Jocelyn Wittstein, MD, associate professor in Duke’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and colleague Anne Ford, MD, are collaborating to address the pivotal role hormones play in women’s well-being — driven by a gap in knowledge about the effects of hormone therapy (HT) on joint health (which have yet to be thoroughly studied). Their objective is to create a registry containing survey data collected from women regarding their menstrual status, menopausal symptoms, joint pain and locations, and whether they are using HT for their symptoms and dosage, among other information. This data will be crucial in evaluating the effectiveness of HT for menopausal arthritis. Through their Hammond Research Fund award for the project titled “Surveillance of Joint Pain in Menopause: Pilot Registry,” their work continues, and was highlighted in the Summer 2024 edition of the Arthritis Foundation’s Joint Matters newsletter (link to article).