Dr. Brian Feldman

2014 Distinguished Investigator Award

Dr. Brian Feldman is a world leader in multiple areas of clinical and research rheumatology. He has made important contributions to the clinical care of patients with juvenile dermatomyositis by describing clinical manifestations, disease course and outcome, and new therapeutic approaches. He has also played a key role in developing tools to measure disease activity and outcomes for patients with juvenile dermatomyositis. His work on treatment and prevention of complications for patients with hemophilia has been instrumental in improving the quality of life for patients and their families.

As a basic scientist, Brian’s work has focused on the design of clinical trials. He has devised many new methods to study patients with rare disorders, which have been adopted in countless research studies.

Brian is a highly sought after speaker. He has travelled the globe as a speaker in a number of areas of rheumatology. Brian is an outstanding mentor and has worked with trainees in multiple divisions and departments of paediatrics, as well as departments outside of paediatrics such as internal medicine, surgery, rehabilitation medicine, and nursing. He has also had many graduate students, both at the Masters and PhD levels.

Brian has received the Henry Kunkel Award from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), the Canada Research Chair in Childhood Arthritis, the Department of Paediatrics Physician Research Award for Scientific Accomplishment, and the Eugenie Stuart Award for Best Instructor, Department of Health Policy, Management & Evaluation. He holds the Ho Family Chair in Autoimmune Diseases at the University of Toronto where he is a full professor in the departments of Paediatrics & Medicine, Health Policy Management & Evaluation, and Public Health.

He has played an important role in moving the paediatric rheumatology agenda forward through his advocacy work. Brian currently chairs the Medical Advisory Council for The Arthritis Society (TAS). At the ACR, his important activities over the last few years have included chairing the Paediatric Rheumatology Symposium (PRSYM) Meeting Planning Committee, serving as Co-Chair of the Criteria Subcommittee of the Quality of Care Committee, and acting as a member of the Quality of Care Committee. He served as a member of the Committee on Safe and Effective Medicines for Children for the Institute of Medicine. He was a founding member of the Childhood Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA), an international consortium that tries to ensure that every patient with a paediatric rheumatic disease can enter a clinical trial. He serves on the Editorial Board of Arthritis Care and Research.

Brian Feldman has been an outstanding contributor to the field of rheumatology for over two decades and is most deserving of the CRA’s Distinguished Investigator Award.