Meet the team: rheumatology

Dr Ray Armstrong

Dr Armstrong is trained in all aspects of rheumatology including soft tissue rheumatism and all inflammatory rheumatic disorders. In addition to full time clinical work he has pursued an interest in the application of IT to education and service development.

Prof Cyrus Cooper

Prof Cooper is professor of rheumatology and director of the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit at the University of Southampton.

Dr Brian Davidson

Dr Davidson is trained in all aspects of clinical rheumatology, together with more specialist training in the management of connective tissue disorders.

Prof Elaine Dennison

Prof Dennison has worked for the Trust since 2002. She was a member of the team that won the hospital doctor rheumatology team of the year award in 2005.

Prof Christopher Edwards

Prof Edwards has an active research programme looking at the epidemiology of autoimmune rheumatic diseases, the influence of environment on the development of RA and SLE and new therapies for these diseases.

Dr Claire Holmes 

Dr Holmes has a particular interest in osteoporosis (a condition that weakens bones) and metabolic bone disease. She's the lead consultant for the osteoporosis centre.

Prof Nick Harvey

Prof Harvey has comprehensive general rheumatology experience, and sub-specialty expertise in osteoporosis and difficult metabolic bone disease.

Dr Chris Holroyd

Dr Holroyd leads the biological therapies review service for patients with inflammatory arthritis. He also leads the combined rheumatology-gastroenterology service. His sub-specialty interests include rheumatoid arthritis and musculoskeletal ultrasound.

Dr Rakhi Seth

Dr Seth has a clinical interest in the diagnosis and management of inflammatory arthritis. She is also actively involved in research into new therapies and is currently sub-principle investigator on several different trials in rheumatology. 

 Dr Dinny Wallis

Dr Wallis is a consultant rheumatologist who joined the Trust in November 2015. She has a particular interest in spondyloarthritis.

Dr Gill Pearson

Dr Pearson joined the osteoporosis team in 1993, with a background in general practice. She’s been involved in running clinical research trials during that time and assisted in the development of the osteoporosis centre. She helps to run the osteoporosis clinical service, and has recently been working closely with the orthopaedic and ortho-geriatric services to develop a secondary fracture prevention service at Southampton.  

Sarah Bennett

Since joining the Trust Sarah has worked on the short stay medical unit and moved to rheumatology in 2003. Her current role is to lead and co-ordinate care for patients on biologic therapy.

Teresa Brown

Teresa worked predominantly in cardiology before moving to the research unit where she worked with rheumatology patients enrolled in clinical research studies. She moved to rheumatology outpatients in 2008. Her role is primarily working with patients who have inflammatory arthritis.

Sarah Hartfree

Sarah is a paediatric nurse with a range of experience in the acute setting. She is the support link for the paediatric rheumatology service.

Helen Platten 

Helen worked in orthopaedic outpatients before joining the rheumatology team as a research nurse, and until recently was the rheumatology research co-ordinator for clinical trials. She now has a dual role as lead nurse for the rheumatology department and as a specialist nurse in lupus and associated connective tissue diseases.

Chris Summerfield

Caron Underhill

Caron is the pharmacist for rheumatology with particular responsibility for biologic therapies.