Eight years ago, Jackie Lalonde was diagnosed with scleroderma after noticing some odd growths on her elbow. Scleroderma is a rare autoimmune disease that causes thickening of the skin and can also affect the blood vessels, the digestive tract, and other organs. Because Jackie lives in Florida for most of the year, she sought care in nearby Miami, but she always felt like she was missing something. “I honestly felt that that there was no one in the area who specialized in scleroderma. I didn’t feel like I had a relationship with my doctor there, and I did not get the kind of care or coordination of care that I needed.” ## Finding Specialized Care for Scleroderma During a trip to her summer house on the Cape in 2022, Jackie met Dr. Andreea Bujor, a rheumatologist at the Scleroderma Clinic at Boston Medical Center. That meeting changed everything for Jackie. “That was the day I got on my hands and knees and said, ‘thank you.’” says Jackie. “I cannot begin to speak highly enough of Andreea. She's so smart and she's such a wonderful person to work with. She's truly an amazing human being.” Right away, Dr. Bujor helped Jackie better understand her condition and coordinate care with other providers. This has given her the confidence that she’s staying on top of her condition, something she is grateful for. Although scleroderma has no cure, getting the appropriate treatments can ease symptoms and slow the condition’s progression, improving quality of life. Dr. Bujor also explained to Jackie there were other conditions she needed to be aware of. “Besides skin issues, scleroderma can also cause lung problems, heart issues, and other conditions,” says Jackie. “I needed to see other specialists, and my doctor in Florida was not making those connections for me. Andreea put together a team of specialists for me at BMC that have been phenomenal. The are all highly communicative and have done a great job at helping me figure out my diagnosis and keep it in check. I've had an incredible experience with all the folks on the team.” ## Looking Ahead with Confidence Jackie appreciates that Dr. Bujor coordinates not only with her team in Boston, but also with her doctors in Miami. “Andreea does an amazing job making sure I'm getting the treatment that I need, no matter where I am.” Because scleroderma is such a complex condition, Dr. Bujor and her team are continually working to make sure that Jackie receives holistic care for whatever pops up. As a physician-scientist, Dr. Bujor leads a research lab focused on finding new ways to detect and track scleroderma, as well as developing better tools to measure whether new treatments are working in clinical trials. “Andreea knows absolutely everything about scleroderma,” says Jackie. “You will not find anyone who knows more. She is that doctor who has the ability to really home in on the symptoms and the data, while always looking at the big picture.” Jackie is currently recovering from surgery to remove calcium buildup on her elbow. At each step of her journey, she is confident she can count on Dr. Bujor to make sure she gets the tests and care she needs to keep her as healthy as possible. “If you’ve got scleroderma, Andreea is literally the best, she's the smartest one in the room. She's also got an incredible bedside manner and is so caring and compassionate. I feel so lucky to have found her. She has truly changed my life.” [View all BMC stories](/stories) ### Scleroderma Clinic [Explore Department](/departments/rheumatology/scleroderma-clinic) ### Related Stories [#### 30 Years Later, Joe Tierney Credits BMC for the Life He Built Trauma and Acute Care Surgery ](/stories/30-years-later-joe-tierney-credits-bmc-life-he-built) [#### A Family’s Sacrifice and the Right Care Give Dylan Back His Childhood Pediatric Surgery ](/stories/familys-sacrifice-and-right-care-give-dylan-back-his-childhood) [#### A Mobile Approach to Prostate Cancer Screening and Follow-Up Care Urology ](/stories/mobile-approach-prostate-cancer-screening-and-follow-care) [#### Advancing Multidisciplinary Care for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Crohn’s and Colitis Program ](/stories/dr-perera-physician-spotlight) - [Load More](?page=1 "Load more items") .container--content > * { max-width: 900px; margin-left: 0; }