Closing Gaps in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies: Advancing Evidence-Based Diagnosis and Evolving Therapeutic Strategies

This activity is designed to advance clinician knowledge, competence, and performance in IIM care by integrating pathophysiology, diagnostic biomarkers, therapeutic mechanisms, and real-world management challenges into a cohesive learning experience. Structured to bridge identified clinical gaps, the agenda progresses from clarifying disease patterns and patient burden to exploring underlying immune mechanisms, reviewing current treatment options, and applying evidence-based strategies for complex, multi-organ cases. This deliberate progression equips participants with both the rationale and practical tools needed for optimal, patient-centered care.

Target Audience

This activity is designed for an audience of Rheumatology (adult and pediatric), dermatology, gastroenterology, and nephrology, clinicians including MDs, NP/PAs.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the educational activity, participants should be able to:

  • Differentiate the heterogeneous clinical presentations, systemic manifestations, comorbidities, and patient burden of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs)
  • Integrate evidence-based diagnostic tools, autoantibody profiles, and prognostic biomarkers to improve IIM diagnosis, classification, and treatment
  • Explain the role of immune pathways and autoantibodies in shaping IMM disease pathophysiology and clinical phenotypes
  • Evaluate current and emerging therapeutic options for IIMs based on mechanisms of action, safety profiles, efficacy data, and indications
  • Implement multidisciplinary, patient-centered strategies to optimize coordinated diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of IIMs

Commercial Support

This activity is supported from an independent medical education grant from Argenx and Priovant.

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 2.00 AAPA Category 1 CME

    Physician Associates
    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 2.00 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

  • 2.00 MOC_ABIM Medical Knowledge

    Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 2.00 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

  • 2.00 MOC_ABP Lifelong Learning & Self-Assessment

    Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn up to 2.00 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit.

  • 2.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    Physicians
    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare designates this Enduring Material for a maximum of 2.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 2.00 ANCC Contact Hours

    Nurses
    Credit being awarded: 2.00 ANCC contact hours

  • 2.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Non-MD

    Non-Physicians Seeking AMA Credit
    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare designates this Enduring Material for a maximum of 2.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.

Course opens: 
09/30/2026
Course expires: 
10/01/2027
Cost:
$0.00
Rating: 
0
  • Framing the Challenges: Heterogeneity, Delayed Recognition, and Therapeutic Gaps.
  • Defining the Clinical Spectrum: Systemic Involvement, Comorbidities, Subtypes, and Patient Burden.
  • Enhancing Diagnostic Precision: Clinical Tools, Imaging, and Antibody Profiles for Classification and Prognosis.
  • Decoding Immune Mechanisms: Pathways and Autoantibodies Driving Disease Phenotypes and Therapeutic Targets
  • Navigating the Therapeutic Landscape: Current Standards and Emerging Strategies in IIM Care
  • Optimizing Collaborative Care: Multidisciplinary, Patient-Centered Models for Long-Term Management

Disclosures

It is the policy of AKH Inc. to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, scientific rigor, and integrity in all of its continuing education activities. The author must disclose to the participants any significant relationships with ineligible companies whose products or devices may be mentioned in the activity or with the commercial supporter of this continuing education activity. Identified conflicts of interest are mitigated by AKH prior to accreditation of the activity. AKH planners and reviewers have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use and Investigational Product

This educational activity may include discussion of uses of agents that are investigational and/or unapproved by the FDA. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer

This course is designed solely to provide the healthcare professional with information to assist in his/her practice and professional development and is not to be considered a diagnostic tool to replace professional advice or treatment. The course serves as a general guide to the healthcare professional, and therefore, cannot be considered as giving legal, nursing, medical, or other professional advice in specific cases. AKH Inc. specifically disclaim responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through participants misunderstanding of the content. If you would like to opt out from future communications from AKH please send an email to [email protected] with your information with "Opt Out" in the subject line.

Committee Member, Planner, Staff(s)

Catherine Bakewell, MD, RhMSUS

has a financial relationship (Consultant) with BMS;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Johnson &Johnson;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Lilly;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Novartis;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Takeda;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Pfizer;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with UCB;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Sobi;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with AbbVie ;.

Sheetal Desai, MD, MSEd

has a financial relationship (Speaker) with Genentech;.
has a financial relationship (Speaker) with J&J;.
has a financial relationship (Speaker) with GSK;.
has a financial relationship (Speaker) with AstraZeneca;.

Cynthia Elliott

has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Novartis, BMS, AbbVie, Takeda, Janssen;.

Gail Kerr, MD

has a financial relationship (Consultant) with BMS;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Astra Zeneca;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Novartis;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Sanofi;.

Rebecca Lakofsky, BSN, RN

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Taraneh Mehrani, MD

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Gwenesta Melton, MD FACR

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Dianne Petrone

has a financial relationship (Speaker) with Sanofi;.

Thaila Ramanujam

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Priya Reddy, MD

has a financial relationship (Speaker) with Pfizer;.
has a financial relationship (Advisor) with Novartis;.
has a financial relationship (Speaker) with BMS;.
has a financial relationship (Speaker) with Abbvie;.
has a financial relationship (Speaker) with Amgen;.
has a financial relationship (Advisor) with SOBI;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Priovant;.
has a financial relationship (Speaker) with UCB;.
has a financial relationship (Advisor) with Aqtual;.
has a financial relationship (Advisor) with Lilly;.

A. Silvia Ross, MD, FACP, FACR

has a financial relationship (Advisor) with Novartis;.
has a financial relationship (Speaker) with Janssen;.
has a financial relationship (Advisor) with BMS;.
has a financial relationship (Speaker) with Pfizer;.
has a financial relationship (Speaker) with Sanofi;.
has a financial relationship (Speaker) with GSK;.
has a financial relationship (Advisor) with UCB;.
has a financial relationship (Advisor) with Sobi;.
has a financial relationship (Advisor) with Priovant;.
has a financial relationship (Advisor) with Amgen;.
has a financial relationship (Speaker) with Abbvie;.
has a financial relationship (Advisor) with Lilly;.

Aubrey Wilson

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Grace Wright, MD PhD FACR

has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Johnson & Johnson;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with UCB;.
has a financial relationship (Advisor) with Pfizer;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Novartis;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Fate Therapeutics ;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Eli Lilly;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Bristol Myers Squibb;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with AstraZeneca ;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Abbvie;.
Reviewer(s)

Dorothy Caputo, MA BSN RN

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Rebecca Lakofsky, BSN, RN

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.
Speaker, Instructor, Faculty(s)

Suur Biliciler

has a financial relationship (Speaker) with OctaPharma;.
has a financial relationship (Speaker) with Amgen;.
has a financial relationship (Speaker) with UCB ;.
has a financial relationship (Advisor) with J&J;.

Christina Charles-Schoeman, MD, MS

has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Octapharma;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Immunovant;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Pfizer;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Bristol Myers Squibb;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Boehringer Ingelheim;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Priovant;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Argenx;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Sana Biotechnology;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Abbvie;.

Lisa Christopher-Stine, Lisa Christopher-Stine, MD, MPH

has a financial relationship (Independent contractor (including contracted research)) with Abcuro, Inc., Amgen, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Octapharma USA, Inc;.
has a financial relationship (Royalties or patent beneficiary) with Inova Diagnostics, Inc. and Werfen;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Abcuro, Inc., Allogene Therapeutics,Amgen, Argenx, Aro Biotherapeutics, Bain Capital, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bymmunity Therapeutics, Inc.,EMD Serono (the healthcare business of Merck KGaA), Galapagos, Janssen, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals plc, MBL Pharma, ;.
has a financial relationship (Speaker) with Octapharma USA, Inc, Sandoz, and Priovant;.
has a financial relationship (Individual stocks and stock options) with Roivant sciences ;.

 

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare and Association of Women in Rheumatology. AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 2.00 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.

Available Credit

  • 2.00 AAPA Category 1 CME

    Physician Associates
    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 2.00 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

  • 2.00 MOC_ABIM Medical Knowledge

    Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 2.00 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

  • 2.00 MOC_ABP Lifelong Learning & Self-Assessment

    Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn up to 2.00 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit.

  • 2.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    Physicians
    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare designates this Enduring Material for a maximum of 2.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 2.00 ANCC Contact Hours

    Nurses
    Credit being awarded: 2.00 ANCC contact hours

  • 2.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Non-MD

    Non-Physicians Seeking AMA Credit
    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare designates this Enduring Material for a maximum of 2.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.

Price

Cost:
$0.00
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