Claudio Galarza-Maldonado, MD, PhD Is a specialist in Rheumatology, PhD in Rheumatology, founder and chief of Unit of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases (UNERA) (private medical group practice) at Monte Sinai Medical Corporation, Cuenca, Ecuador, from 2001. Dr. Galarza-Maldonado is actively involved in research related to autoinmune diseases, with special focus on Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erhythematosus and Obstetric Antiphospholipid Syndrome. He has presented at medical meetings, including some of the most well-known in the world, such as the American College of Rheumatology, International Congress of Autoimmunity and EULAR Lupus Congress . In addition, he was the principal investigator for a number of multicentric clinical trials in arthritis and lupus. Throughout his career, Dr. Galarza-Maldonado has been actively involved in fostering the educational development of physicians and quality of care projects . He is a co-winner of the ILAR grant for continue medical education in rheumatoid arthritis www.educ-ar.com, member of REAL (Red of Excelence in Arthritis for Latin America) PANLAR initiative, was a coordinator of the Latin America Study Group of the American College of Rheumatology 2013-2014.