Four Named to NIAMS Advisory Council

NIAMS director Dr. Stephen Katz (c) and deputy director Dr. Robert Carter (r) welcome new members to the institute’s council. They are (from l) Dr. Michael Yaszemski, Dr. Judith James, Rosemary Markoff and Dr. Michael Econs.

Four new members recently joined the National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Advisory Council. 

Dr. Michael J. Econs is the Glenn W. Irwin, Jr. professor of endocrinology and metabolism and chief of the division of endocrinology and metabolism at Indiana University School of Medicine. His primary area of research is in the genetic aspects of metabolic bone diseases.

Dr. Judith A. James is vice president of clinical affairs and chair of the arthritis and clinical immunology research program at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Her research aims to understand the etiology and pathogenic mechanisms of systemic autoimmune, rheumatic diseases, with a special interest in minority groups.   

Dr. Michael J. Yaszemski is professor of orthopaedics and bioengineering and director of the tissue engineering and biomaterials laboratory at the Mayo Clinic. His research focuses on the development of biodegradable scaffold polymers to support bone and spinal cord regeneration using tissue engineering strategies.

Rosemary J. Markoff began her career in accounting until a diagnosis of scleroderma led her down a path toward patient advocacy and disease awareness. She became actively involved in the Scleroderma Foundation and has served in numerous leadership roles over the last 15 years.