Rheumatology Team
Diana Milojevic, M.D.
RHEUMATOLOGY
Dr. Milojevic is the division chief of pediatric rheumatology in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Department of Medicine. She joined the hospital staff in 2017. She previously was the division chief and the fellowship program director of pediatric rheumatology at Tufts University Medical Center where she was also a visiting professor. She is certified with the American Board of Pediatric Rheumatology.
Laisa Santiago, M.D.
RHEUMATOLOGY
Dr. Santiago is the vice chief of pediatric rheumatology in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Department of Medicine. She joined the hospital staff in 2013. Dr. Santiago earned her doctor of medicine, cum laude, at the Universidad Central Del Caribe in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha honor medical society. She completed her pediatric residency at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami and her pediatric rheumatology fellowship at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Her areas of clinical expertise include systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, juvenile dermatomyositis, scleroderma, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, periodic fever syndromes, and other systemic inflammatory diseases. Dr. Santiago is a bilingual qualified staff speaker in Spanish.
Lilliana Barillas-Arias, M.D.
RHEUMATOLOGY
Dr. Barillas-Arias specializes in pediatric rheumatology at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She sees patients at the hospital’s main campus in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Outpatient Care, Lakewood Ranch. She joined the hospital staff in 2023.
Amanda Schlefman, D.O.
RHEUMATOLOGY
Dr. Schlefman specializes in pediatric rheumatology in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Department of Pediatric Medicine. She joined the hospital staff in 2018. Dr. Schlefman earned her doctorate of osteopathic medicine from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her internship in pediatrics, a pediatric residency and a fellowship in pediatric rheumatology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Nemours Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware.
Ann Szymanski, M.D.
RHEUMATOLOGY
Dr. Szymanski specializes in pediatric rheumatology at Johns Hopkins All Children’s. She sees patients on the hospital’s main campus in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Outpatient Care, Tampa. She joined the hospital staff in 2019.
Mary Brothers, ARNP, CPNP
Mary Brothers, ARNP, CPNP, is a nurse practitioner in the rheumatology program at Johns Hopkins All Children’s. She joined the hospital staff in 2013 and serves as a member of the hospital’s Medical Informatics team. Prior to joining the hospital, she was a nurse practitioner in primary care, and a registered nurse at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She earned her Master of Science in advanced practice pediatric nursing from University of Cincinnati.
Laura Reeger, ARNP
Laura Reeger, M.S.N., ARNP, ACLS, is a nurse practitioner in the Pediatric Rheumatology Program at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She joined the hospital staff in 2007. Laura is certified in basic life support (BLS), pediatric life support (PLS) and advance cardiac life support (ACLS). She has worked in the cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU) and perianesthesia care unit. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing at South University and a post Masters certificate at the University of Florida.
Michelle Brucker, R.N.
Michelle Brucker is a nurse in the Rheumatology program at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She joined the hospital staff in 1989. In her role, Brucker provides patients and families with rheumatology education and case management services. Brucker graduated from Ohio Valley Hospital School of Nursing in Steubenville, Ohio.
Linita Fields, LPN
Linita Fields is a nurse in the Rheumatology program at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She joined the hospital staff in 2016. In her role, Fields assists in educating patients and families on rheumatology diagnoses and medication, and follows up with patients to check their health status. Before joining the rheumatology team, Fields worked in Johns Hopkins All Children’s hematology/oncology program.
Norma Liburd, B.S.N., RN-BC, M.N.
EDUCATION SPECIALIST
Norma Liburd is a pediatric clinical nurse specialist in the Rheumatology program at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She joined the hospital staff in 1992. In her role, Liburd provides patient education about rheumatology diagnoses and medications. She also works closely with school personnel to ensure appropriate accommodations are made for students with rheumatic diseases. Liburd founded and coordinates the Pediatric Rheumatology Network, which includes an international listserve for pediatric rheumatology nurses. She is also active with the Arthritis Foundation, Rheumatology Nurses Society and the American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Professionals. Liburd received her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from the University of Cincinnati, followed by her Master’s in Nursing from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
