Lupus Clinic

The Lupus Clinic, located within the Richmond Road Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, strives to offer the highest possible standard of care to patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Our multidisciplinary care environment includes rheumatologists and immunologists who collaborate with hematologists, nephrologists, maternal fetal medicine specialists, and dermatologists to offer patient-centred treatment strategies designed to control lupus disease activity while minimizing side effects. Our team has particular expertise in antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, lupus nephritis, and pregnancy. Appointments are available by referral only.

Our clinic is heavily involved in research. Our world-renowned researchers are dedicated to advancing understanding of the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of SLE and translating these discoveries into practices and policies that provide a healthier future for those with lupus. Our clinic is active in clinical trials, and opportunities for participation may be available.

In addition to our multidisciplinary team of physicians, patients accessing our clinic may also receive care from pharmacists, physiotherapists, registered nurses (RNs), and social workers. Interpreter/translation services are available upon request, please inquire before your scheduled appointment.

University of Calgary Lupus Centre of Excellence

Mission Statement:

We offer the highest possible standard of care, informed by research, to patients with SLE in a multidisciplinary care environment.  Our rheumatologists and immunologists collaborate with hematologists, nephrologists, maternal fetal medicine specialists, and dermatologists to design patient-centred treatment strategies, which effectively control lupus disease activity while minimizing side effects.  We have particular expertise in antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, lupus nephritis, and pregnancy.

Our world-renowned researchers are dedicated to advancing understanding of the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of SLE and translating these discoveries into practices and policies that provide a healthier future for those with lupus. Our team also participates in clinical trials, which provides patients access to some of the newest therapies. 

We are committed to providing specialized clinical and research training for the next generation of physicians and partnering with patients as we strive to increase awareness and find a cure.

Members of the Lupus Centre of Excellence:

• Ann Clarke, MD, MSc, FRCPC (Director of the Lupus Centre of Excellence)
• Megan Barber, MD, PhD, FRCPC (Associate Director of Clinical Research and Clinical Trials, Lupus Centre of Excellence)
• May Choi, MD, MPH, FRCPC (Associate Director of Translational Research, Lupus Centre of Excellence; Associate Director of Mitogen DX)
• Marvin Fritzler, MD, PhD (Director of Mitogen DX, an advanced diagnostic laboratory which specializes in identification of novel autoantibodies and biomarkers for autoimmune diseases)
• Michelle Jung, MD, FRCPC (Rheumatologist)
• Leslie Skeith, MD, MHPE (Master of Health Professions Education), FRCPC (Hematologist/Thrombosis expert)
• Kim Cheema, MD, FRCPC (Nephrologist)

Research Activities within the Lupus Centre of Excellence:

• How lupus patients access health information during the COVID-19 pandemic 
• Economic burden of SLE
• Long term outcomes, thromboprophylaxis, and novel autoantibodies in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies 
• Longitudinal profiles of established and novel autoantibodies in SLE
• Improving cardiovascular health in patients with SLE
• Longitudinal observational registries of patients with SLE and antiphospholipid antibodies/antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
• Lupus Randomized Controlled Trials