James R. O’Dell, MD is the Larson Professor of Internal Medicine, Vice-Chairman of Internal Medicine, and Chief of the Section of Rheumatology and Immunology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha. He is a co-author of Kelley’s Textbook of Rheumatology, 9th Edition.
Dr. O’Dell is currently President-Elect of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and has served in other positions at the society including President of the Research and Education Foundation, Chair of the Corporate Relations Committee, and Chair of the Registry Committee. He has received honors from his home institution of UNMC, including the Nebraska ACP Laureate Award, a Distinguished Scientist award, the Department of Internal Medicine Career Research award, and awards for teaching excellence.
Board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology, Dr. O’Dell received his medical degree in 1977 from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine and completed a residency and chief residency at the same institution. He then performed clinical and research fellowships in rheumatology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver.
Dr. O’Dell is the founder and director of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Investigational Network (RAIN.) This research network has pioneered the use of combinations of medications to treat rheumatoid arthritis. It was one of the first groups to describe genetic factors that predict response to therapy, and has done extensive work with the use of minocycline in treatment.
The author of more than 100 articles in the field, Dr. O’Dell is a frequent presenter at national and international meetings.
Related Authors: Gary S. Firestein, MD; Ralph C. Budd, MD; Sherine E. Gabriel, MD, MSc; Iain B. McInnes, PhD, FRCP
