Our Faculty
The OHSU Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases includes a diverse group of dedicated, highly trained physicians and researchers who are committed to superb patient care, education, and research. Several of our faculty members are internationally recognized for their contributions to science and education. We cherish the opportunity to establish long-term relationships with patients, and recognize the challenges our patients face living with rheumatic conditions.
Our Faculty
Julianna Desmarais, M.D.
Interim Division Head, Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases
Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases
Assistant Director, Rheumatology Fellowship
Co-Director of Interstitial Lung Disease Clinic
- Undergraduate: University of Arizona
- Medical School: The Ohio State University College of Medicine
- Residency: Internal Medicine, University of Utah
- Chief Medical Resident, University of Utah
- Fellowship: Rheumatology, Oregon Health & Science University
- Academic Interests: Education, Interstitial Lung Disease, Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
Leslie Kahl, M.D.
Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives
Professor of Medicine, Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases
- Undergraduate: Smith College and Stanford University
- Medical School: Albany Medical College, Albany, NY
- Residency: Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, NY and Presbyterian University Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA
- Fellowship: Presbyterian University Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA
- Academic Interests: Medical education, Lupus
David I. Daikh, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine, Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases
- Undergraduate: University of Oregon
- Medical School: Oregon Health Sciences University
- Ph.D.: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Resident: University of California, San Francisco
- Fellowship: Rheumatology, University of California, San Francisco
- Academic Interests: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, T cell therapies, Crystalline Arthritis, Medical Education
Atul Deodhar, M.D., MRCP.
Medical Director, OHSU Rheumatology Clinic
Professor of Medicine, Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases
- Medical School: B. J. Medical College, Pune, India
- Residency: King Edward Memorial Hospital, Pune India, and Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, England
- Fellowship: Royal Cornwall Hospital, England; & Oregon Health & Science University
- Academic Interests: Axial Spondyloarthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic arthritis
Cong-Qiu Chu, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine, Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases
- Medical School: Jilin University Bethune Medical College
- Ph.D: University of London
- Residency: Internal Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China, Internal Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
- Fellowship: Rheumatology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Tejpal Gill, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases
- Bachelor & Master of Science: Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India
- Ph.D.: Institute of Hmalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, H.P. India
- Postdoctoral: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
- Research Fellow: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
- Academic Interest: Immunology, Microbiology research focus on gut microbial dysbiosis in HLA-B27-associated spondyloarthritis.
Daniela Ghetie, M.D.
Director, OHSU Vasculitis Clinic and Co-Director, OHSU Myositis Clinic
Attending Rheumatologist Vasculitis Center
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases
- Medical School: University of Medicine and Pharmacy - "Carol Davila" Bucharst, Romania
- Rheumatology Residency: University Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
- Residency: Danbury Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
- Fellowship: Oregon Health & Science University
- Academic Interests: Myositis, Vasculitis
Mohamad Bittar, M.D., M.S.
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases
- Medical School: American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Graduate School: Master of Science in Epidemiology, Clinical Investigation Track. The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN.
- Residency: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
- Fellowship: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Academic Interests: Axial Spondyloarthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis
Gina Ferrero, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases
- Medical School: M.D., University of Queensland School of Medicine, Brisbane, Australia
- Residency: Cooper University Hospital, Camden, New Jersey
- Fellowship: Cooper University Hospital, Camden, New Jersey
Whitney Elg-Salsman, D.O., M.C.R.
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases
- Medical School: D.O. 2016 Touro University of Nevada, Henderson, NV
- Graduate School: Master of Clinical Research degree, 2022, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
- Residency: Internal Medicine, 2019, OHSU, Portland, OR
- Fellowship: Rheumatology, 2022, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
Emily Belz, P.A.-C.
Instructor, Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases
- Undergraduate School: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
- Graduate School: Physician Assistant School - Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA
- Memberships/Associations: American College of Rheumatology
Eliza Thompson, F.N.P.
Instructor, Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases
- Undergraduate School: Portland State University, Portland, OR
- Graduate School: Columbia University, New York City, NY
- Fellowship: Yakima Valley Farmworkers Clinic, Yakima, WA
- Memberships/Associations: American College of Rheumatology
Ruth J. Napier, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Principal Investigator, VA Portland Health Care System
- Undergraduate: Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA
- Graduate School: Emory University, Atlanta, GA
- Postdoctoral Fellowship: Oregon Health & Science University
- Academic Interests: autoinflammatory disease, microbiology, immunology, Blau Syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, rare disease
Our VAMC Faculty
Jennifer Barton, M.D.
Rheumatology Section Chief, VA Portland Healthcare System
Professor of Medicine, Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases
- Undergraduate: Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio
- Post Baccalaureate: Columbia University
- Medical School: State University of New York, Stony Brook
- Residency: University of Rochester, Strong Memorial Hospital
- Chief Residency: University of Rochester
- Fellowship: Rheumatology, University of California, San Francisco
- Master of Clinical Research: Oregon Health & Science University
- Academic and Research Interests: health disparities, patient-clinician communication, shared decision making, health services research
Pascale Schwab, M.D.
Program Director, Rheumatology Fellowship
Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases
- Undergraduate: University of Houston
- Medical School: University of Texas Medical School, Houston
- Residency: University of Texas Medical School, Houston
- Chief Residency: University of Texas Medical School, Houston
- Fellowship: Brigham & Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School
- Academic Interests: Rheumatoid arthritis, gout, osteoporosis
Kenneth Scalapino, M.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases
- Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- Residency: University of California, San Francisco, CA
- Fellowship: Rheumatology, University of California, San Francisco, CA
- Academic Interests: autoinflammatory disease, crystalline arthropathy, medical education