John J. Cush, August 2007

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John J. Cush, MD
School Of Medicine Keynote Speaker – August 16, 2007

John J. Cush was a member of the second graduating class of St. George’s University School of Medicine (SGUSOM) in 1981, at which time he received the Robert Hingson Humanitarian Award. He received his undergraduate degree (BS, Biology) from St. Johns University in Jamaica, New York. His clerkship and residency in Internal Medicine were performed at Coney Island Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, where he was named Intern of the Year and Chief Resident in Internal Medicine. In 1984, Dr. Cush began his rheumatology fellowship and was later appointed to the Rheumatology faculty of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. Since 1996 he has been Chief of the Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Director of the Arthritis Center at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas and is a Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. Dr. Cush serves on the Board of Trustees and is Chair of the Academic Board of Trustees for St. George’s University.

During his fellowship and faculty tenure, Dr. Cush focused his research on the immunopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, transendothelial lymphocyte migration and novel drug development through clinical trial research, with an emphasis on rheumatoid arthritis, the spondyloarthropathies, and biologic agents. Currently his research is focused on novel biologic therapeutics, clinical trials, early rheumatoid arthritis, measuring outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis and biologic safety.

As a result of his efforts, Dr. Cush was voted one of the “Best Doctors In America” (1996, 1998, 2001-2002) and “Best Doctors in Dallas” (2002-06) by his peers. In 1998-99 the Internal Medicine Residency Program at the Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas named him, “Teacher of the Year”. He is actively involved in patient care, teaching, medical education and clinical trials research in the rheumatic diseases. He has over 100 publications on a variety of topics including rheumatoid arthritis, drug-induced lupus, spondyloarthropathies, immunotherapy, Still’s disease, drug safety, biologic therapies and nutraceuticals. He has served or chaired several leadership committees for the National Arthritis Foundation and the American College of Rheumatology. He has been an editor for the American College of Rheumatology “Hotlines” series. He has co-authored two rheumatology textbooks: 1) “Rheumatology: Diagnosis and Therapeutics” (2nd edition, Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins 2005); and 2) “Rheumatoid Arthritis: Early Diagnosis and Treatment” (Professional Communications). Dr. Cush currently serves on the Arthritis Advisory Committee for the Food and Drug Administration and is Chairman of the Corporate Relations Committee for the American College of Rheumatology.