Ellen M. Ginzler, MD, MPH

Dr Ginzler retired as Chief of the Rheumatology Division at SUNY Downstate in July 2023 after 50 years on the faculty, and currently holds the title of Distinguished Teaching Professor Emerita.  She continues to mentor students, residents, and fellows in their scholarly activities, and precepts in the Arthritis Clinic at University Hospital.

Her long-time clinical and research interests have been related to the treatment, outcome, and epidemiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).  She is credited with developing and conducting the largest multicenter investigator-generated study of the treatment of lupous nephritis, leading to the recognition of the immunosuppressive agent mycophenolate mofetil as the standard of care for the treatment of lupus nephritis.  Currently she leads an innovative student-run patient navigator program for designed to provide services to patients with SLE and other rheumatic and dermatologic diseases, targeted to our population of underserved patients with complicated, severe disease and difficulties managing their health care.

Dr. Ginzler graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in 1969 and received an MPH from Yale University School of Epidemiology and Public Health in 1983.  She did her housestaff training in Internal Medicine at Kings County Hospital and Bellevue Hospital, returning to SUNY Downstate for her Rheumatology fellowship, then joining the Downstate faculty.  Dr. Ginzler has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Distinguished Clinical Investigator Award of the American College of Rheumatology and the Hugh Carroll Teaching Award at SUNY Downstate.

Education:

• Undergraduate: Bryn Mawr College
• Advanced Degree: Yale University School of Epidemiology & Public Health
• Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
• Internship: Kings County Hospital
• Residency: Kings County Hospital and Bellevue Hospital
• Fellowship: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University

Research Interests:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus

• Lupus nephritis

• Ginzler EM, Nicastri AD, Chen C-K, et al: Progression of mesangial and focal to diffuse lupus nephritis. New Engl J Med 291:693-696, 1974
• Gladman D, Ginzler E, Goldsmith C, Fortin P, Liang M, Urowitz M, Bacon P, Bombardieri S, Hanly J, Hay E, Isenberg D, Jones J, Nived O, Petri M, Richter M, Sanchez-Guerrero J, Snaith M, Sturfelt G, Symmons D: The development and initial validation of the SLICC/ACR damage index for SLE. Arthritis Rheum 39:363-369, 1996.
• Ginzler EM, Dooley MA, Aranow C, Kim MY, Buyon J, Merrill JT, et al: Mycophenolate mofetil or intravenous cyclophosphamide for lupus nephritis. New Engl J Med 353: 2219-2228, 2005.
• Ginzler EM, Dvorkina 0: Infections in systemic lupus erythematosus. In Dubois' Lupus Erythematosus, 7th edition, ed. DJ Wallace, BH Hahn. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA, 2007.
• Furie R, Stohl W, Ginzler EM, et al. Biologic activity and safety of belimumab, a neutralizing anti-B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) monoclonal antibody: phase I trial in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2008; 10:R109
• Appel GB, Contreras G, Dooley MA, Ginzler EM, et al. Mycophenolate mofetil versus cyclophosphamide for induction treatment of lupus nephritis. A randomized trial. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009:20:1103-1112
• Ginzler E, Wofsy D, Isenberg D, et al. Nonrenal activity following mycophenolate mofetil or intravenous cyclophosphamide as induction treatment for lupus nephritis. Arthritis Rheum 2010; 62:211-221
• Furie RA, Petri AM, Wallace DJ, Ginzler EM, et al. Novel evidence-based systemic lupus erythematosus responder index. Arthritis Care & Res 2009; 61:1143-1151
• Isenberg D, Appel GB, Contreras G, Dooley MA, Ginzler EM et al. Influence of race/ethnicity on response to lupus nephritis treatment: the ALMS study. Rheumatology 2010; 49:128-140
• Ginzler E, Wofsy D, Isenberg D, et al. Nonrenal activity following mycophenolate mofetil or intravenous cyclophosphamide as induction treatment for lupus nephritis. Arthritis Rheum 2010; 62:211-221
• Radhakrishnan J, Moutzouris D-A, Ginzler EM, et al. Mycophenolate mofetil and intravenous cyclophosphamide are similar as induction therapy for class V lupus nephritis. Kidney Int 2010; 77:152-160
• Dooley AM, Jayne D, Ginzler EM, et al. Mycophenolate versus azathioprine as maintenance therapy for lupus nephritis. New Engl J Med 2011; 365:1886-1895
• Ginzler EM, Wax S, Rajeswaran A, et al. Atacicept in combination with MMF and corticosteroids in lupus nephritis: results of a prematurely terminated trial. Arthritis Res & Ther 2012; 14:R33.
• Ginzler EM, Wallace DJ, Merrill JT, et al. Disease control and safety of belimumab plus standard therapy over 7 years in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. J Rheumatol 2014; 41:300-309.

Volumes Edited:

• Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Volume 36, February 2010. Ginzler EM, ed.
• Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Volume 40, August 2014, Ginzler EM and Dooley MA, eds.