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

Wondering how much your medical care will cost? New rules could help featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Wondering how much your medical care will cost? New rules could help

Remember the flu? Yep, it's that time again featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Remember the flu? Yep, it's that time again

Unvaccinated and misunderstood? Let's talk featured image

Staying Healthy

Unvaccinated and misunderstood? Let's talk

Does HIPAA prohibit questions about vaccination? featured image

Staying Healthy

Does HIPAA prohibit questions about vaccination?

Tempted to have genetic testing? First ask why featured image

Staying Healthy

Tempted to have genetic testing? First ask why

Can wearing contacts harm your vision? featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Can wearing contacts harm your vision?

Ready for your routine medical checkup? featured image

Staying Healthy

Ready for your routine medical checkup?

Wondering about a headline-grabbing drug? Read on featured image

Staying Healthy

Wondering about a headline-grabbing drug? Read on

Is our healthcare system broken? featured image

Staying Healthy

Is our healthcare system broken?

Harvard Health Ad Watch: How helpful are pulse monitors and home ECGs? featured image

Heart Health

Harvard Health Ad Watch: How helpful are pulse monitors and home ECGs?

Using weight loss or sports supplements? Exercise caution featured image

Nutrition

Using weight loss or sports supplements? Exercise caution

Careful! Scary health news can be harmful to your health featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Careful! Scary health news can be harmful to your health

Is blood sugar monitoring without diabetes worthwhile? featured image

Staying Healthy

Is blood sugar monitoring without diabetes worthwhile?

Should we track all breakthrough cases of COVID-19? featured image

Staying Healthy

Should we track all breakthrough cases of COVID-19?

Harvard Health Ad Watch: Aches, pains, and muscle cramps — do well-advertised remedies actually work? featured image

Pain

Harvard Health Ad Watch: Aches, pains, and muscle cramps — do well-advertised remedies actually work?

Terrified of needles? That can affect your health featured image

Mind & Mood

Terrified of needles? That can affect your health

Are antidepressants also pain relievers? featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Are antidepressants also pain relievers?

Do vitamin D, zinc, and other supplements help prevent COVID-19 or hasten healing? featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Do vitamin D, zinc, and other supplements help prevent COVID-19 or hasten healing?

Harvard Health Ad Watch: Mitochondria do a lot for you — what can you do for them? featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Harvard Health Ad Watch: Mitochondria do a lot for you — what can you do for them?

Zero weight loss from zero calorie drinks? Say it ain’t so featured image

Nutrition

Zero weight loss from zero calorie drinks? Say it ain’t so

You got the COVID-19 vaccine? I have vaccine envy featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

You got the COVID-19 vaccine? I have vaccine envy

Does your health monitor have device bias? featured image

Staying Healthy

Does your health monitor have device bias?

Flowers, chocolates, organ donation — are you in? featured image

Staying Healthy

Flowers, chocolates, organ donation — are you in?

COVID-19 vaccines: Safety, side effects — and coincidence featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

COVID-19 vaccines: Safety, side effects — and coincidence

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