August 19, 2025 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
August 19, 2025 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Pain in pediatric autoimmune rheumatic diseases: arthritis, myositis, scleroderma, vasculitis and autoinflammatory diseases
The term “rheumatology” can be confusing, and many people—including healthcare providers—are unaware that children and adolescents can develop conditions like arthritis and lupus. Rheumatologic diseases are autoimmune, inflammatory disorders that affect multiple body systems, including the musculoskeletal system. Diagnosing these conditions is often challenging, leading to significant delays in diagnosis and treatment. In pediatric rheumatic diseases, inflammation is a key driver of pain, and untreated inflammation increases the risk of chronic pain. In this webinar, Megan Curran, MD will clarify what rheumatologic diseases are—and what they are not. She will also discuss the three types of pain she commonly sees in her patients: inflammatory, mechanical, and amplified, and share how she approaches their treatment.
August 19, 2025 @ 10:00 am
10:00 am PDT – 11:00 am PDT
Megan Curran is an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado (CU) School of Medicine and a pediatric rheumatologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado. After growing up in suburban Kansas City, she completed education and training at Stanford University, Michigan State, Miami Children’s Hospital, and the University of California, San Francisco.
Megan worked in Chicago from 2009 to 2018 before moving to Denver to direct CU’s pediatric rheumatology fellowship training program. Their graduates provide evidence-based, family-centered care for children with autoimmune rheumatologic diseases and musculoskeletal pain. Megan has clinical expertise in juvenile myositis and systemic sclerosis and an interest in diagnostic excellence, integrative medicine, and mental healthcare. Her research focuses on competency-based medical education and improving rheumatology education for pediatric trainees and providers. Outside work, she reads mystery novels, solves word puzzles, weaves, and creates bedazzled paint-by-number masterpieces. Megan lives with her husband, Adam, a mathematics professor, and dogs, Hazel and Greta.
Rebecca Cherry, MD, MPH, is a pediatric gastroenterologist practicing mind-body medicine, focusing on disorders of gut-brain interaction and other chronic pain conditions. She previously led the Inflammatory Bowel Disease program at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.
Dr. Cherry has combined her medical training at Harvard, Vanderbilt, and USC with an integrative treatment style emphasizing clinical hypnosis. She teaches hypnosis to other professionals through the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) and serves on the ASCH board of directors. Dr. Cherry sees patients in Pennsylvania and California, both in person and via telemedicine.