Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Dr. Candace Feldman is the Director of the BWH Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation and Immunity Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force. She is also co-Director of Health Equity Initiatives for the BWH Department of Medicine. Dr. Feldman is a rheumatologist, social epidemiologist and health equity researcher focused on improving care and reducing disparities among individuals with rheumatologic conditions. Her vision is multipronged and includes multilevel interventions with both community and hospital-based components, as well as workforce-specific efforts to enhance diversity through pathway programs and social and racial justice curriculum development.

Dr. Case is a rheumatologist who sees both pediatric and adult patients, with a focus on pediatric patients with rheumatic diseases who need to transition to adult care. Dr. Case joined the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Rheumatology Steering Committee because she deeply believes in the committee's goal of providing equitable, compassionate care for all patients.

Dr. Rochelle L. Castillo is a physician-scientist focusing on the cutaneous aspects of rheumatologic diseases with dual appointments in both the Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity and the Department of Dermatology. Born in rural Illinois and raised in the Philippines, she has practiced medicine in diverse clinical settings in both the U.S. and the Philippines and was a member of the Rheumatology Fellowship Diversity Advisory Committee at NYU. She is dedicated to supporting initiatives aimed at promoting health equity and to helping individuals from under-represented minorities and international medical graduates have access to top-tier mentorship, training, and opportunities in rheumatology and rheumatologic dermatology.

Dr. Costenbader is a rheumatologist, clinical investigator and active research mentor serving as Chief of the Section of Clinical Sciences and Director of the Lupus Program in the BWH Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity. She has been an advocate for diversity in rheumatology workforce training, and equity in patient care and research as the Faculty Director of the Office for Research Careers at the BWH, supporting efforts to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion for all researchers, including students, postdoctoral fellows, residents, trainees, and faculty, at the BWH.

Dr. Sonali Desai is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a practicing rheumatologist serving as the Vice President of Quality and Associate Chief Medical Officer, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Desai conducts research on improving the quality of care and patient safety with a focus on the ambulatory setting, with over 40 peer-reviewed publications. She has also taught internationally in quality and safety and was a founding program director at HMS for the Safety, Quality Informatics and Leadership program.

Tyler Green graduated from Dartmouth College in 2024 receiving a BA in Biology with a concentration in African and African American Studies. While attending Dartmouth, Tyler served as a pre-health mentor for students identifying as URiM. Tyler Also served as a coordinator for the Pathways to Medicine program at Dartmouth designed to support URiM identifying students interested in medicine while prioritizing education surrounding the social determinants of health, and issues of equity and disparity.

Dr. Paul Hoover is a rheumatologist and physician-scientist. He cares for patients with autoimmune syndromes and investigates the molecular and cellular mechanisms driving disease and the impact of genetic heterogeneity that underpins severe outcomes. He is a member of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force and the Director of Translational Research in Lupus Nephritis in the BWH Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity.

Dr. Tiffany Hsu is an Instructor in the BWH Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity. She is a rheumatologist and basic scientist studying the role of autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of autoimmune conditions and the mechanisms underlying the regulation of innate immunity. Dr. Hsu is committed to improving equity in access to care for those with autoimmune conditions.

Dr. Mueller is a physician scientist in the Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity at Brigham and Women’s Hospital where she studies molecular mechanisms driving chronic inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases. As part of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Rheumatology Steering Committee, she is excited to support initiatives to improve patient access to quality care, promote diversity in the workforce, and advance health equity research.

My commitment to advancing DEI efforts is rooted in my lived experiences. Growing up in a community that celebrated multiculturalism, while still recognizing the many existing disparities, cultivated a conscious desire to create positive change. My hope for our work is to foster a lasting culture of inclusion and equity within our division that welcomes difference, challenges pre-existing misconceptions, and advocates for all patients and colleagues.

As a rheumatologist for 25 years at BWH and a leader in clinical research, Dr. Solomon recognizes the importance of equity in our mission. The task force helps ensure that rheumatology provides equitable care through a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Dr. Tedeschi is a rheumatologist and clinical investigator in the BWH Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation and Immunity. Her clinical practice includes many patients who speak Spanish only. She feels strongly about reducing barriers to access rheumatology care, particularly for patients who do not speak English.

Dr. Valle is a rheumatology fellow and identifies as a group underrepresented in medicine. She is passionate about being part of the DEI Task Force because it is imperative for our institution and the rheumatology field at large to build ties with and mentor URiM trainees to highlight that that they too belong in rheumatology and research. Dr. Valle believes that in rheumatology, we need diverse providers to match our diverse patient population and our DEI task force works towards this goal.