Retiring Scleroderma Expert Passes Torch to Next Generation
Rheumatologist and scleroderma expert Lee Shapiro, MD, who has spent nearly 50 years in the medical profession, will retire from practice at the end of February. He has led Albany Medical Center’s scleroderma clinic, a Designated Scleroderma Research & Treatment Center, since 2020.
Michael Allen, MD, who has been working with Dr. Shapiro since 2023, will serve as director of the clinic following Dr. Shapiro’s retirement. Dr. Khoa (Richard) Ngo and Dr. Arifa Javed will also continue to see scleroderma patients.
Dr. Allen noted that while he’ll miss Dr. Shapiro’s energy, knowledge, and kindness, he looks forward to building on Dr. Shapiro’s legacy and continuing the high level of care the clinic’s several hundred patients have come to expect.
“Dr. Shapiro’s clinical skills are apparent to everyone he works with and cares for, and his advocacy for his patients goes far beyond what I’ve seen from any other provider,” said Dr. Allen.
Dr. Shapiro has been caring for patients with scleroderma, a rare chronic autoimmune disease that causes hardening of the skin and connective tissue, since 1977.
In 1999, he developed the Scleroderma Renal Crisis Prevention Card, a patient education tool that is now used at scleroderma centers worldwide. Ten years later, he founded the Steffens Scleroderma Foundation to promote awareness and understanding of the disease and support research toward treatments and a cure. He also serves as medical director for the Degos Disease Foundation.
Dr. Shapiro’s final day seeing patients, February 28, is Rare Disease Day.
He will continue to teach at Albany Medical College as professor emeritus, conduct research, mentor student researchers, and advocate for patients.
“I will devote myself to the work of the foundation, find new collaborators, develop new networks, advance our educational and research missions, and enjoy the purposefulness and challenge of improving diagnosis and care of these disorders,” he said.
Scleroderma patients are seen at Albany Medical Center’s Rheumatology clinic at 99 Delaware Ave. in Albany and at the Malta Specialty Care Center at Saratoga Medical Park, 6 Medical Park Dr., Suite 203 in Malta. To schedule an appointment, call 518-262-5345 (Albany office) or 518-264-1200 (Malta office).