barriers and speeding up …
Dr. Shoghik Akoghlanian, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University, College of Medicine, and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. As a part-time pediatric rheumatologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, she balances clinical care, research, and education. Her primary focus is providing specialized care to children with rheumatic diseases, particularly in …
Dr. Danny Soulsby is a Pediatric Rheumatologist at UCSF Children’s Hospital Oakland, where he balances clinical care with research focused on social determinants of health in pediatric rheumatic diseases, particularly Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). His interest in rheumatology began in medical school when he cared for a complex patient who …