Yuan Qi, MD

Rheumatologist

McMaster University

Dr. Qi is a 2025–2026 Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium–Vasculitis Foundation Fellow. His interest in vasculitis began during internal medicine training after caring for a critically ill patient with suspected ANCA-associated vasculitis transferred overnight from a smaller hospital. At that time, guidelines supported the use of plasmapheresis for patients with rapidly progressive kidney and lung disease, and treatment was initiated accordingly.

One year later, the PEXIVAS trial demonstrated no added benefit of plasmapheresis, an experience that highlighted for Dr. Qi how rapidly evidence can change clinical practice in vasculitis. This experience shaped his research interests.

Dr. Qi’s work now focuses on optimizing glucocorticoid use in vasculitis to balance efficacy and toxicity, with the goal of advancing personalized, risk-based treatment strategies that improve patient outcomes.