The mission of the Johns Hopkins Division of Rheumatology is to pursue excellence in outstanding patient care, innovative research, and unparalleled education for the benefit of all people affected by rheumatologic illness. We achieve this by creating an environment which fosters respect and synergistic collaboration at all levels, rewards learning, boldness and creativity, and is unparalleled in quality and service. Our philosophy that the answers to the understanding and rational therapy of the rheumatic diseases lie with the patients– their nuanced presentations and their cells and tissues– shapes our structures and systems. This Specialty Center model facilitates the prospective collection of samples and clinical data in the context of outstanding clinical care, and forms the foundation of our highly successful research programs.
Our research programs are structured as a matrix, with investigators studying different diseases (Y axis) and different biological processes (X axis), and intersecting with each other at numerous points across the matrix. We also have multiple scientific Cores (Z axis), which provide high-quality assay and data analysis functions for clinical and laboratory investigators. This structure maximizes translational synergies and collaborations, and many investigators work on multiple diseases and biological processes.
