Winners of the 2025 Howley Sr. and Howley Jr. Prizes for Arthritis Research

The 2025 Lee C. Howley Sr. Prize Recipient
 

The Arthritis Foundation is pleased to announce the 2025 Lee C. Howley Sr. Prize to Elaine Husni, MD, MPH. This prize recognizes an individual researcher who has made significant contributions to arthritis research, including impacting patient outcomes and quality of life, and has shown exceptional commitment to volunteer work through the Foundation.

Dr. Husni received her undergraduate education from Boston College and her master’s and medical degrees from Boston University School of Medicine. She trained in rheumatology at Brigham & Women’s Hospital at Harvard Medical School and completed her internship and residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, and her fellowship at Brigham & Women's Hospital. With a career-long emphasis on improving outcomes for individuals with inflammatory arthritis, Dr. Husni’s research integrates patient-reported outcomes, precision medicine and immunologic mechanisms underlying treatment response and nonresponse.   

“I’m deeply honored and grateful to receive the 2025 Howley Sr. Prize,” says Dr. Husni. “The Arthritis Foundation has shaped my career since training, and this recognition fuels my commitment to arthritis research and patients.”  

Bridging Science and Service  

Previously, Dr. Husni received an Arthritis Foundation research grant for her research program, “Defining a Personalized Treatment Approach to Rheumatoid Arthritis: Using Genetic Markers of TNFi Response.” Her program notably bridges rigorous science with real-world impact to advance individualized care and quality of life for patients living with arthritis. She has shared her work at the Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Summit and in other national venues.  

Dr. Husni’s Arthritis Foundation volunteer service began when she was a rheumatology trainee, helping lead early community health and fundraising efforts in the Boston area. Since then, she has continued to serve locally and nationally across the Foundation’s medical and scientific activities, supported major fundraising events, such as Walk to Cure Arthritis and Silver Spoons, and participated in multiple Think Tank initiatives (patient-reported outcomes, psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis). She also contributes to the Arthritis Foundation Science & Industry Consortium to strengthen collaboration among academia, clinicians and industry, and regularly supports patient education events and seminars. 

The 2025 Lee C. Howley Jr. Prize Recipient 

The Arthritis Foundation is pleased to announce the 2025 Lee C. Howley Jr. Prize to Mileka Gilbert, MD, PhD. This prize recognizes an early career researcher who demonstrates a firm commitment to arthritis research, including impacting patient outcomes and quality of life, with a strong record of service to the Foundation.

Dr. Gilbert, associate professor of pediatrics and senior associate dean for engagement at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), joins the ranks of esteemed physician-scientists who have previously received a Howley prize. 

Dr. Gilbert completed undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She then earned her MD and PhD degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She completed her training in general pediatrics at the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System and went on to complete fellowship training in pediatric rheumatology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. In 2015, she joined the faculty in the Department of Pediatrics at MUSC, where she is the principal investigator for the Pediatric Rheumatology Care & Outcomes Improvement Network. Dr. Gilbert has led quality improvement and implementation science work to improve disease outcomes and mental health outcomes of children with juvenile arthritis and other rheumatic diseases.  

She has served on the Arthritis Foundation’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee and Community Health Expert Working Group. Dr. Gilbert is also a co-chair of the Arthritis Foundation Community Health and Workforce Summit and is now serving on the Arthritis Foundation’s Vaccine Policy Taskforce.  She has also reviewed grant proposals for Arthritis Foundation awards and participated in Jingle Bell Run events. 

“I am very honored to receive this award, especially from an organization that inspires inclusive and collaborative teamwork in the holistic care of children with juvenile arthritis,” says Dr. Gilbert. 

About the Arthritis Foundation  

The Arthritis Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to the fight against arthritis — the nation’s #1 cause of disability. Through groundbreaking scientific research, patient-centered programs, advocacy at all levels of government and robust community engagement, the Foundation empowers people to live their best lives while relentlessly pursuing a cure. With a presence in communities nationwide, we amplify the voices of those affected and work to drive lasting change. Learn more at arthritis.org.