Watch the replay of the #LatestOnLupus Conference: "New Insights in Lupus & Kidney Health” from Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 with Lupus LA and UCI!
This amazing learning event brought the latest breakthroughs in lupus nephritis, medical self-advocacy, kidney health, clinical research, and self-advocacy to the lupus community.
We listened to expert talks on Advancements in Lupus Nephritis, Cell Therapy in SLE, and Renal Transplants, and held interactive Q&A sessions with leading specialists that led to real conversations on patient advocacy and navigating lupus care.
📢 Speaker lineup:
✅ "Advancements in Lupus Nephritis" and Q&A with Sheetal Desai, MD | 4:02
About Dr. Desai: Dr. Desai is a member of Lupus LA's Medical Advisory Board, a board-certified rheumatologist and a Clinical Professor of Medicine. She currently serves as the Interim Chair of the Department of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Rheumatology at the University of California, Irvine, where she has worked for the past 16 years. Dr. Desai’s areas of interest and research include Lupus and Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome. She is the Director of the Lupus Clinic at the UC Irvine Medical Center and the Director of the UC Irvine Rheumatology Fellowship Program, where she plays a vital role in training the next generation of rheumatologists. In addition to her academic and clinical roles, Dr. Desai is a valued member of the Lupus LA Medical Advisory Board. Outside of her professional life, she is happily married and the proud mother of two wonderful children.
✅ "Medical Self-Advocacy" and Q&A with Monica Blied, PhD | 1:00:42
About Dr. Blied: Monica Blied, PhD, MACL, is a member of Lupus LA's Medical Advisory Board, a licensed Clinical Psychologist and the owner of Faces of Health Wellness Center in Claremont, California. Dr. Blied specializes in helping individuals who are living with chronic medical illnesses to make sense of their ‘new normal’ and learn to thrive. Dr. Blied has expertise in mind-body wellness, whole-health interventions, and in providing psychological testing and neurocognitive evaluations. Her evaluations help her clients to identify and better manage symptoms of ADHD, Learning Disorders, and various psychiatric conditions.
Dr. Blied is the co-author of 12 journal articles, 4 book chapters, and over 60 local and national conference presentations. Dr. Blied is also a Biofeedback provider, EMDR therapist, certified Chair Yoga instructor, and Health Coach. She has served for 9 years on the executive committee of the American Psychological Association, Division of Women (Division 35) and for 5 years with the California Psychological Association, Division of Education & Training. Her previous work with clients living with chronic illnesses (e.g., HIV/AIDS and autoimmune diseases) includes providing therapy and neurocognitive testing at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience, Hubert Humphrey Comprehensive Health System, and at VA Hospitals in Northern and Southern California. You can connect with Dr. Blied through her website: www.drblied.com or on IG @dr.blied. More information on Dr. Blied’s evaluations for ADHD and learning disorders can be found at www.drblied.com/adhd/
✅ "Cell Therapy in SLE" (Fate Therapeutics) with Vaneet Sandhu, MD, MS | 1:39:05
About Dr. Sandhu: Dr. Vaneet Sandhu is a member of Lupus LA's Medical Advisory Board, and the VP of Clinical Development, Autoimmunity at Fate Therapeutics, Inc. She previously served as Director of the Lupus Center and the Director of the Rheumatology Fellowship Program at Loma Linda University Health (LLUH), in addition to being an Associate Professor of Medicine at LLUH as well as the University of California, Riverside. Dr. Sandhu has published numerous peer-reviewed papers, reviews, and book chapters and serves as a Reviewer for several scientific journals. She is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology, and her professional memberships include the Association of Women in Rheumatology, the Lupus Foundation of Los Angeles, and the ALS Association. She serves on the Medical Advisory Board for Lupus LA and is co-chair of the Women in Rheumatology Taskforce of ACR.
✅ "Renal Transplants" and Q&A with Uttam Reddy, MD | 2:05:49
About Dr. Reddy: Dr. Uttam Reddy is a member of Lupus LA's Medical Advisory Board, and currently serves as medical director of UCI Health Kidney Transplant Services. Reddy earned his medical degree at New York Medical College in Valhalla, N.Y., followed by a residency in internal medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, Calif., where he also completed a fellowship in nephrology.
🌎 Whether you joined us in person or tuned in virtually, we learned so much from leading experts. Thank you for all of your questions, and for being a part of the discussion!
#LupusLA #LatestOnLupus #LupusEducation
#LupusSupport #KidneyHealth