Site Purpose
The Lupus Encyclopedia is a patient educational site created by Donald Thomas, lupus expert, who has a special interest in systemic autoimmune diseases such as lupus, Sjogren’s disease, undifferentiated connective disease, and mixed connective disease.
Author Bio
Dr. Thomas’ credentials include:
- Board-certified in rheumatology and is in private practice at Arthritis and Pain Associates of Prince George’s County, Maryland
- He is a Clinical Professor of Medicine, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda MD and teaches at Walter Reed National Medical Center
- Has cared for patients with systemic autoimmune diseases since he began rheumatology fellowship in 1993
- Graduated from rheumatology fellowship in 1995, Walter Reed Army Medical Center
- Being a member of the American College of Rheumatology since 1993, he is a Fellow Member
- He is on the Board of Directors of the American College of Rheumatology, starting in 2025
- He is a Fellow Member of the American College of Physicians
- He was on the Board of Directors of the Sjogren’s Foundation 2018 – 2025, and served as the Chair of the Board 2021-2023
- He was the Chair of the Medical and Scientific Advisory Council of the MidAtlantic Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America
- He is on the Medical and Scientific Advisory Council of Lupus LA, starting in 2024
- He is a member of the Academy of Medicine of Washington DC since 2023
- He was President of the Rheumatism Society of the District of Columbia, 2016 – 2017
- He received the “Lupus Hero Award,” Lupus Foundation of America, DC/MD/VA in 2016
- He has written numerous articles and participated in research published in peer-reviewed medical journals
- He has written chapters in The Sjogren’s Book, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and Lupus: Perspectives in Diseases and Disorders
- He regularly gives presentations about lupus for health care providers
- He is an invited Expert about Lupus and Sjogren’s Disease on the physician forum: TheMedNet
Editorial Process
All articles are written by experts and include citations and linked references. Donald Thomas, MD is usually the author of educational posts. Invited expert writers write some posts and are reviewed and edited by Donald Thomas, MD.
Disclosures/Transparency
Dr. Donald Thomas personally funds the website to include a website manager. A small amount is donated by appreciative readers through the program “Buy Me a Coffee.”
Dr. Thomas is a consultant, advisor, and is on the Speaker’s Bureaus of GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca, the producers of Benlysta and Saphnelo, respectfully. In the past, he was a consultant for and on the Speaker’s Bureaus of Exagen Labs (producer of the AVISE Tests) and Aurinia (producer of Lupkynis).
However, this site, nor the book “The Lupus Encyclopedia” are funded by any of these affiliates and this site and its articles are independent from these companies. Dr. Thomas strives to present an unbiased view of lupus and its management, referring to appropriate research and medical evidence as much as possible, to include when the products above are listed.
Contact
Dr. Thomas can be contacted on his Contact Page.