Dr. Daniel E. Furst is a distinguished rheumatologist and clinical pharmacologist who has profoundly influenced the treatment of rheumatic diseases over his extensive career. He served as the inaugural Carl M. Pearson Professor of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center, establishing himself as a national leader in rheumatology. Dr. Furst earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University where he also completed his internship and residency training before specializing further. His postgraduate training included rheumatology fellowship at UCLA Medical Center and clinical pharmacology fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, creating a unique expertise bridging clinical medicine and drug development.
Dr. Furst has made seminal contributions to the understanding and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis, with over 650 publications and 15 books to his name including more than 220 research articles. He co-led the American College of Rheumatology recommendations for the use of non-biologic and biologic therapies in rheumatoid arthritis, which fundamentally transformed clinical practice guidelines worldwide. His research on the clinical pharmacology of anti-rheumatic drugs and biologics established critical frameworks for evaluating drug efficacy and safety in autoimmune conditions. As a Master of the American College of Rheumatology, his work has shaped therapeutic approaches that have improved outcomes for millions of patients with rheumatic diseases globally.
Beyond his research, Dr. Furst has held leadership positions with major international organizations including the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology and the International League of Associations of Rheumatology. He serves in prominent roles with the World Scleroderma Foundation as President of Friends of World Scleroderma Foundation and the Scleroderma Foundation of California. As Professor Emeritus at UCLA, he continues to maintain clinical practice through Arthritis Associates of Southern California while contributing to medical education through adjunct appointments at the University of Washington School of Medicine and University of Florence Medical School. Dr. Furst's ongoing editorial work for leading rheumatology journals ensures his continued influence on the direction of research and clinical practice in rheumatology worldwide.
