Cardio-Rheumatology Program

Cardio-rheumatology is a specialty dedicated to helping patients with inflammatory and rheumatologic conditions as they have a higher risk of developing heart problems.

The Cardio-Rheumatology Program at Hospital for Special Surgery/Weill Cornell Medicine is a collaborative initiative that brings together expert cardiologists and rheumatologists. By working together, we can create a personalized diagnostic and management plan for each patient. In addition to providing patient-centered care, the program also focuses on advancing research and educational initiatives to promote knowledge and understanding in the field of cardio-rheumatology.

What We Treat

We provide care for patients with known or suspected cardiac involvement from systemic rheumatic and inflammatory disease, including sarcoidosis and scleroderma, as well as other conditions like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), myositis, vasculitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and antiphospholipid syndrome. People with inflammatory conditions like these may face a higher risk of developing heart disease. Heart conditions include arrhythmias, heart failure (systolic and diastolic dysfunction), myocarditis, valvular disease and pericardial disease.

Referrals and Appointments

For Weill Cornell Cardiology inquiries, please call 646-962-5555 For HSS Rheumatology inquiries, please contact the physician offices directly or call 888-720-1977

Diagram of cardio-rheum conditions treated

WCM Cardiology and HSS Rheumatology Collaboration

Cardiac involvement from rheumatic disease is complex and requires a multidisciplinary approach. The collaborative Cardio-Rheumatology program at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and Weill Cornell leverages the unique strengths of two world-class institutions to provide outstanding, patient-centered care and drive innovation.

HSS is a nationally renowned leader in rheumatology, with over 40 faculty members whose clinical and research expertise spans the specialty. HSS rheumatologists are leaders in the field, with contributions ranging from key scientific discoveries to the development of multiple best practice guidelines.

The Cardio-Rheumatology Program combines this unparalleled excellence in rheumatology with the outstanding leadership of the Weill Cornell Heart Failure group, which has a longstanding dedication to the care of patients with inflammatory cardiac conditions and has been at the forefront of advanced cardiac imaging.

Located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, HSS rheumatology offices are across the street from the Weill Cornell Advanced Heart Failure outpatient cardiology practices. Faculty members in the Cardio-Rheumatology Program hold joint appointments at both institutions and participate in shared educational and patient care conferences.

Our Team

HSS Rheumatologist, Program Co-Director

Dr. Genna Braverman is a rheumatologist at Hospital of Special Surgery, where she co-directs the Cardio-Rheumatology Program. Dr. Braverman is passionate about advancing the care of patients with cardiopulmonary complications of rheumatic and systemic inflammatory diseases. She has particular interests in sarcoidosis and connective tissue diseases, including scleroderma and overlap conditions, and collaborates closely with multidisciplinary specialists at Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Braverman is actively involved in interdisciplinary investigation into optimal treatment and diagnostic approaches to systemic inflammatory cardiopulmonary disease, and she is engaged in developing educational programs to support physician knowledge in this space.
HSS Rheumatologist, Systemic Sclerosis

Dr. Jessica Gordon is a rheumatologist at Hospital for Special Surgery. She has particular expertise in systemic sclerosis and is nationally engaged in clinical investigations focused on novel treatments and outcome measures for this condition. She regularly collaborates with multidisciplinary colleagues on the management of vascular and cardiopulmonary complications of scleroderma and other connective tissue diseases. In addition to her patient care and research activities, she holds administrative and clinical leadership roles at Hospital for Special Surgery, including serving as the Scleroderma Clinic Chief and Chief of Ambulatory Services for the Department of Medicine.
HSS Rheumatologist, Systemic Sclerosis

Dr. Kimberly Lakin is a rheumatologist and investigator at Hospital for Special Surgery with expertise in systemic sclerosis. She conducts clinical and translational research focused on understanding disease mechanisms, testing new therapeutics and identifying predictive factors to inform personalized medicine approaches in scleroderma. She has received recognition and funding for her work from the Rheumatology Research Foundation, the Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium, the National Scleroderma Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.
HSS Rheumatologist, Sarcoidosis

Dr. Arthur Yee is a rheumatologist at Hospital for Special Surgery. He has a particular expertise in sarcoidosis, and he is actively engaged in patient and physician education nationally and internationally. He is the founder and director of the HSS Sarcoidosis Collaborative, which is a multidisciplinary partnership offering care, education and support for patients with sarcoidosis, and is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board and Peer Case Review Committee for the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research.
WCM Cardiologist, Program Co-Director

Dr. Irina Sobol is a cardiologist at Weill Cornell Medicine with a special interest in cardiac manifestations of rheumatologic diseases and is the co-director of the Cardio-Rheumatology Program. Given her training in heart failure, her primary interest is in evaluation and management of cardiac dysfunction resulting from autoimmune conditions including scleroderma, sarcoidosis and all forms of myocarditis. Dr. Sobol received her medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She completed her medical residency at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, her cardiology training at Beth Israel Medical Center and advanced heart failure training at Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Sobol also serves as a Medical Director of Left Ventricular Assist Device program.
WCM Cardiologist

Dr. Daniel McDonald is a heart failure cardiologist at NYP/Weill Cornell Medical Center. He received his medical degree from the New York University School of Medicine and remained at NYU for internal medicine residency training. He completed fellowships in cardiovascular disease and advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Dr. McDonald sees patients with a wide variety of heart failure syndromes and has an interest in patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathies and other cardiovascular pathologies related to rheumatologic conditions.
WCM Cardiologist

Dr. Evelyn Horn is a cardiologist at Weill Cornell, where she founded and led the Perkin Heart Failure Center for heart failure and pulmonary vascular disease. She has always been involved in the management of complex cardiac disease cases and helping patients with inflammatory heart and lung disease who have symptoms of exercise intolerance. She is a nationally recognized leader in the field of pulmonary vascular disease and had extensive clinical and research expertise in ventricular and vascular remodeling. She works closely with rheumatologists at HSS to provide outstanding care for patients with rheumatic conditions and associated cardiopulmonary disease.