Michael D. Lockshin, MD of Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City has been appointed editor of Arthritis and Rheumatism, the official publication of the American College of Rheumatology and a leading rheumatology journal. The American College of Rheumatology made the announcement of Dr. Lockshin's appointment following its recent annual meeting in San Antonio. Dr. Lockshin is an attending physician at HSS and director of the Barbara Volcker Center for Women and Rheumatic Disease at HSS. He is also co-director of the Mary Kirkland Center for Lupus Research at HSS and Professor of Medicine and Obstetrics/Gynecology at the Weill College of Medicine of Cornell University. As editor of Arthritis and Rheumatism, Dr. Lockshin said one of his goals is to expand the audience for the existing journal by making it more user-friendly for non-physicians as well as for health professionals and scientists without sacrificing the journal's medical and scientific heritage of excellence. In the United States alone 70 million people are living with some form of arthritis or chronic rheumatic symptoms. Additionally, these diseases are the leading cause of disability among American adults. According to a recent survey, total medical and social costs for such adults exceed $65 million annually. Dr. Lockshin's current research includes pregnancy and rheumatic disease; gender and rheumatic disease; and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. About Hospital for Special Surgery Founded in 1863, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) is a world leader in orthopedics, rheumatology and rehabilitation. HSS is nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics, No. 3 in rheumatology by U.S. News & World Report, and has received Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. In the 2006 edition of HealthGrades' Hospital Quality in America Study, HSS received five-star ratings for clinical excellence in its specialties. A member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and an affiliate of Weill Medical College of Cornell University, HSS provides orthopedic and rheumatologic patient care at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital at New York Weill Cornell Medical Center. All Hospital for Special Surgery medical staff are on the faculty of Weill Medical College of Cornell University. The hospital's research division is internationally recognized as a leader in the investigation of musculoskeletal and autoimmune diseases. Hospital for Special Surgery is located in New York City and online at www.hss.edu. See the complete news release on the Hospital for Special Surgery’s web site