UCSF Rheumatology Board Review and Clinical Update 2026

Date & Location: Thursday, August 20, 2026, 8:00 AM – Saturday, August 22, 2026, 5:00 AM, Mission Bay Conference Center at UCSF

Target Audience
Specialties – Rheumatology
Professions – Physician, Physician Assistant/Associate

Overview
The Rheumatology Board Review and Clinical Update course has been offered by UCSF since 1992 and will be presented as a hybrid conference – in person and virtually this year. Join us for three days of a live and live-streamed interactive conference which will include talks on major clinical topics in Rheumatology to assist physicians preparing for the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Subspecialty Examination in Rheumatology. The course will provide up to date information for practicing clinicians seeking to improve their care for rheumatology patients. An additional series of prerecorded lectures and practice questions are also available to participants.
Trainees preparing for their initial board exam — as well as rheumatologists who are candidates — are the target audience. Diagnosing and managing complex and unusual clinical problems will be emphasized; an overview of significant advances related to clinical rheumatology will also be included.
Objectives
As a result of the education, I intend to:

Apply current, evidence-based standards of care to rheumatic diseases (including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, other systemic, autoimmune diseases, autoinflammatory diseases, spondyloarthritis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, crystalline arthritis, and soft tissue musculoskeletal pain syndromes);
Improve diagnostic accuracy by application of best available recent data and expert guidance.
Refine, optimize, and monitor rheumatic disease treatments based on new knowledge of efficacy and safety.
Adopt newly approved treatments appropriately based on the latest medical evidence.
Refine approach to pain in rheumatic diseases
Increase utilization of self-assessment

The UCSF Rheumatology Board Review and Clinical Update 2026 is best for rheumatology fellows, residents, and practicing clinicians who want a structured, exam‑oriented review combined with clinically relevant updates in rheumatology. It emphasizes board preparation, guideline‑driven practice, and case‑based instruction across the spectrum of autoimmune and musculoskeletal disease.
Who Should Use It

Rheumatology fellows & residents preparing for board certification or in‑training exams.
Practicing rheumatologists refreshing knowledge for recertification or clinical updates.
Internal medicine physicians & hospitalists managing patients with autoimmune and musculoskeletal conditions.
Advanced practice providers (NPs, PAs) working in rheumatology clinics or multidisciplinary practices.
Educators & faculty using structured review material for teaching and mentoring trainees.

What You’ll Learn

Core rheumatology topics: rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, vasculitis, spondyloarthropathies, gout, and connective tissue diseases.
Diagnostic pearls: lab interpretation, imaging, and biopsy correlation.
Therapeutic updates: biologics, targeted therapies, and immunomodulators.
Case‑based instruction: real patient scenarios to sharpen diagnostic and management skills.
Exam prep: structured review aligned with ABIM Rheumatology certification content.
Guideline integration: evidence‑based standards for daily practice.

+ Topics:

Thursday, August 20, 2026 Day 1

Registration | Continental Breakfast | Exhibits Open
7:15AM – 8:00AM
All times listed are in Pacific Standard Time (PST)

Welcome and Overview
8:00AM – 8:05AM
Brett W Dietz, MD
Lianne S Gensler, MD, Professor of Medicine
Mary Nakamura, MD

(1) Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
8:05AM – 9:30AM
Maria C DallEra, MD

Refreshment Break | Exhibits
9:30AM – 9:40AM

(2) Autoimmune Disease and the Lung
9:40AM – 10:45AM
Erin Wilfong, MD

(3) Quick Clinical Cases: A Photographic Review
10:45AM – 11:50AM
Lester D Miller, MD
This lecture will not be recorded or have published slides.

Lunch
11:50AM – 1:00PM

(4) Osteoarthritis
1:00PM – 2:00PM
Krishna Chaganti, MD

(5) Sjogren’s Disease
2:00PM – 2:55PM
Caroline H Shiboski, DDS, Oral Medicine Board Certification

Refreshment Break | Exhibits
2:55PM – 3:05PM

(6) Interpretation of Imaging Studies
3:05PM – 4:10PM
Thomas M Link, MD

(7) Medication Safety
4:10PM – 5:15PM
Gabby Schmajuk, MD

Friday, August 21, 2026 Day 2

Registration | Continental Breakfast | Exhibits Open
7:15AM – 8:00AMAll times listed are in Pacific Standard Time (PST)

(8) Vasculitis I
8:00AM – 9:25AM
Peter Merkel, MD, MPH

Refreshment Break | Exhibits
9:25AM – 9:35AM

(9) Myositis and Myositis Mimics
9:35AM – 10:50AM
Julie Paik, MD

(10) Autoinflammatory Disease
10:50AM – 11:55AM
David Beck, MD

Lunch
11:55AM – 1:00PM

(11) Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapy: 2026
1:00PM – 2:25PM
Jonathan Graf, MD

Refreshment Break | Exhibits
2:25PM – 2:35PM

(12) Pediatric Rheumatology
2:35PM – 3:40PM
Erica Lawson, MD

(13) RA Epidemiology, EAMs, and Complications
3:40PM – 4:55PM
Ted Mikuls, MD

Saturday, August 22, 2026 Day 3

Registration | Continental Breakfast | Exhibits Open
7:15AM – 8:00AMAll times listed are in Pacific Standard Time (PST)

(14) Rheumatic Manifestations of Systemic Disease
8:00AM – 9:20AM
Jonathan Graf, MD

(15) Prevention & Treatment of Osteoporosis
9:20AM – 10:25AM
Mary Beth Humphrey, MD

Refreshment Break | Exhibits
10:25AM – 10:35AM

(16) Spondyloarthritis I
10:35AM – 11:55AM
Lianne S Gensler, MD, Professor of Medicine

(17) Sarcoidosis
11:55AM – 12:50PM
Brett W Dietz, MD

Closing Remarks | Live Course Adjourns
12:50PM – 12:55PM

Pre-Recorded Videos Available for Viewing Post Course Until Board Exams

PRE-RECORDED SESSIONS AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING POST COURSE. AVAILABLE WITH OTHER COURSE MATERIALS UNTIL NOVEMBER 4, 2026.
12:55PM – 1:00PM

IgG4-Related Disease – Dr. John Stone

Antiphospholipid Syndrome – Dr. Sarah Goglin

Spondyloarthritis II – Dr. Lianne Gensler

Mechanisms of bDMARDs & tsDMARDs – Dr. Judith Ashouri-Sinha

Crystalline Disease – Dr. Tuhina Neogi

Vasculitis II – Dr. Peter Merkel

Infectious Disease and Rheumatology – Dr. Brett Dietz

Sports Medicine I and II – Dr. Carlin Senter

Systemic Sclerosis – Dr. Francesco Boin