Scleroderma Explained: Early Signs, Diagnosis & New Treatments from a UCLA Expert

Today's guest is Dr. Elizabeth Volkmann — Associate Professor of Rheumatology at UCLA and Director of the UCLA Scleroderma Program.

Elizabeth blends leading-edge research with holistic care — treating the whole person, not just the antibodies. In this episode, we cover the early, often-missed signs of scleroderma, the newest treatment frontier (CAR T therapy and stem cell transplant), and her groundbreaking research linking childhood trauma and gut microbiome health to disease risk. If you or someone you love lives with scleroderma, this conversation offers real hope grounded in real science.

Chapter and Time Stamps

00:34 Meet Dr. Volkmann

01:47 Early Signs and Diagnosis

03:54 Key Antibodies and Labs

06:30 Understanding Skin Thickening

08:00 Treating Fibrosis Today

09:53 Stem Cells and CAR T

13:10 CAR T Results and Trials

14:14 Interstitial Lung Disease Focus

15:31 Trauma and Autoimmunity

19:45 Gut Microbiome Discoveries

21:45 Probiotics and Bacteria Patterns

24:29 Reversal Through Lifestyle

27:48 Integrative Medicine Balance

29:00 Where to Find Dr Volkmann

29:45 Closing Thanks and Goodbye

🧬 Scleroderma Can Take Years to Diagnose — Here's Why

🩸 Antibodies Don't Tell the Whole Story

🌱 She Built Her Research From What Patients Told Her

🧠 Trauma Isn't Just Emotional — It May Predict Disease

💔 Patients Often Blame Themselves for Getting Sick

🔗 Antibiotics Revealed a Hidden Gut-Scleroderma Connection

🧩 Reversal Is Possible — But Rarely From Medication Alone

✨ One Truth Underlies It All: Healing Needs the Whole Person

Dr. Elizabeth Volkmann is an Associate Professor of Rheumatology at UCLA and Director of the UCLA Scleroderma Program. She also founded the UCLA Connective Tissue Disease-Related Interstitial Lung Disease (CTD-ILD) Program, where her research explores novel biomarkers and the gut microbiome's role in disease. A practitioner of holistic medicine, she treats the whole person — psychological, spiritual, and biological — and her research is directly inspired by patterns she's observed in her patients, including a striking link between childhood trauma and scleroderma risk.

• Instagram: @theholisticrheumatologist

Micah Yu, MD, MHA, MS, ABOIM, DipABLM, IFMCP

Dr. Micah Yu is a triple board-certified integrative rheumatologist who blends conventional medicine with holistic, nutrition-based healing to treat autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions. A patient himself, Dr. Yu brings a deeply personal perspective to his work, having reversed his own autoimmune arthritis through lifestyle and integrative medicine. He is certified in internal medicine, rheumatology, integrative medicine, lifestyle medicine, and functional medicine. As the founder of MyAutoimmuneMD and co-founder of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic, Dr. Yu empowers patients to address the root causes of illness and reclaim their health from the inside out.

Melissa Mondala, MD, MHA, MS, DipABLM

Dr. Melissa Mondala is a dual board-certified physician in Family and Lifestyle Medicine, with advanced training in Integrative Psychiatry and Integrative Medicine. As President of Dr. Lifestyle Clinic in Newport Beach—recognized by UC Irvine as a Public Health Site of Excellence—she pioneers a holistic, patient-centered approach to chronic disease. Dr. Mondala is a nationally recognized Lifestyle Medicine Intensivist, core faculty at Loma Linda University's Preventive Medicine Department, and a passionate advocate for plant-based nutrition, mental health, and women's wellness. A sought-after speaker and educator, she combines cutting-edge science with deep compassion to empower lasting healing, especially for those silently suffering from autoimmune, mental health, and long COVID conditions. She shares practical inspiration for healthy living and cooking at @drmelissaskitchen.

About AutoImmune Alchemy Podcast

Mission: Blending science with soul to transform autoimmune struggles into healing alchemy

AutoImmune Alchemy is a podcast dedicated to the autoimmune community, offering hope, validation, and evidence-based solutions for those struggling with complex autoimmune conditions. Hosted by the dynamic duo Dr. Melissa Mondala and Dr. Micah Yu, the show features expert interviews exploring root causes like hormonal imbalances, leaky gut, and inflammation that traditional medicine often overlooks. Each episode empowers listeners to take proactive control of their health through lifestyle medicine, nutrition, and integrative approaches.

Connect with AutoImmune Alchemy

• Website:MyAutoimmuneMD.com
• Dr. Lifestyle Clinic:www.drlifestyle.org
• Instagram: @myautoimmunemd
• Facebook: @MYAutoimmuneMD
• YouTube: @myautoimmunemd
• Email: contact@myautoimmunemd.com

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