What do Other Doctors Need to Know About?

I recently had the opportunity to contribute to a Health Monitor Network feature on Sjögren’s disease, alongside several expert colleagues in the field (read the article here). The conversation underscored how our understanding of Sjögren’s continues to expand from early recognition to precision immunology and multidisciplinary care.

Three themes particularly resonated with me.

1. The Need for Earlier Diagnosis

Many patients still wait years for a Sjögren’s diagnosis, often after irreversible glandular or systemic injury has occurred. The article highlighted the importance of vigilance among clinicians.

As a clinician, I’ve seen how validation and early recognition can change a patient’s trajectory. Some of my patients are quite young. Listening carefully to the nuances of a patient’s story remains one of the most powerful diagnostic tools we have.

2. Moving Toward Precision Medicine

Sjögren’s is not one disease, but a continuum of immune signatures. Contributors to the piece emphasized the need to identify patient subtypes and match therapy to mechanism (whether B-cell modulation, T-cell targeting, or cytokine blockade).

That precision-based approach aligns with the broader direction of autoimmune therapeutics.

3. Collaboration Across Disciplines

Finally, the feature highlighted the value of multidisciplinary care as well as stronger bridges between clinical practice, research, and therapeutic development. These collaborations are key to accelerating real-world progress for patients.

Looking ahead, I remain committed to advancing this kind of patient-centered care and am optimistic of the emerging therapeutic landscape.