About Us

Friends of World Scleroderma Foundation, Inc. (F-WSF) is a 501(c)(3) organization established in 2015 by reputable rheumatologists in the United States. Registered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, F-WSF's primary focus is on research and education.

Our mission is to raise funds and provide support for patient-oriented scleroderma research, interdisciplinary education, and the overall well-being of individuals living with scleroderma worldwide. We achieve this by distributing funds to organizations actively involved in scleroderma research, education, and patient support.

Board Leadership & Staff

Our Board of Directors includes passionate leaders from across disciplines, united by a shared commitment to improving the lives of those affected by scleroderma. Through education, advocacy and collaboration, they work to equip medical professionals, elevate awareness and drive progress in care.

Daniel E. Furst, MD

Carl M. Pearson Professor of Rheumatology University of California at Los Angeles
Pres., Friends of World Scleroderma Foundation
Pres., Scleroderma Foundation of California

Board Member, World Scleroderma Foundation

Dr. Daniel E. Furst is Professor Emeritus of Medicine at UCLA Medical Center, Division of Rheumatology, and also holds adjunct professorships at the University of Washington in Seattle and the University of Florence in Italy. He maintains a part-time clinical practice at Arthritis Associates of Southern California and Seattle Rheumatology Associates.

Dr. Furst received his MD from Johns Hopkins University, where he completed his internship and residency. He completed a rheumatology fellowship at UCLA Medical Center and a clinical pharmacology fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center.

He serves on the boards of the Scleroderma Foundation of California, World Scleroderma Foundation and Friends of World Scleroderma Foundation. He holds positions on the scientific advisory board of the Arthritis Foundation and the board of the Foundation of the Collaboration of Research Rheumatologists of North America.

He sits on editorial boards of leading journals in clinical pharmacology and rheumatic disease. He has authored over 800 original articles, reviews and book chapters and has written or edited 14 books on rheumatic diseases.

Todd Gilligan
Environmental, Health & Safety Manager
Andersen Corporation
Dubuque, Iowa

Todd Gilligan brings more than 18 years of experience in environmental, health and safety (EHS) leadership with a background as a former math teacher and school administrator. He grew up in Dubuque and graduated from Dubuque Senior High School, where he was a multi-sport athlete. He worked in education before moving into manufacturing and safety.

Todd manages EHS services at an Andersen Corporation manufacturing facility, bringing energy, communication skills and the ability to train and motivate teams at all levels.

His teaching and coaching expertise support a culture of safety, wellness and continuous improvement. He has led EHS software implementations and occupational health services, applying a people-centered approach grounded in real-world experience.

An eight-year scleroderma and interstitial lung disease warrior, Todd’s diagnosis deepened his passion for health education and advocacy and shifted his focus to heart, lung, vascular and immune system research. Whether advocating for rare disease research or managing his own health, Todd meets every challenge with determination, empathy and optimism.

Known for his leadership and humor, Todd views every experience as an opportunity to learn, grow and guide others. He and his wife are proud parents of three children.

JoAnna Harper headshot_edited_edited_edi

JoAnna Harper, PharmD
Founder & CEO, Pain Partners LLC

Consultant Pharmacist
Integrative Pain Management Specialist

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Dr. JoAnna Harper is a licensed consultant pharmacist with expertise in integrative pain management and a special focus on scleroderma, lupus and autoimmune conditions.

She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Oregon State University and a bachelor’s degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology with honors from the University of Arizona.

With over 15 years of clinical experience, Dr. Harper has worked in hospital, outpatient, compounding and community pharmacy settings. She is known for her patient-centered approach, combining evidence-based pharmacologic care with functional, lifestyle and complementary therapies.

She regularly consults with healthcare teams and patients on complex medication regimens, personalized pain management plans and wellness strategies.

A lifelong patient advocate, Dr. Harper has been active in the scleroderma community for more than three decades—as a support group leader, national speaker and educator. Diagnosed with Raynaud’s, lupus, and scleroderma as a child, she brings both professional expertise and personal insight to her work, helping patients feel informed, empowered, and supported.

Dr. Harper lives in Minnesota and enjoys travel, photography and spending time with her daughter, family and friends.

Marco Matucci-Cerinic, MD, PhD
Full Professor of Rheumatology and Medicine; University Vita-Salute San Raffaele

Milan, Italy

Dr. Matucci-Cerinic is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP), a member of the British Royal College of Physicians, the American College of Rheumatology, the Italian Society of Rheumatology and an honorary fellow of the British Society of Rheumatology.

He serves as Chairman of the IRB Committee of the Tuscan region and as a scientific consultant at San Raffaele Hospital. A strong supporter of Friends of World Scleroderma Foundation since its founding in 2015, he currently serves as Chair of the World Scleroderma Foundation.

He has published over 1,300 peer-reviewed papers on the pathogenesis, clinical features and treatment of scleroderma. He holds editorial roles with the Journal of Scleroderma & Related Diseases, Arthritis Research & Therapy and Clinical & Experimental Rheumatology.

He previously served as editor of Rheumatology and currently serves on the editorial boards of several leading rheumatology journals.

He has held leadership roles with the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR), the International League of Associations of Rheumatology (ILAR), the European Scleroderma Trial and Research Group (EUSTAR) and the Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium (SCTC).

Ujvala K. Sharma

Chief Technology Officer

Measure Practice Management

Los Angeles, California

A seasoned IT executive with over 20 years of experience, Ms. Sharma has led technology initiatives in software development, support and product implementation.

In her current role as Chief Technology Officer, she oversees multiple departments and drives innovation across systems and services.

She holds dual master’s degrees in computer science from institutions in India and Azusa Pacific University and completed the Chief Technology Officer Program at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Her leadership in the health technology sector brings valuable strategic and operational insight to the Friends of World Scleroderma Foundation board. She blends technical innovation with strong communication and team-building skills to help scale mission-driven organizations.

A long-time volunteer, Ms. Sharma has held leadership roles in school organizations, robotics programs and youth development. She has developed digital platforms for engagement, donations and events, and she serves as Unit Rank Advancement Chair for Crew 22 of the Boy Scouts of America.

Diagnosed with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 2003, she brings personal insight and professional expertise to the foundation’s mission with a strong interest in community engagement, collaborative research and patient advocacy.

David Murad

Managing Director

Swampscott, Massachusetts

David is an experienced nonprofit leader with a background in program development, fundraising, leadership development, advocacy and stakeholder engagement.

He holds an MDiv from Columbia Theological Seminary, along with an MBA and BS from Louisiana Tech University. He currently lives in Swampscott, Massachusetts.

Since 2022, David has served as Managing Director of Friends of World Scleroderma Foundation, where he leads partnerships with academic institutions, sponsors and pharma companies.

In collaboration with the University of Michigan Medical School, he helped develop and launch the CME program Early Detection and Diagnosis of Scleroderma, aimed at educating primary care providers.

Previously, David trained a nationwide network of advocates, leading to record-breaking participation and the most Senate meetings in the organization’s history. His efforts helped secure $10 million in Congressionally directed funding for scleroderma research.

David served on the NIAMS Coalition Steering Committee at the NIH and supports the Steffens Scleroderma Foundation’s social media. He has held roles at Presbyterian Pan American School, Red Cloud Indian School, Heartland Alliance and Chicago Lights.

Medical Advisory Board

The Medical Advisory Board (MAB) supports Friends of World Scleroderma Foundation, the Scleroderma Foundation of California and the Scleroderma Foundation of Greater Chicago. As volunteer advisors, members contribute to grant review, educational content, clinical consultation and patient resources. Their insight strengthens our mission and impact.

Francesco Boin, MD

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Los Angeles, CA

David Fiorentino, MD, PhD

Stanford Medicine

Redwood City, CA

Dan E. Furst, MD

UCLA Medical Suites Rheumatology

Los Angeles, CA

JoAnna Harper, PharmD, RPh

Pain Partners LLC

Boise, ID

Suzanne Kafaja, MD

UCLA Health

Los Angeles, CA

Dinesh Khanna, MD, MSc

University of Michigan Medical School

Ann Arbor, MI

David Leader, DMD, MPH

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

Medford, MA

Michael Macklin, MD

University of Chicago Medicine

Chicago, IL

Marco Matucci-Cerinic, MD, PhD

University of Florence

Florence, Italy and Basel, Switzerland

Carrie Richardson, MD

Northwestern Medicine

Co-Director, Scleroderma Program

Chicago, IL

Lesley A. Saketkoo, MD

Tulane Medical Center

New Orleans, LA