photo of Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing

Dr. Robert H. Shmerling is the former clinical chief of the division of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), and is a current member of the corresponding faculty in medicine at Harvard Medical School. As a practicing rheumatologist for over 30 years, Dr. Shmerling engaged in a mix of patient care, teaching, and research. His research interests center on diagnostic studies in patients with musculoskeletal symptoms, and rheumatic and autoimmune diseases. He has published research regarding infectious arthritis, medical ethics, and diagnostic test performance in rheumatic disease. Having retired from patient care in 2019, Dr. Shmerling now works as a senior faculty editor for Harvard Health Publishing.

Twitter: @RobShmerling

Posts by Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Can a multivitamin keep your brain healthy? featured image

Mind & Mood

Can a multivitamin keep your brain healthy?

Is the COVID-19 pandemic over, or not? featured image

Staying Healthy

Is the COVID-19 pandemic over, or not?

Why life expectancy in the US is falling featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Why life expectancy in the US is falling

Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis may lower dementia risk featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis may lower dementia risk

Harvard Health Ad Watch: A new injection treatment for eczema featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Harvard Health Ad Watch: A new injection treatment for eczema

The case of the bad placebo featured image

Heart Health

The case of the bad placebo

How good is your cardiometabolic health — and what is that, anyway? featured image

Heart Health

How good is your cardiometabolic health — and what is that, anyway?

Hand pain from arthritis? This may help featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Hand pain from arthritis? This may help

Have lupus? What to know about birth control featured image

Women's Health

Have lupus? What to know about birth control

Tracking viruses: The best clues may be in the sewer featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Tracking viruses: The best clues may be in the sewer

Could eating fish increase your risk of cancer? featured image

Cancer

Could eating fish increase your risk of cancer?

Can a vegan diet treat rheumatoid arthritis? featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Can a vegan diet treat rheumatoid arthritis?

Thunderstorm asthma: Bad weather, allergies, and asthma attacks featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Thunderstorm asthma: Bad weather, allergies, and asthma attacks

Year three of the pandemic is underway: Now what? featured image

Staying Healthy

Year three of the pandemic is underway: Now what?

Ring vaccination might help curtail monkeypox outbreaks featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Ring vaccination might help curtail monkeypox outbreaks

Considering pregnancy and have lupus? Plan ahead featured image

Women's Health

Considering pregnancy and have lupus? Plan ahead

Monkeypox: An unfamiliar virus spreading fast — sound familiar? featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Monkeypox: An unfamiliar virus spreading fast — sound familiar?

An action plan to fight unhealthy inflammation featured image

Staying Healthy

An action plan to fight unhealthy inflammation

Blood donations are down — so why restrict blood donors by sexual orientation? featured image

Healthcare Disparities

Blood donations are down — so why restrict blood donors by sexual orientation?

Should you be tested for inflammation? featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Should you be tested for inflammation?

Can vitamin D supplements prevent autoimmune disease? featured image

Nutrition

Can vitamin D supplements prevent autoimmune disease?

Why all the buzz about inflammation — and just how bad is it? featured image

Staying Healthy

Why all the buzz about inflammation — and just how bad is it?

Harvard Health Ad Watch: A blood thinner winner? featured image

Diseases & Conditions

Harvard Health Ad Watch: A blood thinner winner?

Could cataract surgery protect against dementia? featured image

Staying Healthy

Could cataract surgery protect against dementia?

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