Sandy Hong, MS, MD, joins UI Children's Hospital from Children's Hospital Los Angeles, where she completed her pediatric rheumatology fellowship. She received her masters in science from the University of California, Berkeley and her medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco.

Her research interests include:

• Expression of B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) in children with rheumatic disease
• MRI Findings in pediatric patients with spondyloarthropathy

Her clinical interests include:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• All forms of juvenile idiopathic arthritis including psoriatic arthritis & spondyloarthropathy
• Vasculitis syndromes
• Uveitis
• Morphea, linear scleroderma, and systemic scleroderma
• Diagnostic dilemmas presenting with atypical rash, weakness or any unexplained loss of joint function/mobility

Polly Ferguson, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics
Division Director, Rheumatology

Polly Ferguson, MD, was recently appointed as the Division Director for Pediatric Rheumatology. Prior to joining UI Children’s Hospital she served as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at University of Alabama at Birmingham. She completed her pediatric residency and pediatric rheumatology and immunology fellowship at University of Virginia at Charlottesville. She received her medical degree from the UI Carver College of Medicine.

Her research interests include:

• Genetic basis of autoinflammatory disorders including chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO), SAPHO syndrome and the periodic fever syndromes
• Genetic basis of rare familial rheumatologic disorders

In addition to general rheumatology, her special clinical interests include:

• Periodic fever syndromes including but not limited to Hyper IgD syndrome, Cryopyrinopathies (FCAS, Muckle-Wells, NOMID), Familial Mediterranean syndrome, TRAPS
• Vasculitis syndromes
• Inflammatory bone disorders including chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO), SAPHO syndrome, sclerosing osteomyelitis, cherubism
• Psoriatic arthritis and spondyloarthropathy

As Iowa’s only pediatric rheumatologists, these doctors are committed to clinical excellence, quality service, and child- and family-centered care.