The R. J. Fasenmyer Center for Clinical Immunology Education and Research is dedicated towards promoting excellence in patient care, research and education in the field of clinical immunology with a particular emphasis in the areas of chronic viral diseases and vasculitis.
The center promotes and supports innovative research in the field of immunology especially in its areas of interest. In addition the center will foster and support education and training in clinical immunology for the medical profession and will work with volunteer and community based institutions promoting education and awareness for the general public regarding clinical immunology.
Top Priorities
- To promote and support innovative research in clinical immunology with emphasis in its areas of interest
- To promote and support education and training for clinical immunology
- To work with community based organizations to promote general awareness and education of the public at large regarding critical issues in clinical immunology
The R.J. Fasenmyer Education Center housed on the 4th floor of the Crile Building provides space for multidisciplinary educational activities. It is state-of-the-art and allows clinicians from all over the world to dial in for meetings and conferences.
Residents and fellows rotate with members of the Center, seeing patients with autoimmune, autoinflammatory and immunodeficiency diseases.
Our Clinical Immunology department has expanded to include 3 more associate staff members: a staff dermatologist/immunologist (Dr Anthony Fernandez), a staff pulmonologist/immunologist (Dr James Fernandez), and a researcher/clinician (Dr Atul Khasnis).
The R.J. Fasenmyer Annual Lectureship brings world leaders in the field to Cleveland Clinic. Every other year the lectureship is incorporated into the highly-successful and well-attended Biologics Summit which is held on Cleveland Clinic's main campus.
The Basic Immunology course is held on the 1st Wed of every month during the academic year. It is open to clinicians and researchers from all specialties and has as its instructors not only Dr Calabrese but thought leaders from Cleveland Clinic and around the world.
The Fasenmyer web site at www.ccfcme.org is the largest non-profit site for Rheumatology CME in the world. Educational kiosks will be incorporated into new state of the art patient exam rooms currently being built on A-50.
The R. J. Fasenmyer Center will continue to work with community-based organizations to foster awareness and education in Clinical Immunology.
Critical Issues
- There is a continuing need for public education in the areas of HIV and hepatitis C virus infections designed to foster enlightened public policy and decrease their spread.
- Patients with vasculitis and their families have current needs for clear and authoritative resources to help them understand and cope with their chronic illness.
- Multiple existing organizations are making efforts in these areas but coordination is lacking.
Strategies
- The RJF Center can support community-based initiatives for HIV and HCV education with financial backing. Establish a budget for community outreach for eligible organizations working in the areas of HIV and HCV. Support could be provided for such events as the AIDS Walk, Free Clinic outreach, AIDS Task Force projects and others.
- The Center can serve as a clearinghouse for reliable information in the field of vasculitis.
- The Center can create a designated web site as the definitive education resource for patients and their families with vasculitis (see above educational strategies).
The Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases offers a complete array of diagnostic and therapeutic services for adults with immunodeficiency diseases. The most common conditions are discussed below.
HIV/AIDS
The Section of Clinical Immunology of the Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases has been involved in the treatment of patients with HIV since 1981. The Department's HIV clinic offers a complete array of longitudinal support services including a Certified Nurse Practitioner and access to nutrition, social work, and other ancillary services.
The HIV treatment program in the Section of Clinical Immunology emphasizes individual patient care and attention. Drug therapy programs are tailored individually and close contact with the patients is maintained. The latest technological advances in terms of viral and immune system monitoring, antiretroviral and immune-based therapies are available. Patients are encouraged to participate actively in their care and treatment decisions, and are welcome to contact our offices via telephone or email with any questions or concerns in between office appointments.
Research is an active component of the patient care services. The Department is a member of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group team at Case Western Reserve University and is involved in numerous research protocols both regionally and nationally. Patients are actively referred for ACTG protocols when appropriate or in-house protocols when available.
Antibody Deficiency States Including Common Variable Hypogammaglobulinemia, IgG Subclass Deficiencies and Others
The Clinical Immunology Section cares for a large number of patients with hypogammaglobulinemia and related disorders. Both in-clinic and at-home intravenous infusion services are available for intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). The majority of our patients are given IVIg infusions within the Department in comfortable surroundings administered by a knowledgeable support staff.
Other Immune Deficiency Diseases
Complete diagnostic services are available for all adults with suspected immune deficiency or immune dysfunction syndromes. Aside from HIV disease and humoral immunodeficiency diseases, most of these are clinically rare. The laboratory support services and diagnostic immunology at the Cleveland Clinic are among the finest in the world. Patients with acquired defects of cellular immunity, humoral immunity, phagocytic function and the complement pathway are all evaluated and treated in the Section of Clinical Immunology.
What We Treat