Rebecca Grainger
Wellington Regional Rheumatology Unit and University of Otago Wellington





BIOGRAPHY
Rebecca is a consultant rheumatologist at the Wellington Regional Rheumatology Unit (Hutt Valley DHB) and a senior lecturer in the Departments of Medicine and Pathology, University of Otago Wellington.  A University of Otago medical graduate, she undertook rheumatology training in Melbourne and her PhD examined inflammatory mechanisms in gout.  

Rebecca’s clinical work focuses on assessment and management of inflammatory arthritis.  She is passionate about patient-focused care and engaging with colleagues in primary and secondary care to provide the highest quality collaborative care for people with arthritis. Rebecca’s academic interests include outcome measures, non-pharmacological management of musculoskeletal disease and use of information technology solutions to optimise care for people with chronic rheumatic diseases and educational outcomes for students.


ABSTRACT

Rheumatology For The General Physician: 2016 And Beyond
The last 15 years has been an exciting time to be in rheumatology.  Rheumatology has changed.  If you finished your undergraduate medical degree before me, its very likely most of what you were taught is now wrong, or at least very out of date!   In 20 minutes I will attempt to bring to you up to date with the key concepts in diagnosis, assessment and management of common rheumatic disorders, as relevant to the general physician and the Australasian practice environment.  Some key areas will be contemporary management of rheumatoid arthritis, the spondyloarthropathies and gout, with particular emphasis on new therapeutics and adverse effects.