John D. Carter, MD is the Director of Clinical Research for the Division of Rheumatology. Dr. Carter's research team includes two study coordinators: Gail Lewis, RN, CCRC and Michelle Orzechowski, MA. He also has the valued assistance of several sub-investigators including Dr. Joanne Valeriano-Marcet, MD and Dr. Yih Chang Chen Lin, MD. Dr. Carter's clinical research is supported by both investigator-initiated grants and industry-sponsored trials.

Dr. Carter's primary research interest centers on Chlamydia-induced Reactive Arthritis. Chlamydia trachomatis is the leading sexually-transmitted bacterial infection in the United States. C trachomatis can cause a serious form of arthritis (Reactive Arthritis [ReA]) in some individuals who acquire genital infections with the organisms. Chlamydial infections can also exist in a persistent state. This chlamydial persistence has been linked to not only ReA, but also other potential disease states. It might also play a role in some of the adverse effects that occur with certain treatments for other types of arthritis. Dr. Carter's clinical research is investigating these and other aspects of the relation to chlamydial infections and arthritis. He was also awarded an NIH Grant in 2006 to study a novel treatment for Chlamydia-induced ReA (www.clinicaltrials.gov). He has presented preliminary data from this trial on a national level at the American College of Rheumatology National Convention in November of 2007.Dr. Carter has also been awarded investigator-initiated grants that have totaled more than $1,000,000 over the past two years alone to study certain aspects of rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and osteoporosis (www.clinicaltrials.gov). Dr. Carter currently has two more grants that are under review at the NIH and the American College of Rheumatology/Research and Education Foundation.Dr. Carter has also performed important unfunded clinical research that has centered on drug safety. In November 2007, Dr Carter presented this research at a Plenary Session of the American College of Rheumatology National Convention in Boston, MA.Finally, Dr. Carter is the principal investigator for several industry-sponsored multi-center trials studying novel treatments for rheumatoid arthritis and gout. He is continually adding new industry-sponsored trials to his clinical research.

Gail has 30+ years of experience as a registered nurse, and has been a Nurse Researcher for USF since 2004. She has been the Rheumatology research coordinator since 2014.