Inflammatory Arthritis Insights with Dr Rosemary Hollick

In this insightful conversation, Debbie and Katy sit down with Dr Rosemary Hollick, a rheumatologist, researcher, and champion of patient‑centred care, to explore the realities of psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, and the evolving landscape of treatment. Rosemary explains how symptoms present, why diagnosis can be so challenging (especially for women), and how biologics have transformed outcomes over the past two decades.

The episode also dives into Rosemary’s award‑winning work in health services research and the vital role of Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE). She shares how involving patients from the very beginning of research leads to better questions, better care, and better impact. As she says in the transcript, “Just listen to the patient because the patient will tell you the answer.”

This is a warm, honest, and empowering discussion for anyone living with inflammatory arthritis or supporting someone who is.

Key words: Psoriatic arthritis, Axial spondyloarthritis, Inflammatory arthritis, Rheumatology, Diagnosis delay, Inflammatory back pain, Biologics, Patient‑centred care, PPIE, Health services research, Vasculitis, Uveitis,Spondyloarthropathies, Shared decision‑making

Topics covered:

• Rosemary’s journey into rheumatology and research

• What psoriatic arthritis is and how it presents

• Differences between psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

• How axial spondyloarthritis is diagnosed

• Why women are often missed or misdiagnosed

• The difference between inflammatory and mechanical back pain

• How treatment has changed from 2008 to 2026

• The shift from inpatient wards to fast‑track outpatient care

• Early use of biologics and why it matters

• The challenge of trial‑and‑error treatment

• Shared decision‑making and tailoring biologics to lifestyle

• What meaningful PPIE looks like in practice

• How patient partners shape research questions, analysis, and impact

• The importance of trust, respect, and long‑term relationships in research

• The “you said, we did” approach to accountability

IAUK resources:

• IAUK website: inflammatoryarthritis.org

• IAUK newsletter sign‑up

• IAUK social channels: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, BlueSky

This episode was funded by UCB how had no involvement in the development of the content or associated materials.

Disclaimer: Debbie and Katy are not medical professionals. They share personal experiences of living with IA to build connection and community. The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replaceprofessional medical advice. We talk about our personal health journeys and the podcast is not intended to provide professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We are not medical professionals and in no way claim to be medically trained. The podcast does not take responsibility for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of the podcast. The podcast does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of third-party content.

· Formore information, head to https://inflammatoryarthritis.org/