https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7506-9166Dr. Urowitz has fostered international collaboration throughout his research. He gathered 22 investigators, experts in lupus and methodologists for the Committee on Prognosis Studies in SLE in 1985. Through the work of this committee the disease activity index and damage index were derived. This led to the collaboration through the NATO group, which resulted in several studies comparing activity instruments in SLE, and subsequently culminated in the establishment of SLICC. To further enhance the studies into the causes and outcomes of premature atherosclerosis in SLE Dr. Urowitz initiated the SLICC Registry for Atherosclerosis, which is an inception cohort of patients with SLE followed prospectively in 26 centers internationally according to a common protocol. This cohort provides the opportunity not only to determine incidence, prevalence, and nature of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease in SLE, but also to identify associated risk factors for the development of CAD and its outcomes and to discern the contribution of disease and therapy to the occurrence of these risk factors, as well as develop interventional approaches to modify identified risk factors.
Dr. Urowitz has been recognized as a major contributor to lupus research and has been invited to speak about his research internationally.
In addition to his research activities and extensive publication record, Dr. Urowitz has trained and mentored at least 80 rheumatology trainees and scores of medical and science students, many involved in lupus studies and who later proceeded to train in rheumatology. Dr. Urowitz has been recognized for his teaching excellence by a number of teaching awards at the University of Toronto and by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Most of the Lupus Clinic trainees are still involved in lupus care and research around the world.
Dr. Urowitz has been recognized as a major contributor to lupus research and has been invited to speak about his research internationally.
In addition to his research activities and extensive publication record, Dr. Urowitz has trained and mentored at least 80 rheumatology trainees and scores of medical and science students, many involved in lupus studies and who later proceeded to train in rheumatology. Dr. Urowitz has been recognized for his teaching excellence by a number of teaching awards at the University of Toronto and by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Most of the Lupus Clinic trainees are still involved in lupus care and research around the world.