Catherine Alexis Sims

My research is focused on preventative and reproductive health care in patients with autoimmune disease. Specifically, I am interested in empowering women to make informed decisions about cervical cancer screening and exploring avenues to make this screening more accessible. I also study pregnancy outcomes in this population and assess the impact of pregnancy planning, immunosuppressive medications, and maternal mental health on these outcomes.

My research interests extend into my clinical practice as well. Each week, I see patients in the Duke Autoimmunity in Pregnancy clinic and Durham Veterans Affairs rheumatology clinic. During these clinic visits, our conversations are centered around contraception, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and preventative health care screenings. I also have the opportunity to teach Duke University medical students, residents, advanced practice providers, and rheumatology fellows.

Advocating for patients' reproductive rights is an important aspect of my role as a reproductive rheumatologist. I am currently a member of the North Carolina Medical Society and participate in meetings with local elected officials to advocate for women to have access to medications and procedures to ensure comprehensive reproductive health care. I also attend numerous patient-focused workshops and conference to empower women to make informed decisions about their health.