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

A new look at steroid injections for knee and hip osteoarthritis featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

A new look at steroid injections for knee and hip osteoarthritis

Curcumin for arthritis: Does it really work? featured image

Pain

Curcumin for arthritis: Does it really work?

HPV and cancer: The underappreciated connection featured image

Infectious diseases

HPV and cancer: The underappreciated connection

Plant-based diets are best… or are they? featured image

Healthy Eating

Plant-based diets are best… or are they?

If you have migraines, put down your coffee and read this featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

If you have migraines, put down your coffee and read this

Harvard Health Ad Watch: How direct-to-consumer ads hook us featured image

Staying Healthy

Harvard Health Ad Watch: How direct-to-consumer ads hook us

Can vaping damage your lungs? What we do (and don't) know featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Can vaping damage your lungs? What we do (and don't) know

Do employee wellness programs actually work? featured image

Staying Healthy

Do employee wellness programs actually work?

Are antibacterial products with triclosan fueling bacterial resistance? featured image

Staying Healthy

Are antibacterial products with triclosan fueling bacterial resistance?

Should you see a chiropractor for low back pain? featured image

Back Pain

Should you see a chiropractor for low back pain?

Showering daily -- is it necessary? featured image

Men's Health

Showering daily -- is it necessary?

A poor sense of smell might matter more than you thought featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

A poor sense of smell might matter more than you thought

Tramadol: Uses, side effects, and risks featured image

Staying Healthy

Tramadol: Uses, side effects, and risks

FDA curbs unfounded memory supplement claims featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

FDA curbs unfounded memory supplement claims

Beer before wine? Wine before beer? featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Beer before wine? Wine before beer?

Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) featured image

a to z

Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)

The trouble with new drugs featured image

Staying Healthy

The trouble with new drugs

Is obesity a reason to avoid joint replacement surgery? featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Is obesity a reason to avoid joint replacement surgery?

Why the wheelchair? Could it be gout? featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Why the wheelchair? Could it be gout?

Ankle Fracture featured image

a to z

Ankle Fracture

How long does a joint replacement last? featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

How long does a joint replacement last?

Sweeteners: Time to rethink your choices? featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Sweeteners: Time to rethink your choices?

What’s in your supplements? featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

What’s in your supplements?

In defense of French fries featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

In defense of French fries

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