Lupus LA/Cedars-Sinai Rheumatology Fellowship Program Names Dr. Vaneet Sandhu As Fellow

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Lupus LA and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have joined together to support a two-year fellowship and have named Dr. Vaneet Sandhu as the Lupus LA/Cedars-Sinai Fellow. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect virtually any organ of the body, and has no known cause or cure.  Dr. Sandhu will be joining a 'dream team' of lupus researchers at Cedars-Sinai, known in the medical community for cutting edge research and world-renowned patient care. The Lupus LA/Cedars-Sinai Rheumatology Fellowship was funded by Lupus LA.

The fellowship was established due to a widespread shortage of practicing rheumatologists. American College of Rheumatology Workforce Study estimated that that by 2025, in the U.S., that shortage will grow to 2,500 rheumatologists. Lupus LA aims to address this shortage by investing in the next generation of rheumatologists. Dr. Daniel Wallace, founder of Lupus LA, stated, "It is a real honor for both Lupus LA and Cedars-Sinai to be able to work in tandem to address some of the most important issues facing lupologists. Our unique environment is perfectly positioned to collaborate on projects that will greatly improve our understanding of this devastating disease."

Dr. Sandhu completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Loma Linda University Medical Center in 2013, contributing five years of extensive training in the field. Dr. Sandhu's responsibilities as Fellow will include training doctors at various free clinics and hospitals in Los Angeles on how to recognize, diagnose and treat lupus patients. Part of the two-year training program will also involve work on a lupus research project and providing consultation services to physicians. She will receive an exceptional amount of mentorship and participate in a robust research program, which is overwhelmingly important for breakthroughs in the treatment and prevention of Lupus.  Dr. Michael Weisman of Cedars Sinai stated, "We at Cedars-Sinai are pleased to collaborate with Lupus LA on this project.  The Fellowship itself is an innovative idea that will focus the research aspect of our training program on environmental risk, genetic predisposition, biomarker collections, and important clinical outcomes of our lupus cohort here at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.  It is a win-win for both organizations."

The fellowship is crucial due to glaring healthcare disparities and treatment outcomes among minority communities. Dr. Sandhu stated, "It is an honor to be named the Lupus LA/Cedars Sinai fellow. Our field is so vast, and, in the realm of the unknown, I personally seek to find the answers! Lupus LA has helped me get here and my patients henceforth will keep me going."

SOURCE Lupus LA