Farzana Nuruzzaman, MD, FACR, is a clinical pediatric rheumatologist based in Stony Brook, New York, where she practices at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. She is part of a small but dedicated pediatric rheumatology team and is deeply engaged in both patient care and collaborative research.
Dr. Nuruzzaman’s path to pediatric rheumatology began during her residency at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. An early encounter with a child newly diagnosed with juvenile dermatomyositis left a lasting impression. At the time of admission, the patient experienced profound weakness and significant limitations in daily activities. Under the care of pediatric rheumatologists, the child improved and was discharged home. Later, during a subspecialty clinic rotation, Dr. Nuruzzaman had the opportunity to follow this same patient longitudinally and witnessed her remarkable recovery of regaining strength, mobility, and the ability to participate fully in childhood activities. This experience highlighted the transformative impact pediatric rheumatologists can have on quality of life and solidified her interest in the field.
As a member of CARRA, Dr. Nuruzzaman is actively involved in the CRMO Work Group and the Small Centers Committee. Her engagement with CARRA began during fellowship at Cornell/Hospital for Special Surgery and has played a significant role in expanding her research involvement, particularly important given her work in a small center setting. Through CARRA, she developed a focused interest in chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO/CRMO) and progressively built a research portfolio, starting with contributing patients to multicenter registries, collaborating on imaging surveys presented at national meetings, and ultimately leading her own CARRA-funded project to develop a web-based whole-body MRI scoring tool for patients with CNO. Along the way, she established meaningful mentorship and professional networks that have supported her growth as an investigator.
Dr. Nuruzzaman is particularly proud of her work defining minimal disease activity and disease flare in CNO, which was accepted as an oral abstract presentation at the American College of Rheumatology meeting in November 2025. She has also collaborated on efforts to develop core outcome sets for clinical trials, contributing to multiple stages of the research process, including scoping reviews, focus group analyses, and manuscript preparation. These projects reflect her commitment to building the foundational tools needed to advance high-quality clinical research.
Looking ahead, Dr. Nuruzzaman is excited by the steady progress being made within the CNO/CRMO community. She views the collective work of her colleagues as essential scaffolding for future clinical trials and is motivated by the prospect of translating this groundwork into improved evidence-based care for patients.
Outside of work, Dr. Nuruzzaman enjoys reading and crafting, and she finds balance through regular exercise on the Peloton platform. What began years ago in small spin studios has evolved into an appreciation for accessible, community-driven fitness, which she values for both physical well-being and stress relief.
– Bailey Parker, Membership Coordinator
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