Dr. David T. Felson is a preeminent rheumatologist and clinical epidemiologist whose career has profoundly shaped modern arthritis research and treatment. He currently serves as Professor of Medicine at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Professor of Epidemiology at Boston University School of Public Health, and practicing rheumatologist at Boston Medical Center. After earning his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University and completing undergraduate studies in History/Biochemistry at Harvard College, he undertook residency training at Case Western Reserve University and rheumatology fellowship at Boston University Medical Center. Dr. Felson also directs the Training and Education program for the Boston University Clinical Translational Science Institute and holds a secondary appointment as Professor Adjunct at Yale School of Medicine, where he mentors residents, fellows, and junior faculty in patient-focused research design.
Dr. Felson's seminal contributions have revolutionized the assessment and understanding of rheumatic diseases through the development of standardized measurement tools and identification of biomechanical risk factors for osteoarthritis. His 1993 publication establishing the American College of Rheumatology preliminary core set of disease activity measures for rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials has become the global standard, accumulating over 2,100 citations and transforming how arthritis therapies are evaluated worldwide. His epidemiological research on knee and hip osteoarthritis published in 1998 has provided critical insights into prevention strategies while his innovative work characterizing MRI features of knee pathology has advanced diagnostic capabilities beyond traditional radiography. Dr. Felson's influential 1994 study examining the effects of specific medical conditions on functional limitations in elders established foundational knowledge for geriatric rheumatology that continues to inform clinical practice decades later.
Beyond his research contributions, Dr. Felson has profoundly shaped the field through mentorship and leadership, training numerous rheumatologists and epidemiologists who now lead their own research programs across the country. His work with the Framingham Heart Study and as a member of the Arthritis & Autoimmune Diseases Research Center at Boston University has fostered interdisciplinary collaborations that bridge rheumatology, epidemiology, and biomedical engineering. Recognized with the prestigious International Nachman Prize and dual Lee C. Howley, Sr. Prizes for Arthritis Science Service from the Arthritis Foundation, his influence extends to guiding national research priorities through advisory roles with major arthritis organizations. Currently, Dr. Felson continues to advance the field through cutting-edge research on early osteoarthritis definition and progression, as evidenced by his recent 2024 publication comparing definitions of early knee osteoarthritis for likelihood of progression, ensuring his enduring impact on improving arthritis care for millions worldwide.
