Pediatric Rheumatology
L-R: Associate Professor and Division Director Dr. Ankur Kamdar; Assistant Professor Dr. Monica Bray; Administrative Manager Norma Leal; Medical Assistant Maria Benitez, MA; Advanced Practice Provider Annjeanette Smith, RN
Ankur Kamdar, MD; Monica Bray, MD, FAAP, FACR, RhMSUS; Annjeanette Smith, RN; and Maria Benitez, MA, work together to care for children in the UT Physicians outpatient clinic located in the Texas Medical Center. Additionally, Dr. Kamdar and Dr. Bray provide inpatient care at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital where they train medical students, pediatricians, and adult and pediatric Rheumatology fellows from the Greater Houston area, across Texas and into Louisiana due to the limited availability of this subspecialty.
This team specializes in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), autoinflammatory disorders, multisystem autoimmune disorders, and many other conditions that affect the pediatric population. In order to ensure excellence in care, the Pediatric Rheumatology Division has a state-of-the-art ultrasound machine in the clinic with the capability to perform diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound on pediatric patients of all ages. These experts also readily collaborate with numerous subspecialties — including the adult rheumatology department at UTHealth Houston — to optimize care for patients. Because Dr. Kamdar was the very first pediatric rheumatologist at UTHealth Houston, he is frequently called upon to share knowledge and insight that ensures positive outcomes.