Connective Tissue Disease

Living with Autoimmune Connective Tissue Diseases>

Autoimmune connective tissue disorders affect millions of Americans. Lupus and Scleroderma are two of the lesser known connective tissue disorders that disproportionately affect women, and in the case of lupus disproportionately affect women of color. These illnesses are frequently diagnosed during the very busy and productive childbearing years. Little work has been done on the affect of these illnesses on the day to day activities of the people who live their lives in the presence of these illness. These pages outlines the recent research of Cindy Mendelson, PhD, RN and Janet Poole, PhD, OTR/L who are working individually and collectively on issues associated with the quality of life of people with Lupus and Scleroderma.


Cindy Mendelson
Janet Poole

Learn About Our Research

  • Workplace challenges encountered by persons with scleroderma (effective 7/1/08)

  • An Exploratory Study of the Impact of Two Systemic Autoimmune Diseases on Perceived Parenting Ability

  • Development and evaluation of a self management Program for Scleroderma.

  • Living with the Wolf: Women's Self-Management of Lupus.

  • Living with the wolf: A pilot study of enculturation into life with Lupus.