He received his bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Yale University and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Shapiro completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Presbyterian–University Hospital, Pittsburgh, and served his Fellowship in rheumatology at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine. Dr. Shapiro is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and in rheumatology, Subspecialty Board. His affiliations include Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology, Fellow of the American College of Physicians, and he is a member of New York State Rheumatology Society and serves on the Medical Advisory Board of the Scleroderma Foundation’s Tri-State Chapter.
Dr. Shapiro has been honored for his tireless advocacy and compassionate treatment of patients affected by scleroderma and Degos disease. His accolades include being named the Scleroderma Foundation Doctor of the Year, receiving the Distinguished Physician Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 by the Scleroderma Foundation, and being inducted into the CDPHP Physicians Academy, which recognizes physicians who serve as role models to their medical colleagues and who act as ambassadors in fostering the delivery of high-value health care.
Dr. Farrell received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Subsequent to this, she completed an ASHP-Accredited Pharmacy Practice Residency at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in Englewood, NJ.
Dr. Farrell presents nationally and internationally on numerous rheumatic conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, scleroderma, and pregnancy/lactation in rheumatic disease. She has received multiple professional awards including Preceptor of Distinction in Clinical Pharmacy, Steffens Scleroderma Foundation Ernest J. Dupont Award, Faculty Advisor of the Year and the Scleroderma Foundation 2019 Doctor of the Year.
Dr. Lesley A Saketkoo, MD, MPH, is a researcher, educator and clinician in scleroderma/systemic sclerosis, sarcoidosis, myositis, pulmonary hypertension and interstitial lung disease. In 2011, she established the Scleroderma and Sarcoidosis Patient Care and Research Center between Tulane and Louisiana State University, “center of excellence” by the European Scleroderma Trials and Research Group (EUSTAR), the Scleroderma Foundation, and the Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium (SCTC).; and also established the Pulmonary Hypertension clinic program at LSU, which is now the LSU-Tulane collaborative Comprehensive Pulmonary Hypertension Center (CPHC) at University Medical Center, a Pulmonary Hypertension Association certified center of excellence.
In addition to clinical trials and registries in rare multi-organ system diseases, Dr. Saketkoo is dedicated to research that illuminates patient priorities and incorporates patients' expertise in clinical trial design, learning about the disease, along with how manifestations of the disease begin and evolve over time. Dr. Saketkoo has been dedicated to wellness education that empowers patients living with chronic illness for biological and psychosocial wellness. She is a founder of G-FoRSS, the Global Fellowship on Rehabilitation and Exercise in Systemic Sclerosis, which is group of PTs, OTs, physicians, and basic scientists dedicated to defining exercise and physical activity's medicinal impact on systemic inflammation, fibrosis, functional ability and psychosocial ease in SSc. Dr. Saketkoo was named Doctor of the Year in 2018 by the Scleroderma Foundation.
Dr. Shapiro’s and Dr. Whelan’s joint efforts began over a decade ago when Dr. Shapiro consulted Dr. Whelan regarding a critically ill pediatric Degos patient. One result of this collaboration has been the development of an international Degos Disease study group.
Stephen Veit has worked at Albany Medical Center for the past 19 years in the Pathology department. He holds the position of Technical Specialist and is a national and state certified Histotechnologist. His position at the hospital requires some responsibility regarding management of the laboratory. While in this position, Stephen continues to work towards finishing his doctorate in Medical Ethics. Dr. Shapiro established a working relationship with Stephen Veit as a result of their professional paths crossing at Albany Medical Center.