Dr Leena Das

As a Specialist Registrar in rheumatology from 2006 until 2012, Dr Das gained extensive experience in dealing with general and complex rheumatological conditions. Dr Das completed a year in Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in a Specialist Rheumatology Unit dealing with spectrum of connective tissue disease (systemic sclerosis, idiopathic inflammatory myositis and Systemic lupus erythematosus) and metabolic bone disease. Since 2012, Dr Das has been a Consultant Rheumatologist at the North Manchester General Hospital; a tertiary centre for infectious diseases. Dr Das has gained unique experience dealing with HIV related arthritis and immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. She is responsible for overseeing patients attending for infusions of biologics and bisphosphonates at the Pennine Rheumatology Hub; providing diagnosis, assessment and management of autoimmune inflammatory conditions. She undertakes a weekly musculoskeletal ultrasound clinic; updating her skills by attending regional and national USS courses, annually. Her leadership and managerial duties include representing the Rheumatology Department in the monthly drugs and therapeutics meeting for the division of medicine and community services. In terms of clinical governance, Dr Das ensures her Team is updated on the recent advances and audit practice regularly. She is the lead for the biologics service at North Manchester General; participating in all regional and national audits. Appropriate risk management strategies are implemented under her supervision.

Dr Das has a clinical interest in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout, connective tissue diseases (e.g. systemic lupus erythematosus, myositis, scleroderma and Sjogren's syndrome), VasculItic disorders, some metabolic bone conditions (such as osteoporosis and Paget's disease), fibromyalgia and soft tissue rheumatic conditions.

As the Principle investigator (PI) for the Department, Dr Das is in charge of trials namely BRAGGS, OUTPASS and the Prevent RA study. She actively recruits and follows up eligible patients for these trials. She participates in regional and national audits and is currently recruiting for the national early inflammatory arthritis (NEIA) Audit.

As the Foundation Programme Director for Pennine West, Northern care Alliance NHS Group, Dr Das is responsible for the delivery of the teaching programme for FY1 and FY2 students. The position involves a managerial role in ensuring a robust training programme, addressing relevant issues as they arise and attending deanery level and higher management meetings with HEE. Dr Das is a Clinical Supervisor for a Specialist Registrar from the North-West Deanery and a Research Registrar from the University of Manchester. She supervises and teaches nurse practitioners and has developed and administered a general rheumatology curriculum for GP specialist trainees and provides a quarterly lecture for the core medical trainees at North Manchester General Hospital. She also conducts regular teaching sessions for the GPs on common rheumatologic conditions. In addition, Dr Das has organised a monthly journal club for the Rheumatology Department. Prior to her current teaching responsibilities, Dr Das has previously taught medical students at UHSM. She has undertaken bedside teaching for fourth year medical students, MRCP PACES teaching, provided weekly sessions at the Colchester General Hospital and delivered patient education sessions as part of the University Hospital of Wales ankylosing spondylitis course. In addition, Dr Das has participated in community rural teaching on adult health education, methods, advantages of contraception and child immunisation in India.

To date, Dr Das has co-authored several international peer-reviewed journals and presented her Team's research at national and international meetings. She has also presented abstracts and posters in national and international meetings.

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