Dr Helen HarrisDr Helen Harris


Speciality: Rheumatology

Clinic times: Wednesdays 2.00pm – 4.30pm

Appointments Tel: 0131 447 2340

NHS Post: Consultant Rheumatologist, NHS Fife

 

Clinical interests:

Early arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosis, Sjogren’s Syndrome, Raynauds Syndrome, Benign Joint Hypermobility Syndrome, and ankylosing spondylitis. Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis, osteoporosis and pain management.

 

Background information:

Following graduation from medicine at Trinity College, Dublin and training posts in Ireland Dr Harris embarked on a Post Doctoral Fellowship at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, USA. She undertook a Research Fellowship on inflammatory arthritis and was honoured with the Sir John Banks medal for her work. While at John’s Hopkins Dr Harris was privileged to train in SLE and Phospholipid syndrome with Prof Michelle Petri, in Systemic Sclerosis and Raynauds with Prof Fred Wigley and with other international experts.

In 1997 Dr Harris was appointed lecturer in Rheumatology at the University of Edinburgh and developed research interests in Osteoarthritis and Hypermobility. She was appointed as a Consultant Rheumatogist in Fife in 2001 and Honorary Lecturer at St Andrew’s University in 2006.

Dr Harris runs a state-of-the-art Early Arthritis clinic where patients are assessed both clinically and with ultrasound if appropriate and a weekly Connective Tissue Diseases Clinic where autoimmune diseases including SLE and Sjogren’s Syndrome are comprehensively assessed and diagnoses made in line with internationally accepted guidelines. She is the Fife Rheumatology departmental lead for GP and Undergraduate teaching. She has created an innovative ½ day module for the St Andrew’s 3rd year medical students and undertakes GP workshops on pain management, gout treatment, cardiovascular disease, vasculitis and joint injections. Dr Harris works with her colleagues to deliver a comprehensive series of Rheumatology teaching sessions annually for ST 1& 2 grade doctors.

 Early arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosis, Sjogren’s Syndrome, Raynauds Syndrome, Benign Joint Hypermobility Syndrome, and ankylosing spondylitis. Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis, osteoporosis and pain management.

 

 Professional memberships:

  • Member Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh(MRCPE)
  • Member of Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (MRCPI)
  • Member of British Society of Rheumatology (BSR)
  • Member of Scottish Society of Rheumatology (SSR)
  • Member Medical Defence Union

 

Useful websites: