Women Health In Rheumatology Association - WHIRA

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Women Health In Rheumatology Association - WHIRA

WHIRA, the Women Health in Rheumatology Association, is not merely an association.

Mission and Focus:
● Mission: Knowledge, Wellness, Advocacy – WHIRA aims to empower women with rheumatic diseases through education, holistic well-being practices, and advocacy efforts.
● Focus: Women's Health Related Issues in Rheumatic Diseases It is a transformative movement dedicated to addressing and advancing women's health issues in the context of rheumatic diseases. Founded on the principl

es of inclusivity and empowerment, and with a focus on providing a platform predominantly for women, by women, and of women, WHIRA aims to make a tangible difference in the realm of rheumatological healthcare. Mission and Focus:
● Mission: Knowledge, Wellness, Advocacy – WHIRA aims to empower women with rheumatic diseases through education, holistic well-being practices, and advocacy efforts.
● Focus: Women's Health Related Issues in Rheumatic Diseases

20/06/2026

🎓 Continuing academic initiative of WHIRA Rheuma Classes | Disease Activity Assessment & Tools in SLE

An insightful and highly interactive academic session by Dr. Ranjan Gupta (Additional Professor, Department of Rheumatology, AIIMS New Delhi) moderated by Dr. Kavita Krishna and Dr. Varsha Bhatt took over 3900 participants through the evolving landscape of disease activity assessment in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).

The session highlighted:

🔹 The crucial distinction between disease activity and irreversible damage, and why differentiating the two is fundamental to patient care.

🔹 Why standardized disease activity assessment is essential for clinical decision-making, prognostication, treat-to-target strategies, and research.

🔹 A comprehensive overview of commonly used indices, including SLEDAI-2K, SELENA-SLEDAI, BILAG-2004, ECLAM, SLAM-R, LAI, and SLE-DAS, with their strengths, limitations, and ideal clinical applications.

🔹 Special considerations for disease activity assessment during pregnancy, emphasizing appropriate interpretation of clinical and laboratory findings.

The session concluded with a comparative approach to selecting the most appropriate assessment tool based on clinical context, reinforcing that accurate disease activity measurement is central to optimizing outcomes in lupus.

A sincere thank you to Dr. Ranjan Gupta for sharing his expertise and making complex assessment tools practical and clinically relevant for rheumatology trainees and practicing clinicians.

11/06/2026

Please join us for an interesting Academic Online Session on 13th June 2026, Saturday evening 8 pm IST.

Topic: Disease Activity Assessment and tools in SLE
Speaker: Dr. Ranjan Gupta

https://www.docplexus.com/user/content/webinar/3b6fbdbb-8250-462a-9d86-a6593594de84

24/05/2026

Lupus Connect 2.0 | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala | 16–17 May 💜

Organised by IRIS and WHIRA, Lupus Connect 2.0 brought together clinicians, researchers, and trainees from across the country for two enriching days of discussion, collaboration, and advancing the future of lupus care and research in India.

Centered around the themes of Neuropsychiatric SLE and Precision Medicine, the conference highlighted the complexities of lupus heterogeneity, the challenges in defining and understanding NPSLE, and the urgent need for stronger pathophysiology-driven research in India.

We are proud to share the contributions and achievements from our team:
✨ Dr. Kavita Krishna delivered the inaugural address, hosted a panel discussion on Precision Medicine in Lupus, and served as Organizing Co-Chair of the conference.
✨ Dr. Varsha Bhatt delivered an insightful Indian perspective on Mental Health Burden in Lupus, emphasizing the importance of holistic lupus care and the urgent need for more collaborative research.
✨ Three abstracts from our team were accepted at the conference. Dr. Nikita Shetty, Rheumatology resident, won first prize for Oral Paper Presentation and Dr. Shyam Yadav won first prize for Poster Presentation.

A major takeaway from the meeting was the importance of long-term Indian cohorts, international collaborations, and interdisciplinary dialogue — all essential steps toward achieving truly personalized lupus care. It was especially encouraging to witness the growing body of ongoing Indian research in NPSLE and the enthusiasm for collaborative work across specialties. Together, we continue building stronger lupus research and care networks across India.

21/05/2026

Spreading Wings and Sharing Hope — Our Lupus Awareness Week 💜

As part of World Lupus Day, WHIRA organised a patient awareness programme focused on education, support, and shared experiences for individuals living with lupus and their caregivers.

Patients shared their personal journeys with the disease, fostering meaningful conversations on resilience, coping, and the importance of community support.

“Creativity Meets Courage” ✨💜🏆
Patients and caregivers also took part in a butterfly colouring activity symbolising hope, transformation, and strength, with sweet surprises for the winners. 🦋🍫

To highlight the importance of photoprotection in lupus care, all participants were provided with a sun-safety kit containing sunscreen and a hat, reinforcing simple yet effective preventive measures against skin flares.

Through awareness initiatives such as these, we continue to encourage understanding, empowerment, and holistic care for individuals living with lupus.

05/05/2026

This World Spondyloarthritis Day, WHIRA brought patients, doctors, and physiotherapists together for a meaningful awareness programme centered on living better with Spondyloarthritis.

Through interactive sessions, Physiotherapy faculty and students demonstrated practical chair-based exercises that patients can easily incorporate into their daily routines. Handouts were shared to help continue this journey at home — because consistency matters.

Dr. Kavita Krishna and Dr. Varsha Bhatt also spoke about Spondyloarthritis, helping patients better understand their condition and what to expect over time.

With patient kits, warm conversations, and tea shared together, the day was a reminder that care goes beyond clinics — it’s about community, education, and empowerment.

20/04/2026

The Women Health in Rheumatology Association (WHIRA) is proud to be associated with IRIS Lupus Connect 2.0 — a dynamic CME bringing together leading national and international experts to explore evolving frontiers in precision medicine and neuropsychiatric lupus.

📍 O by Tamara, Thiruvananthapuram
📅 16–17 May 2026

From cutting-edge science to real-world clinical insights, this meeting promises meaningful dialogue and impactful learning in lupus care.

11/04/2026

We are excited to announce “Lupus Knowledge Refresher’ Quiz in Lupus Connect 2.0. The quiz will mainly consist of Lupus related topics. It is a great chance to participate and gauge the depth of our understanding in this mysterious entity. The quiz is open for both trainees and consultants.

21/03/2026

WHIRA members at World Rheumatology Forum WRF Raipur, 14-15th March 2025. A Focussed Myositis and Psoriatic Arthritis Meet. Dr. Kavita Krishna participated as Faculty for Psoriatic Arthritis Sessions- Sessions. There were State of Art Lectures, challenging cases presentations, and academic Deliberations and interactions with the Experts from UK, Dr Hector Chinoy and Dr William Tillett, and our Rheumatology Colleagues. Dr. Varsha Bhatt was a judge at the poster session.

14/03/2026

Highlights from XXI RESCON – Annual Research Society Conference 2026, held at Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University) Medical College, Pune on 12–13 March 2026. The conference, themed “Microbes to Mankind: Rethinking Infections for Tomorrow”, featured academic discussions, research presentations, and expert talks on infectious diseases and related fields.

Dr. Nayantara Shenoy, DM 1st Year Resident, received 1st Prize in the Faculty Category for both E-Poster and Oral Paper Presentation.
• E-Poster:“A Mysterious Case of Hip Pain”
• Oral Presentation:“Tofacitinib in Refractory Calcinosis Associated with JDM”
Congratulations to Dr. Shenoy on this achievement.

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