photo of Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing

Dr. Robert H. Shmerling is the former clinical chief of the division of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), and is a current member of the corresponding faculty in medicine at Harvard Medical School. As a practicing rheumatologist for over 30 years, Dr. Shmerling engaged in a mix of patient care, teaching, and research. His research interests center on diagnostic studies in patients with musculoskeletal symptoms, and rheumatic and autoimmune diseases. He has published research regarding infectious arthritis, medical ethics, and diagnostic test performance in rheumatic disease. Having retired from patient care in 2019, Dr. Shmerling now works as a senior faculty editor for Harvard Health Publishing.

Twitter: @RobShmerling

Posts by Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Considering pregnancy and have lupus? Plan ahead featured image

Women's Health

Considering pregnancy and have lupus? Plan ahead

Monkeypox: An unfamiliar virus spreading fast — sound familiar? featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Monkeypox: An unfamiliar virus spreading fast — sound familiar?

An action plan to fight unhealthy inflammation featured image

Staying Healthy

An action plan to fight unhealthy inflammation

Blood donations are down — so why restrict blood donors by sexual orientation? featured image

Healthcare Disparities

Blood donations are down — so why restrict blood donors by sexual orientation?

Should you be tested for inflammation? featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Should you be tested for inflammation?

Can vitamin D supplements prevent autoimmune disease? featured image

Nutrition

Can vitamin D supplements prevent autoimmune disease?

Why all the buzz about inflammation — and just how bad is it? featured image

Staying Healthy

Why all the buzz about inflammation — and just how bad is it?

Harvard Health Ad Watch: A blood thinner winner? featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Harvard Health Ad Watch: A blood thinner winner?

Could cataract surgery protect against dementia? featured image

Staying Healthy

Could cataract surgery protect against dementia?

Does the sex of your surgeon matter? A new study says yes featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Does the sex of your surgeon matter? A new study says yes

Can ALS be caused by traumatic brain injury? featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Can ALS be caused by traumatic brain injury?

Tics and TikTok: Can social media trigger illness? featured image

Mind & Mood

Tics and TikTok: Can social media trigger illness?

If you have knee pain, telehealth may help featured image

Pain

If you have knee pain, telehealth may help

Are poinsettias, mistletoe, or holly plants dangerous? featured image

Staying Healthy

Are poinsettias, mistletoe, or holly plants dangerous?

Got back pain? Can virtual reality provide real pain relief? featured image

Pain

Got back pain? Can virtual reality provide real pain relief?

Harvard Health Ad Watch: An upbeat ad for a psoriasis treatment featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Harvard Health Ad Watch: An upbeat ad for a psoriasis treatment

Time to stock up on zinc? featured image

Staying Healthy

Time to stock up on zinc?

Careful! Health news headlines can be deceiving featured image

Staying Healthy

Careful! Health news headlines can be deceiving

Preparing for the holidays? Don't forget rapid tests for COVID-19 featured image

Staying Healthy

Preparing for the holidays? Don't forget rapid tests for COVID-19

Can vaping help you quit smoking? featured image

Staying Healthy

Can vaping help you quit smoking?

Thinking about COVID booster shots? Here's what to know featured image

Staying Healthy

Thinking about COVID booster shots? Here's what to know

What happened to trusting medical experts? featured image

Staying Healthy

What happened to trusting medical experts?

Is metformin a wonder drug? featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Is metformin a wonder drug?

Harvard Health Ad Watch: Can a wearable device reduce stress? featured image

Staying Healthy

Harvard Health Ad Watch: Can a wearable device reduce stress?

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