Dr. Chang's primary research interest is in the early detection of cardiac manifestations and prevention of long-term cardiovascular comorbidities of pediatric-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (pSLE). Over the past several years of her academic fellowship, Dr. Chang integrated her clinical interests with formal training in epidemiology and biostatistics to develop a body of work related to the use of echocardiography for the early detection of cardiac disease in children with lupus. This work is supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and has led to successful interdisciplinary collaborations with researchers in pediatric cardiology.

In addition to echocardiography, Dr. Chang's current research seeks to explore the utility of other non-invasive tests to assess subclinical changes associated with atherosclerotic risk in children and adolescents with pSLE. Specifically, she seeks to determine whether functional vascular abnormalities, such as attenuated nocturnal blood pressure dipping (loss of the normal decrease in blood pressure from daytime to nighttime) and decreases in peripheral vascular reactive hyperemia are associated with structural atherosclerotic vascular changes as measured by carotid intima-media thickness. This work is supported by the Lupus Foundation of America and is a first step in identifying non-invasive measures of atherosclerotic risk that can be used in future trials and in clinical practice. Her long-term goals are to develop standardized screening recommendations and targeted interventions during childhood to prevent future cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with SLE.

AB, Harvard University (Biochemical Sciences), 2008

MD, University of Pennsylvania, 2012

Fellowship, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Pediatric Rheumatology), 2018

MSCE, University of Pennsylvania (Clinical Epidemiology), 2018

Attending Physician

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

American College of Rheumatology, 2013-

Childhood Arthritis & Rheumatology Research Alliance, 2015-

American Heart Association, 2017-

Pediatric Rheumatology Symposium Abstract Award, Rheumatology Research Foundation, 2017

Research Poster Day Clinical Abstract Award, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 2017

Perelman School of Medicine 21st Century Endowed Scholar, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 2008-2012

Award Supporting Early Career Scientists Aims to Reduce Future Shortage of Lupus Researchers (Lupus Foundation of America)

Psych Disorders and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Diagnosis in Youth (Physicians Weekly)