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

Top searches on health topics? It may depend on where you live featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Top searches on health topics? It may depend on where you live

Health benefits of coffee and a proposed warning label featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Health benefits of coffee and a proposed warning label

How long will my hip or knee replacement last? featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

How long will my hip or knee replacement last?

Autoimmune disease and stress: Is there a link? featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Autoimmune disease and stress: Is there a link?

Rethinking the screening mammogram featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Rethinking the screening mammogram

Dogs and health: A lower risk for heart disease-related death? featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Dogs and health: A lower risk for heart disease-related death?

Fertility and diet: Is there a connection? featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Fertility and diet: Is there a connection?

Could medications contribute to dementia? featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Could medications contribute to dementia?

Knuckle cracking: Annoying and harmful, or just annoying? featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Knuckle cracking: Annoying and harmful, or just annoying?

Chondroitin and melanoma: How worried should you be? featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Chondroitin and melanoma: How worried should you be?

Aerobic exercise or tai chi for fibromyalgia — which is better? featured image

Exercise & Fitness

Aerobic exercise or tai chi for fibromyalgia — which is better?

Apple cider vinegar for weight loss: Does it really work? featured image

Staying Healthy

Apple cider vinegar for weight loss: Does it really work?

Cryotherapy: Can it stop your pain cold? featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Cryotherapy: Can it stop your pain cold?

Whooping cough featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Whooping cough

Is it ok to use medications past their expiration dates? featured image

Staying Healthy

Is it ok to use medications past their expiration dates?

Treatments for post-nasal drip featured image

Staying Healthy

Treatments for post-nasal drip

Gum disease and the connection to heart disease featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Gum disease and the connection to heart disease

Understanding the results of your colonoscopy featured image

Staying Healthy

Understanding the results of your colonoscopy

Celebrities get shingles, too featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Celebrities get shingles, too

Are you taking too much anti-inflammatory medication? featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Are you taking too much anti-inflammatory medication?

Where do you stand on bystander CPR? featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Where do you stand on bystander CPR?

Why it’s so hard to lose excess weight and keep it off: The Biggest Losers’ experience featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Why it’s so hard to lose excess weight and keep it off: The Biggest Losers’ experience

Knowing when to screen... and when to quit featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Knowing when to screen... and when to quit

Dr. Google: The top 10 health searches in 2017 featured image

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Dr. Google: The top 10 health searches in 2017

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