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          NIAMS Community Health Clinic


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NIAMS Community Health Clinic FacebookEmailPrintFacebookEmail     
    Wide group photo showing head and shoulders of clinic staff.
              The Community Health Clinic (CHC) is a part of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). NIAMS is an institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that is dedicated to clinical and translational research related to arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin disease.Based at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, the CHC focuses on the study of rheumatological diseases in minority populations. However, non-minority, underserved patients from the local community are also eligible to participate.The CHC is a clinical research site where NIAMS researchers:provide rheumatology specialty care.gather health information to answer research questions about rheumatic disease in minority communities.provide scientifically based health information on rheumatic, musculoskeletal, and skin diseases that affect the community.
      ** Monday and Thursday,8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.** NIH Clinical Center, Building 10, OP9 Clinic. Room 6N-216, Bethesda, MD, 20892.StaffPrepare for Your VisitQuestionsSelected Publications
              StaffPaul DeMarco, M.D.Director, Fellowship Directorpaul.demarco@nih.govEnglishSarfaraz Hasni, M.D.Protocol Principal Investigatorsarfaraz.hasni@nih.govEnglish | UrduAlice Fike, CRNPNurse Practitioneralice.fike@nih.govEnglish | French | SpanishYanira Ruiz-Perdomo, FNP-BC, MSNNurse Practitioneryanira.ruiz-perdomo@nih.govEnglish | SpanishJulie Onyechi, PA-CPhysician Assistantjulie.onyechi@nih.govEnglish | SpanishRoxana Marquez. M.A.Patient Care Coordinatorroxana.marquez@nih.govEnglish | Spanish | RussianNancy Ann Spencer, RN, MSCN, CCRPResearch Nurse Specialistnancy.spencer@nih.govEnglish | French | Portuguese | SpanishGlorielly Gonzalez, B.A.Postbaccalaureate Fellowglorielly.gonzalez@nih.govEnglish | Spanish | ASL
              Prepare for Your Visit
              As you prepare to visit the clinic, there are a few things you’ll need to have ready. Here’s a quick list to help you stay organized.Valid, government-issued photo ID (e.g., driver’s license, passport) for those 16 years and older.Legal documents (e.g., advance directive/living will, power of attorney, guardianship/custody documents), if applicable.List of current medications (name, dosage amounts and frequency).Name(s), address(es) and phone number(s) for referring medical professionals to receive information about your visit.Extended visitor badge (if you have one).**DO NOT** bring valuables, alcohol, marijuana/cannabis, or weapons of any kind.Refer to the Clinical Center Website for more details on visiting the NIH or use the following resources to assist with planning your visit:Download the Patient Handbook (1Mb PDF) for details about your visit and other useful info.FollowMyHealth NIH patient portal.View this short video on how to get to the NIH.Metro information is available at the WMATA website.Parking details and schedule of free shuttles on campus and from airports and hotels in the region.NIHCC Take Me There - The NIH Clinical Center’s way-finding cellphone app.The above resources, with more details, are summarized on the Patient Information Sheet (1.1Mb PDF).
      Image
              Road leading up to the entrance of the NIH Clinical Center
Please arrive to the NIH Campus at least 45 minutes prior to your first appointment to allow sufficient time to clear security, park your car and complete patient registration.NIH is a tobacco-free campus.Smoking is permitted directly outside the campus; exceptions for patient tobacco use may be discussed with your NIH care provider.For additional assistance, callAdmissions at 301-496-3141
              Questions
              **Where is the CHC located?**The CHC is located inside the NIH Clinical Center, Building 10, Outpatient Clinic 9 (OP9) on the 9th Floor. Instructions for entry into the NIH are below.*Driving*Take the patient entrance located at the intersection of West drive and West Cedar Lane. You will go through a security check. Free parking is available to patients.*Metro Subway*Take the Red Line to “Medical Center” station. The main NIH entrance, Gateway Center, is at the top of the metro escalator.  Once you pass through security you can take a shuttle labeled “Campus” to Building 10 North Entrance.**What happens during your visit to the CHC?**We offer standard clinical care for rheumatic condition(s) as part of our research study. You will not receive any experimental drugs or treatments. If you are eligible, you may receive: •    Evaluation of your rheumatic condition(s).•    Blood tests.•    X-rays.•    Disease monitoring and treatment.Most patients have blood testing done every 2 to 3 months depending on their condition. This is important to make sure that it is safe to continue taking your prescribed medications.**What if you prefer using a language other than English?**You have the right to receive the services of a medical interpreter in the language of your choice. Staff members of the Community Health Clinic are fluent in Spanish, French, Russian, and Urdu.  NIH has professional interpretation services on site.
      **How do you get a refill on your prescriptions?**Please let your provider know at your visit when you need more medications. You can call the Clinic refill line and leave a message at 301-594-6035 if you need refills of your medications that we prescribed for you. Please leave your name, phone number, and name of each medication needed and you will receive a call back in 2-3 business days.**How can you view your test results?**You will need to register for an account on the NIH FollowMyHealth Portal. You’ll need an invitation from the Clinical Center to get your account set up. The invitation will be sent to the email address you gave when you registered.**Where can you find more information about your condition?**NIAMS has health information on many rheumatic conditions. There are also condition-specific foundations which offer detailed information and opportunities to connect with other people with the same condition:The Arthritis FoundationLupus Foundation of AmericaSjogren’s FoundationNational Psoriasis FoundationSpondylitis Association of AmericaNational Scleroderma FoundationThe Myositis AssociationAmerican College of Rheumatology Treatment Information
              Selected Scientific PublicationsPeroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ agonist pioglitazone improves vascular and metabolic dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus.Hasni S, Temesgen-Oyelakin Y, Davis M, Chu J, Poncio E, Naqi M, Gupta S, Wang X, Oliveira C, Claybaugh D, Dey A, Lu S, Carlucci P, Purmalek M, Manna ZG, Shi Y, Ochoa-Navas I, Chen J, Mukherjee A, Han KL, Cheung F, Koroleva G, Belkaid Y, Tsang JS, Apps R, Thomas DE, Heller T, Gadina M, Playford MP, Li X, Mehta NN, Kaplan MJAnn Rheum Dis.2022 Aug 1;81(11).doi: 10.1136/ard-2022-222658PMID: 35914929Health disparities in systemic lupus erythematosus-a narrative review.Hasan B, Fike A, Hasni SClin Rheumatol.2022 Nov;41(11).doi: 10.1007/s10067-022-06268-yPMID: 35907971Phase 1 double-blind randomized safety trial of the Janus kinase inhibitor tofacitinib in systemic lupus erythematosus.Hasni SA, Gupta S, Davis M, Poncio E, Temesgen-Oyelakin Y, Carlucci PM, Wang X, Naqi M, Playford MP, Goel RR, Li X, Biehl AJ, Ochoa-Navas I, Manna Z, Shi Y, Thomas D, Chen J, Biancotto A, Apps R, Cheung F, Kotliarov Y, Babyak AL, Zhou H, Shi R, Stagliano K, Tsai WL, Vian L, Gazaniga N, Giudice V, Lu S, Brooks SR, MacKay M, Gregersen P, Mehta NN, Remaley AT, Diamond B, O'Shea JJ, Gadina M, Kaplan MJNat Commun.2021 Jun 7;12(1).doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-23361-zPMID: 34099646Risk Factors for COVID-19 and Rheumatic Disease Flare in a US Cohort of Latino Patients.Fike A, Hartman J, Redmond C, Williams SG, Ruiz-Perdomo Y, Chu J, Hasni S, Ward MM, Katz JD, Gourh PArthritis Rheumatol.2021 Jul;73(7).doi: 10.1002/art.41656PMID: 33455077Safety and Tolerability of Omalizumab: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Humanized Anti-IgE Monoclonal Antibody in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.Hasni S, Gupta S, Davis M, Poncio E, Temesgen-Oyelakin Y, Joyal E, Fike A, Manna Z, Auh S, Shi Y, Chan D, Carlucci P, Biehl A, Dema B, Charles N, Balow JE, Waldman M, Siegel RM, Kaplan MJ, Rivera JArthritis Rheumatol.2019 Jul;71(7).doi: 10.1002/art.40828PMID: 30597768Neutrophil subsets and their gene signature associate with vascular inflammation and coronary atherosclerosis in lupus.Carlucci PM, Purmalek MM, Dey AK, Temesgen-Oyelakin Y, Sakhardande S, Joshi AA, Lerman JB, Fike A, Davis M, Chung JH, Playford MP, Naqi M, Mistry P, Gutierrez-Cruz G, Dell'Orso S, Naz F, Salahuddin T, Natarajan B, Manna Z, Tsai WL, Gupta S, Grayson P, Teague H, Chen MY, Sun HW, Hasni S, Mehta NN, Kaplan MJJCI Insight.2018 Apr 19;3(8).pii: 99276. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.99276PMID: 29669944Clinically important changes in individual and composite measures of rheumatoid arthritis activity: thresholds applicable in clinical trials.Ward MM, Guthrie LC, Alba MIAnn Rheum Dis.2015 Sep;74(9).doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-205079PMID: 24794149A pilot study of yoga as self-care for arthritis in minority communities.Middleton KR, Ward MM, Haaz S, Velummylum S, Fike A, Acevedo AT, Tataw-Ayuketah G, Dietz L, Mittleman BB, Wallen GRHealth Qual Life Outcomes.2013 Apr 2;11().doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-11-55PMID: 23548052Validating English- and Spanish-language patient-reported outcome measures in underserved patients with rheumatic disease.Wallen GR, Middleton KR, Rivera-Goba MV, Mittleman BBArthritis Res Ther.2011 Jan 5;13(1).doi: 10.1186/ar3219PMID: 21208400


Last Updated: February 2024


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