Arielle Mendel

Arielle Mendel, MD, M.Sc. is a Scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) at the Montreal General Hospital site, working within the Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program and the Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation. She serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at McGill University, with clinical work in the Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology at the McGill University Health Centre.

Dr. Mendel's research focuses on patient safety in systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases, with particular emphasis on improving medication safety by studying root causes of adverse drug events. Her work concentrates on glucocorticoids (prednisone) and other immunosuppressive agents, aiming to design innovative strategies for safer treatment approaches in these patient populations. She leads the Canadian Network for Research on COVID-19 in Rheumatology (CAN-RECOVR) initiative, which examines the intersection of rheumatic diseases and the pandemic.

Analysis of Dr. Mendel's recent publications shows a strong focus on vasculitis management, particularly ANCA-associated vasculitis, medication safety in immunosuppressed patients, and pregnancy outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus. Her work spans clinical studies, systematic reviews, and consensus guidelines, with significant contributions to CanVasc recommendations for vasculitis management. A recurring theme is the optimization of immunosuppressive therapies while minimizing adverse events.

Dr. Mendel has been actively involved in several multicenter research collaborations across Canada, contributing to national consensus statements and guidelines for the management of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Her work on medication safety, particularly regarding glucocorticoid tapering in vasculitis and antibiotic prophylaxis during immunosuppressive therapy, has informed clinical practice. She has also contributed significantly to understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with rheumatic diseases.