As part of our “Meet Yale Internal Medicine” series, today’s feature is on Monique Hinchcliff, MD, MS, associate professor of medicine (rheumatology).
Monique Hinchcliff, MD, MS, associate professor of medicine (rheumatology) and director of the Yale Scleroderma Program, first encountered systemic sclerosis, or scleroderma, during her residency at Norwalk Hospital. Scleroderma is a connective tissue disease which involves immune system deregulation; it triggers the immune system to respond abnormally to its own tissue which causes inflammation in the body, and in turn, fibrosis. The disease predominately affects women of child-bearing age and can target many organs including the skin and the lungs.
One patient had pulmonary arterial hypertension and the other had calcinosis cutis, painful deposits of calcium that occur underneath the skin.
“These patients were really suffering and at the time, there weren’t any effective treatments available,” explained Hinchcliff. “During my second year of rheumatology fellowship, I could choose a research focus and because the Norwalk patients had such a profound impact on me, I joined a scleroderma lab and trained in basic science research.”
Through her lab experience, Hinchcliff gained invaluable skills but learned that she preferred to do more patient-centered, translational research, starting with the patient’s disease manifestation and bringing tissue samples into the lab to try and determine what caused the disease and what treatments might be of benefit.
Because of her expertise, Hinchcliff was approached to give a talk at Yale School of Medicine (YSM). She was impressed by the group of people she met when visiting New Haven.
“I came to Yale and was impressed by the level of discussion at the conferences and Grand Rounds,” said Hinchcliff. “As I met people throughout the day, I thought that Yale was a tremendous place with a lot of basic scientists that I could collaborate with in my research. I went home and talked with my family about my visit.” Nearly a year later, she and her family relocated to Connecticut.
At Yale, we have specialists available to treat patients with their specific disease manifestations. We aim to improve the patient’s quality of life while we search for better treatments and a cure.
Dr. Monique Hinchcliff
Hinchcliff directs the Yale Scleroderma Program, a team of multidisciplinary physician-scientists with expertise in the disease. The program provides coordinated and compassionate care for scleroderma patients with a wide array of clinical manifestations including skin, lung, heart, renal, and gastrointestinal involvement while addressing functional, nutritional, psychological, gynecological, urological, and/or sexual health challenges as well.
“We provide an expert level of care at our clinics,” said Hinchcliff. “At Yale, we have specialists available to treat patients with their specific disease manifestations. We aim to improve the patient’s quality of life while we search for better treatments and a cure.”
Patients receive care at three Yale New Haven Health sites, the North Haven Interventional Immunology Center (rheumatology and nutritional support), the Winchester Chest Clinic (cardiology and pulmonary medicine) and gastrointestinal clinics at 40 Temple Street in New Haven. Plans are underway to bring the program under one roof to ease patient burden.
To learn more about the Yale’s program, visit Yale Scleroderma Program.
Hinchcliff also serves as director of Clinical and Translational Research for the Section of Rheumatology, Allergy & Clinical Immunology.