The Myositis Fellowship Training Program, based in the UPMC Myositis Center, builds on the institution’s long-standing strengths in rheumatology while advancing care for patients with rare autoimmune diseases. As one of only a few programs of its kind in the country, it offers physicians the opportunity to develop deep, focused expertise in inflammatory myopathies – conditions that often extend far beyond muscle involvement.
“Inflammatory myopathies are rare, complex, multisystem diseases that require a level of expertise beyond what is typically possible in standard training,” says Program Director Dr. Rohit Aggarwal. “UPMC has built a strong clinical and research program in myositis over many years, and it became clear that there was both a need and an opportunity to train future leaders specifically in this field.”
A Specialized Approach to Complex Disease
In traditional training pathways, myositis is often one topic among many. At UPMC, it’s the focus of a dedicated fellowship.
Fellows train in a high-volume, specialized center, working with patients across the full spectrum of disease, from newly diagnosed cases to those that are advanced or resistant to treatment. Along the way, they gain experience in nuanced diagnosis and individualized care.
“Myositis is not only rare, but highly heterogeneous,” Dr. Aggarwal explains. “Patients may present with muscle disease, lung involvement, skin manifestations, arthritis, dysphagia, or other systemic complications, and the diagnostic and therapeutic decisions are often nuanced. A focused program allows trainees to gain deep exposure to the full spectrum of inflammatory myopathies, including disease phenotyping, autoantibody-based classification, comorbidity assessment, and individualized treatment strategies. That kind of concentrated experience is difficult to achieve in a general fellowship setting. ”
Because the center draws referrals from across a wide geographic region, fellows encounter a diverse range of clinical presentations. This includes interstitial lung disease, immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy, anti-synthetase syndrome, and overlap syndromes—experience that helps build both pattern recognition and confidence in managing complex cases.
Learning Across Disciplines
Another defining feature of the program is its strong emphasis on multidisciplinary care. Fellows regularly work alongside colleagues in other disciplines, reflecting the reality that these conditions often require coordinated care across specialties.
Shared discussions, conferences, and specialized clinics are essential. “They help ensure that patient care is comprehensive and thoughtful,” says Dr. Aggarwal, “Fellows learn how to approach these diseases from multiple perspectives, appreciate the importance of coordinated care, and understand how to integrate clinical, serologic, imaging, and pathologic data into decision-making.”
For current fellow Dr. Alsayed Osman, that collaboration has been one of the most impactful aspects of the experience. “I have been particularly impressed by the level of multidisciplinary coordination at UPMC,” he says. “The coordination between rheumatology, neurology, dermatology, pulmonology, and other specialties is essential for managing complex myositis cases and has been a valuable learning experience.”
A Foundation in Research and Discovery
In addition to clinical training, the fellowship offers a wide range of research opportunities, from clinical trials and outcomes studies to biomarker development and disease classification. Fellows train within an active academic environment and have access to one of the largest prospective myositis clinical registries in the world, paired with matched biospecimens.
“This is a particularly exciting time in myositis,” says Dr. Aggarwal. “Advances in autoantibody-based phenotyping, improved recognition of disease subsets, and a growing therapeutic pipeline are all reshaping the field.”
For fellows, that momentum creates opportunities not only to learn, but also to contribute.
“There is a significant need for improved treatment strategies,” says Dr. Osman. “The program offers a unique combination of clinical exposure, multidisciplinary care, and a dedicated, robust research infrastructure. It provides an ideal environment to develop both clinical and academic skills in myositis.”
Shaping Future Leaders
The fellowship is designed to prepare physicians for a range of career paths, including academic medicine, industry, and specialized clinical practice. Through close mentorship and immersive training, fellows develop both the expertise and perspective needed to lead in a rapidly evolving field.
For Dr. Osman, the experience has helped define his professional direction.
“This fellowship has solidified my commitment to a career focused on myositis,” he says. “It has deepened my interest in both clinical care and research, particularly in developing structured approaches to diagnosis, outcomes assessment, and longitudinal patient management. It has also reinforced my goal of contributing to specialized myositis programs and research initiatives.”
For Dr. Aggarwal, that outcome is central to the program’s mission.
“One of the most rewarding aspects has been the opportunity to build a training pathway in an area where there is a real need for expertise. It is deeply gratifying to help shape the next generation of physicians who will care for patients with myositis, advance research, and contribute to the field in meaningful ways.”
As the program continues to grow, UPMC aims to further strengthen its role as a national destination for advanced myositis training, expanding opportunities for multidisciplinary education, research collaboration, and innovation in patient care.
In a field defined by complexity and rapid change, the Myositis Fellowship is doing more than training specialists, it is helping define the future of care.