Program Leadership
Pediatric Rheumatology
Cuoghi Edens, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine
Cuoghi Edens, MD is a rheumatologist trained to see both pediatric rheumatology and adult rheumatology patients. Dr. Edens treats patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus, mixed connective tissue disease, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, vasculitis, dermatomyositis and other more rare conditions. Due to her combined adult and pediatric training, she has a special interest in rheumatic diseases in children and ensuring their healthcare as they transition into adulthood. She is also interested in the interplay between reproductive health, pregnancy and rheumatic diseases and is currently conducting research in this area.
Aside from her clinical work, Dr. Edens is also the pediatric rheumatology fellowship director and involved in medical student and resident education.
Melissa Tesher, MD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Section Chief, Pediatric Rheumatology
Melissa Tesher, MD, is a board-certified pediatric rheumatologist. Dr. Tesher manages care for children and teens that have been diagnosed with a wide variety of pediatric rheumatologic disorders, but has a particular focus on juvenile arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and chronic musculoskeletal pain. She enjoys working with trainees of all levels including medical students, residents and fellows, and is also active in clinical research. Her research focuses on chronic pain in children with juvenile arthritis, and on development of a multidisciplinary clinic to provide optimal care for pediatric lupus patients. She believes in a "whole patient" approach to care of patients with chronic diseases, with careful attention to patients' mental health and social situations. When not at work, Dr. Tesher can often be found bicycling Chicago-area trails with her family.
Linda Wagner-Weiner, MD, MS
Clinical Associate of Pediatrics
Linda Wagner-Weiner, MD, MS, is a board certified pediatric rheumatologist who is dedicated to the treatment of children with a variety of pediatric rheumatology diagnoses. She has a special interest in caring for those with systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile arthritis and vasculitis.
Dr. Wagner-Weiner is active in clinical research. One of her projects is a multi-center study to assess and improve the medical management of children with vasculitis. In addition to research and clinical work, she lectures regularly on pediatric rheumatology topics at national conferences. Since 1997, Dr. Wagner-Weiner has been named one of the “Top Doctors” in the city by Chicago magazine.
Emily Sheskey, PharmD, BCPPS
Clinical Pharmacist Specialist – Pediatric Ambulatory Care
Dr. Sheskey received her BS and PharmD from the University of Michigan. She completed her PGY1 and PGY2 Pediatrics residencies at Indiana University Health in Indianapolis, IN. After residency, she began working as the general pediatrics clinical pharmacist at University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital. She now practices at Comer in Pediatric Ambulatory Care. In this role, she works with several teams, including pediatric neurology, nephrology, hepatology, and rheumatology. In her role at the UCM PharmaFit Kids clinic she manages weight loss pharmacotherapy for adolescent patients. She is also the Residency Program Director for the UCM PGY1 Community-Based Pharmacy residency program.
“The peds rheumatology team is a great group of people to work with, and we all love building relationships with our patients. I love seeing our patients long-term and not only helping them learn to manage their medications, but also get updates on what is going on in their lives.”
Laura Wallen, MSN, RN
Pediatric Rheumatology Nurse Associate
Laura is a vital member of the pediatric rheumatology team. In her role as a nurse associate, she educates patients on diseases processes, medications, school/work accommodations, and injection training. Laura coordinates care across outpatient locations and health systems and supports both patients and providers by triaging incoming patient and provider messages and processing insurance prior authorizations for imaging exams and specialty medications.
“Our team promotes a fun, positive work environment through trust and camaraderie. We enjoy helping our patients, solving problems, and providing the best care possible. As a nurse, I am able to play a small part in the journey to help them get better. Nothing compares to the reward of watching them heal – the smiles (and the stickers) make it worth it!”
