DR. NICOLE ZAGELBAUM WARD
Specializing in Rheumatology
Dr. Nicole Zagelbaum Ward DO, MPH is board certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. She completed rheumatology fellowship at the University of Southern California (USC). She practices in Los Angeles, California and is an attending physician at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.
Attitudes and beliefs towards COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccination among rheumatology patients in a Los Angeles County safety net clinic
Implementing Treat to Target (TTT) for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Through a Virtual Learning Collaborative (LC) Program During COVID
Cardiac Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Dissecting cellulitis of the scalp associated with peripheral and axial spondyloarthritis: report of a case and review of the literature.
Featured Publication
COVID-19 and Health: A Guide to Understanding
This handy practical manual offers a concise and invaluable guide for both professional and lay use to help you better understand the problems that are commonly related to COVID-19 infection with a focus on long COVID. It is written in a clear non-technical style and extensively illustrated with figures, diagrams and tables to emphasize and clarify useful concepts and information. This pocket guide provides an up-to-date and easily understandable source of information on a subject that is ever changing and has caused much concern in our current society.
For more information about other educational materials and seminar programs by Dr. Nicole Zagelbaum Ward please contact us.
Rheumatology & More
Health Services
Outpatient Rheumatology
Comprehensive outpatient rheumatologic assessment, management
Onsite Phlebotomy
Onsite phlebotomy and laboratory
Injections
Joint, tendon, trigger point injections: cortisone, viscosupplementation
Inpatient Rheumatology
Comprehensive inpatient (hospital) rheumatology consultation
Training
Nurse-assisted teaching of self-injections
Workers' Compensation
Workers’ compensation consultations
Ultrasound Evaluation
Musculoskeletal Ultrasound diagnostic evaluation and guided injections
Medical Legal Evaluations
Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME), Agreed Medical Evaluator (AME), Independent Medical Evaluator (IME)
Disability Ratings
Subsequent injuries benefits trust fund evaluations (SIBTF)
About Dr. Zagelbaum Ward
Dr. Nicole Zagelbaum Ward completed her undergraduate education in 2009 at the University of California in Santa Cruz and received her Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of California in Los Angeles. She conducted research for the Department of Veterans Affairs during this time. In 2017, she received her medical degree (DO) from Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Zagelbaum Ward then completed her internal medicine residency in 2020 at Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College and completed her Rheumatology Fellowship at the University of Southern California in 2022.
Dr. Zagelbaum Ward is highly published in the medical literature, having authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications including articles, reviews, and book chapters. She is an active member of the American College of Rheumatology.
Education & Training
Bachelor of Arts (BA) – University of California, Santa Cruz (2004-2009)
Master of Public Health (MPH) – University of California, Los Angeles (2010-2012)
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) – Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (2013-2017)
Internal Medicine Residency – Westchester Medicine Center/New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York (2017-2020)
Rheumatology Fellowship – University of Southern California (2020-2022)
Career
Health Science Specialist – Department of Veterans Affairs (2012-2013)
Bixby Research Fellow (2012)
Member – Delta Omega Honorary Society, UCLA (2012-)
Member – American College of Physicians (2017-)
Preceptor – Foundations of Clinical Medicine Course, New York Medical College (2018-2020)
Fellow – American College of Rheumatology (2020-)
Private Practice – Beverly Hills Arthritis Associates, Beverly Hills, California (2022-)
Member – Ultrasound School of North American Rheumatologists (USSONAR) (2022-)
Workers’ Compensation
- Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME)
- Independent Medical Evaluator (IME)
- Available for Agreed Medical Evaluations (AME)
- Review of Medical Records
- Causation and Apportionment
- Disability Rating
- Medical Review of the Scientific Literature
- Available to serve as a medical expert for testimony
- Comprehensive Internal Medicine Evaluation: hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, asthma/COPD, infections, chronic kidney disease, and others
- Comprehensive Rheumatologic Evaluation: arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, psoriatic arthritis, raynaud’s disease, behchets disease, spondyloarthritis, and others
- Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) evaluations
Dr. Nicole Zagelbaum Ward uses her clinical experience, training, knowledge of well-established scientific standards and literature to perform a comprehensive medical evaluation. During this process she reviews all necessary data to provide an expert medical opinion on all relevant medical legal issues. She utilizes her skills and training as a board-certified internal medicine physician and fellowship-trained rheumatologist to participate in the evaluation and management of workers with a wide variety of internal medical, rheumatologic, and associated health conditions. She also can provide an extensive review of medical records where she identifies important and applicable facts and applies them to evaluation, causation, disability, work restrictions and future needs of the worker. She also works to evaluate level of impairment and disability. For further information, please submit the Contact Form.
Telehealth
Get Help From The Comfort Of Your Home
What does telehealth mean?
Telehealth or telemedicine is a special type of visit between you and your health care provider that can occur without an in-person office visit. Telehealth is done online with internet access on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Telehealth is convenient, and especially helpful to monitor and improve ongoing health issues, such as medication changes or chronic health conditions like arthritis. During the COVID-19 pandemic telehealth offers a safe and convenient way to see your doctor. Dr. Zagelbaum Ward understands this and works to accomodate her patients based on their preferences.
Benefits of Telehealth
- Limited physical contact reduces exposure to COVID-19
- Virtual visits ensure you get health care wherever you are located – at home, at work or even in your car
- Virtual visits cut down on travel, time off from work, and the need for child care
- Virtual health care tools can shorten the wait for an appointment
- Increased access to specialists who are located far away
Research & Resources
Peer Reviewed Journal Article
1 Zagelbaum N.K., Pal S., Ruddy ., Stavros S.
Attitudes and beliefs towards COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccination among rheumatology patients in a Los Angeles County safety net clinic
7(1):13. doi: 10.1186/s41927-023-00338-7
2 Zagelbaum Ward N.K., Jun JA, Vecerek N, Donaldson M, Quismorio FP Jr.
Dissecting cellulitis of the scalp associated with peripheral and axial spondyloarthritis: report of a case and review of the literature. Clinical Rheumatology. 2022 Aug;41; (8):2553-2560.
doi: 10.1007/s10067-022-06128-9. PMID: 35460009.
3 Solomon D.H., Pincus T., Shadick N.A., Stratton J., Ellrodt J., Santacroce L., Katz J.N., Smolen JS., Zagelbaum Ward N.K., Kaine J.
Implementing a Treat-to-Target Approach for Rheumatoid Arthritis During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a Virtual Learning Collaborative Program. Arthritis Care Res. 2021 Dec 7.
doi: 10.1002/acr.24830. PMID: 35119779.
4 Seto R., Mathias K., Zagelbaum Ward N.K., Panush R.S.
Challenges Of Caring For Homeless Patients With Rheumatic And Musculoskeletal Disorders In Los Angeles. Clinical Rheumatology. 2021 January
40(1):413-420. doi: 10.1007/s10067-020-05505-6.
5 Zagelbaum Ward N.K., Linares-Koloffon C., Posligua A., Gandrabur L., Wasserman A., Ash J.
Cardiac Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Cardiology in Review. 2020 September
doi: 10.1097/CRD.0000000000000358.
6 Zagelbaum N.K., Bhinder J., Aranow W., Frishman W.
Peripartum Cardiomyopathy. Incidence, Risk Factors, Diagnostic Criteria, Pathophysiology And Treatment Options. Cardiology in Review. 2020 January
2(28): 148–155. doi: 10.1097/CRD.0000000000000249.
7 Zagelbaum N.K., Yandrapalli S., Nabors C., Frishman W.
Bempedoic Acid (ETC-1002) ATP Citrate Lyase Inhibitor. Cardiology in Review. 2018 December
1(27): 49-56. doi: 10.1097/CRD.000000000000021.
8 Zagelbaum N.K., AlBadri A., Shufelt C., Wei J., Bairey Merz N.C.
Lesser Severity Of Recurrent Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy While Taking Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker And Beta Blocker. Journal of Medical Cases. 2018 May
9(7): 201-203. doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3079w.
View in Journal of Medical Cases
9 Zagelbaum N.K., Yandrapalli S., Frishman W.
Ranolazine-Associated Delirium In The Elderly. American Journal of Therapeutics. 2018 Jan
27(6): 700-701. doi: 10.1097/MJT.0000000000000711.
10 Zagelbaum N.K.
Perspective. Special Issue of Journal of Medical Humanities: Pre-Health Humanities. 2017 May
38(4): 503-504. doi: 10.1007/s10912-017-9458-0.
11 Spano C., Ward M.F., Zagelbaum N.K.
Spinal Epidural Abscess Complicated By Meningitis, Sepsis, And Thrombocytopenia In A Patient Lacking Traditional Risk Factors: A Case Report. Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine. 2017 May
1(2): 115–117. doi: 10.5811/cpcem.2016.12.33001.
12 Zagelbaum N.K., Gilani A., El Zarif S., Krishna K. D’Agati V.D., Obligado S.
Granulomatous With Polyangiitis (GPA): Case Report Outlining The Importance Of Urinalysis In Patients Presenting With Pulmonary Cavitating Lesions.
Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. 2016 Nov 24
1(3): 4-4. doi: 10.15761/PCCM.1000119.
13 Zagelbaum N.K., Ward M.F., Okby N., Karpoff H.
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma With Osteoclast Like Giant Cells And Clear Cell Features: Novel Finding And Review Of The Literature. World J Surg Oncol. 2016 Aug 26
14(1): 227. doi: 10.1186/s12957-016-0982-6.
14 Zagelbaum N.K., Heslin K.C., Stein J.A., Ruzek J., Smith R.E., Nyugen T., Dobalian A.
Factors Influencing Readiness To Deploy In Disaster Response: Findings From A Cross-Sectional Survey Of The Department Of Veterans Affairs Disaster Emergency Medical Personnel System. BMC Emerg Med. 2014 Jul 19
14:16. doi: 10.1186/1471-227X-14-16.
Presentations
Rheumatic Immune-Related Adverse Events Following Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy and Subsequent Referrals to Rheumatologists at a Private vs Public Medical Center in Los Angeles: Ramifications for Health Disparities
American College of Rheumatology
2 Solomon D.H., Pincus T., Shadick N.A., Stratton J., Ellrodt J., Santacroce L., Katz J.N., Smolen J.S., Zagelbaum Ward N.K., Kaine J.
Implementing Treat to Target (TTT) for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Through a Virtual Learning Collaborative (LC) Program During COVID.
American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting; Virtual Presentation; 2021 November 5-9.
American College of Rheumatology
3 Zagelbaum Ward N.K., Amarnani, A., Panush R.S.
How Might We Care for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Unable to See a Rheumatologist And/or Use Certain of Our Medications? Proposed Preliminary Recommendations for RA Patients Who Don’t Meet Our Established Guidelines.
American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting; Virtual Presentation; 2021 November 5-9.
American College of Rheumatology
4 Rai B., Zagelbaum Ward N.K., Amarnani, A., Panush R.S.
Challenges of Caring for Patients with Inflammatory Arthritis Experiencing Homelessness: Preliminary (12- Month) Follow-up Observations and Identification of Certain Barriers to Care.
American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting; Virtual Presentation; 2021 November 5-9.
5 Akbar S., Bhinder J., Zagelbaum N.K., Zaid S., Dutta T.
Epicardial Adipose Tissue Predicts The Presence of Aortic Valve Stenosis.
American College of Cardiology National Conference; Virtual Presentation; 2020 March 29.
Journals of the American College of Cardiology
6 Pal S., Zagelbaum N.K., Gennarelli, M., Newman, R., Nabors C.
Determinants Of Primary Healthcare Utilization Among LGBT Individuals In Westchester County, New York.
Society of General Internal Medicine National Conference; Oral Presentation; 2019 May 11; Washington D.C.
7 Zagelbaum N.K., Ward M.F., Brooks H.
Establishing A High-Risk Breast Cancer Cohort In A Rural Health Setting.
Osteopathic Medical Education Conference National Conference; Oral Presentation; 2016 September 17-20; Anaheim, CA.
8 Zagelbaum N.K., Ward M.F., Brooks H.
Factors Influencing Follow Up Amongst High-Risk Breast Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Case-Control Analysis.
Orange Regional Medical Center Annual Poster Competition; 2016 April 20; Middletown, NY.
9 Zagelbaum N.K., Ward M.F.
Utilizing An Evidenced Based Mental Health Training Program Among Medical Students.
New York Osteopathic Medical Society Regional Osteopathic Convention; 2015 April 17; Rhode Island, NY.
10 Zagelbaum N.K., Heslin K.C., Stein J.A., Ruzek J, Smith R.E., Nyugen T., Dobalian A.
Factors Influencing Readiness To Deploy In Disaster Response: Findings From A Cross-Sectional Survey Of The Department Of Veterans Affairs Disaster Emergency Medical Personnel System
Academy Health Gender and Health Interest Group National Meeting; June 22, 2013. Baltimore.
Vignettes
When Rheumatic Disease May Have Effected the Course of Western Civilization.
The Rheumatologist. 2022 November
2 Amarnani, A., Zagelbaum Ward N.K., Stohl, W.
2 Cases of SLE-Associated Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage.
The Rheumatologist. 2021 August
3 Zagelbaum Ward N.K., Panush R.S.
Reflections On Starting A Rheumatology Fellowship During The Pandemic.
The Rheumatologist. 2020 October
4 Kim W., Sen A., Zagelbaum N.K., Cho R.
Kikuchi-Fujimoto’s Disease And SLE.
Abstract published at Hospital Medicine 2020, Virtual Competition. Abstract 628.
Journal of Hospital Medicine. 2021 May 1
5 Zagelbaum N.K., Kabra N., Horblitt A., Dutta T., Jain D.
A Case Of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy In The Setting Of Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease.
American College of Cardiology National Conference; Oral Presentation; 2019 March 18; New Orleans, LA.
Journals of the American College of Cardiology
6 Zagelbaum N.K, Bairy-Merz, N.
Lesser Severity Of Recurrent Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy With The Use Of Beta Blockers And Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers.
Western Regional Medical Conference; Oral Presentation; 2018 January 25; Monterey, CA.
7 Zagelbaum N.K., Vernatter, J.
First Case Of Brucella Ovis In Human.
American College of Physicians, New York Chapter Regional Conference; Oral Presentation; 2017 June 3; Rochester, NY.
Book Chapters
1 Zagelbaum N.K., Obligado S. (2019)
“Acid Base” in Critical Care Examination and Board Review.
ISBN-13: 9781259834356. Mcgraw Hill Professional Publishing.
2 Zagelbaum Ward N.K., Zagelbaum G.
“COVID-19 and Health: A Guide to Understanding.” 2023.
Resources
- American College of Rheumatology
- Arthritis Foundation
- Australian Rheumatology Association
- Autoimmune Association
- Chron’s and Colitis Foundation of America
- Creaky Joints Arthritis Support
- Lupus Foundation of America
- National Fibromyalgia association
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Disease
- National Psoriasis Foundation
- Osteoporosis Foundation
- Scleroderma Foundation
- Sjogren’s Foundation
- Spondylitis Association of America
- Vasculitis Foundation
Contact
Glendale Mailing Address
3108 Glendale Blvd #488
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Chino Office
11760 Central Ave.
Suite 202
Chino, CA 91710
Camarillo Office
484 Mobil Ave.
Suite 27
Camarillo, CA 93010
Additional locations for Evals
Follow this link to find information about additional locations for Med-Legal Evals only.
Fax : (818) 536-7695
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am–5pm
