Dr Ashok Bhalla BSc, MD, FRCP

Consultant Rheumatologist

Specialities

• Rheumatology with a special interest in Osteoporosis, Metabolic Bone Disease (eg Paget's disease, Osteomalacia, Parathyroid disorders) Inflammatory Arthritis, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain.

Professional positions

• Chairman of the Education Committee at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases
• Member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of National Osteoporosis Society
• Clinical Advisor to National Association for the Relief of Paget's Disease
• Member of Wessex and Severn Specialist Training Committee

Personal profile

Dr Bhalla was appointed as a Consultant Rheumatologist at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Bath, in 1988.

He commenced his medical training in Manchester, following which he moved to London and then on to America, where he completed a medical Fellowship at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. On return to the UK he worked at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital and other London hospitals before gaining his consultant post in Bath.

Dr Bhalla's specialist interests include: osteoporosis, metabolic bone diseases, inflammatory arthritis( rheumatoid arthritis and seronegative arthritis), fibromyalgia.

He also has a special interest in chronic pain problems and played a pivitol role in establishing a Pain Management Unit in Bath.

Dr Bhalla regularly attends conferences and teaching events as both a speaker and an attendee. Recent events include the American College of Bone and Mineral Research conference, the American College of Rheumatology conference and The British Society for Rheumatology meeting. These conferences cover all aspects of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease as well as the broad spectrum of the field of rheumatology. He is also actively involved in a number of clinical research projects, centring on osteoporosis and inflammatory joint disease.

Membership of professional associations

• British Society for Rheumatology
• Bone and Tooth Society
• American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
• Royal College of Physicians

Other

Dr Bhalla currently holds grants for research funded by Arthritis and Rheumatism Care and the Dunhill Trust. He reviews articles submitted to various academic journals as well as reviewing abstracts for international and national meetings.

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