The Section of Rheumatology provides services for the evaluation and treatment of children with a wide spectrum of acute and chronic rheumatic disorders. A multidisciplinary approach draws on the experience of physicians, nurse clinicians, occupational and physical therapists and other support staff.

Consultative or chronic care is provided to children with various rheumatic diseases including juvenile idiopathic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, Lyme disease, acute rheumatic fever, vasculitis syndromes, musculoskeletal pain syndromes and scleroderma. Care is coordinated with other disciplines, such as occupational and physical therapy, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, nutrition and social work. The Section participates in the Pediatric Rheumatology Collaborative Study Group, which enrolls selected children from the United States in trials of newer medications for various pediatric rheumatic disorders.

Through the Section’s participation in the statewide Children’s Arthritis Network, a pediatric rheumatologist also sees patients at St. Luke’s North Health Center in Bethlehem, PA.

Donald P. Goldsmith, MD

Chief, Section of Rheumatology

Professor of Pediatrics

Medical School: University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT

Special Training:

Residency: St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children

Fellowship: St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children

Staff Appointment: 1993

Special Interests: Effects of physical conditioning on functional health assessment in children with rheumatic

disorders, therapeutic agents for the treatment of juvenile arthritis uveitis in children, diagnosis and management of Lyme disease, undifferentiated rheumatic disorders of childhood, neonatal onset multisystem inflammatory disease

Appointments: 215-427-5051