Associate Professor and Rheumatology Fellowship Director Ernest R. Vina, MD, MS, is the lead author on the article, 'Does Physical Activity Confound Race Differences in Osteoarthritis-Related Functional Limitation?', published in the February 2024 editions of the American College of Rheumatology's journal Arthritis Care and Research. Arthritis Center director C. Kent Kwoh, MD, MACR, is also an author on the publication.
The article highlights the findings that those of African American decent had higher incidence of osteoarthritis-related functional limitations over a four-year period. The study evaluated the confounding effects of physical activity in the relationship between race and osteoarthritis-related functional limitation; finding slight to mild confounding effects. To read the article in its entirety, please click on the title below:
'Does Physical Activity Confound Race Differences in Osteoarthritis-Related Functional Limitation?'
More about Ernest R. Vina, MD, MS
Dr. Vina earned his bachelor’s degree in psychobiology from UCLA in 1999 and his medical doctorate from the Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin School of Medicine, in 2004. He completed his internal medicine residency at Cedars Sinai Medical Center where he also completed a Health Services Research fellowship. His rheumatology fellowship was completed at the University of Chicago Medical Center in 2011, and he also earned a master's degree in Health Studies. He joined the University of Arizona College of Medicine and the UA Division of Rheumatology in 2014.
Prior to coming to the UA in 2014, Dr. Vina served as an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and as a staff rheumatologist in the Veteran’s Administration Pittsburgh Healthcare System. He was also the core investigator at the VAPHS Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, a VA Center of Excellence.
Dr. Vina’s research interests include racial disparities in systemic lupus erythematosus, treatment preferences, racial disparities in osteoarthritis, quality of care and health services. He is a member of the American College of Rheumatology, the American College of Physicians, the American Medical Association and the Society for Medical Decision Making and has authored numerous publications on racial and ethnic disparities and treatment preferences in systemic lupus erythematosus among other subjects.
Dr. Vina is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology.