Posts classified under: Faculty

Dr. Ramos is a human geneticist whose research goal is to understand the determinants of lupus. Her multidisciplinary work leverages tools from molecular, statistical, and population genetics, genetic epidemiology, and social epigenomics to identify genetic and non-genetic, modifiable risk factors for lupus. The goal is to inform the development of tailored and equitable treatments and interventions for everyone. In efforts to achieve health equity, Dr. Ramos is also actively involved in community education, outreach and engagement, and public advocacy.

Karla is a dedicated clinical research nurse with a passion for serving the lupus community. Since 2002, she has been an integral part of Emory University Division of Rheumatology, specializing in conducting, coordinating, and managing lupus clinical trials alongside Dr. Lim.  Karla finds fulfillment in connecting with her lupus patients, delving into their life stories, and understanding the diverse ways lupus impacts their lives. Despite her busy schedule, she enjoys cooking, browsing antique stores, birdwatching, and playing in her local cornhole league.

Katrina joined the Emory Division of Rheumatology as a Clinical Data Abstractor in 2024.

She has over 15 years of experience in surveillance studies.

She reviews and abstracts clinical data from medical records to satisfy the requirements of target registries.

Katrina is very passionate about making a positive difference in the health and well-being of individuals and families.

Hilton joined the Emory School of Medicine Division of Rheumatology in December 2019 as a Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC). He is one of the lead CRCs for the GOAL study. He has a strong interest in preventive care, men’s health, and health equity for marginalized communities.

Yasin Parker joined Emory University’s Division of Rheumatology in August 2023 as the Senior Program Coordinator for the Georgia Lupus Registry. Leveraging her expertise in community health, she leads outreach efforts and cultivates partnerships with physicians and healthcare facilities to establish a comprehensive, population-based lupus registry in Georgia. Driven by a commitment to addressing health disparities and advancing health equity, she strives to make a meaningful impact on the health and wellness of individuals and communities alike. Originally from Hampton, VA, Yasin has called metro Atlanta home for the past 15 years. In her free time, she finds joy in pushing her limits at the gym and cheering on her children at their sporting events.

Gaobin is a senior biostatistician who conducts statistical data analysis and database management, primarily for the Georgia Lupus Registry and GOAL Cohort Study, as well as other research projects and collaboration with other research teams. He has been with the Division of Rheumatology since February 2010.

Charmayne is a Director of Research Projects in the Division of Rheumatology at Emory University School of Medicine.  Her academic experiences are grounded in both psychology and public health.

Charmayne has over 25 years of research experience, including establishing and maintaining study-patient rapport and collaborations with agencies, organizations, and community partners.  She has worked with Dr. Sam Lim since 2008, developing and managing the operational, recruitment, and data collection activities and teams associated with the Georgians Organized Against Lupus (GOAL) cohort.  Her primary research interests include studies of the psychosocial impact on health-related outcomes.  She especially enjoys opportunities to use research findings to develop and implement support approaches and programs for people with lupus.

Charmayne is an avid learner who embraces opportunities to engage and connect with people.  She is a US Virgin Islander and enjoys the outdoors, especially swimming, running, and gardening.

Dr. Drenkard joined the Emory Division of Rheumatology as an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Rollins School of Public Health in 2007.  Before her retirement in 2022, she was the Co-Principal Investigator for GLR and GOAL.  As an Emeritus faculty, she currently serves as a consultant.  Dr. Drenkard’s special interests are in epidemiologic research projects that seek to understand the health-related inequities in lupus, particularly among ethnic minorities.  Her special areas of expertise are related to cutaneous lupus and lupus self-management.

Dr. Lim is Professor of Medicine in the Division of Rheumatology at Emory University School of Medicine and Professor of Epidemiology at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.  He is also the Chief of Rheumatology for Grady Health Systems, the only safety net hospital in Atlanta, where he founded and directs the Grady Lupus Clinic. His primary clinical interest is in the improvement in the diagnosis and management of lupus, particularly as it relates to mitigating racial health disparities and improving health equity.

His research interests are in the epidemiology, outcomes, and contributions of social determinants of health in lupus disparities. Dr. Lim is a Principal Investigator for The Georgia Lupus Registry, one of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-funded population-based lupus registries from which he helped create the Georgians Organized Against Lupus research cohort that now has over 1,100 consented individuals with a validated diagnosis of lupus from the Atlanta metropolitan area. He is currently funded by the National Institutes of Health and the CDC to study the role of psychosocial stressors and other social determinants of health on racial health disparities in lupus. Dr. Lim has been an investigator in over 45 lupus clinical trials since 2004 and is also part of the Lupus Clinical Investigators Network (LuCIN). As part of the Lupus Research Alliance, he is the Principal Investigator of the Landmark Study and Co-Principal Investigator of the Patient Advocates for Lupus Studies (PALS) program.

Dr. Lim is very active nationally and internationally in lupus. He is Vice-Chair of the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics, an international lupus research group representing 43 centers from 16 different countries. He serves on both the Georgia chapter and national Lupus Foundation of America Medical Advisory Boards and is a Governor-appointed member and Co-Chair of the Georgia Council on Lupus Education and Awareness. He is a past president of the Georgia Society of Rheumatology.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Award and Clinical Investigator Fellowship Award by the American College of Rheumatology and has held multiple volunteer positions, including the inaugural Chair of the Collaborative Initiatives Special Committee that oversees The Lupus Initiative, past Chair of the clinical study section for the Rheumatology Research Foundation grants, and past member of the Board of Directors. He is a Deputy Editor for the journal Arthritis Care & Research.