Ashira Blazer

Ashira Blazer, MD, MSCI is an assistant professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine Division of Rheumatology. She is double board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine and rheumatology. Her research focuses on the Apolipoprotein L1 Gene, where disease causing mutations are at a higher frequency in individuals with African ancestry. As a rheumatologist, she studies the interaction between the immune system and this gene mutation; and the larger mechanisms by which chronic inflammation as seen in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus can heighten with genetic risk variants.
Early life and education
Blazer was born August 18, 1984 in Dallas, Texas to Mel and Clara Blazer. She earned a BSc. in Biology from the University of Houston in 2006 and doctor of medicine from Baylor College of Medicine in 2010. She spent the next three years at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for her residency in Internal Medicine. Most recently, she earned her Master of Science in Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science from New York University, in 2017.
Career
She has been working as an academic rheumatologist at NYU Langone Medical Center, since 2013. In her role, she conducts health disparity research on the interaction between the autoimmune diseases and variants in the human genome; and the larger mechanisms by which chronic inflammation as seen in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus can heighten due to genetic variation. Blazer looks beyond socioeconomic differences, differences in lifestyles and access to care to better understand the biologically determined differences behind disparate outcomes. Blazer also is a health advocate for the Black community. She speaks on the impact of COVID-19 and the Black Community as well significant findings for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Recently, Blazer discussed a recent finding that lupus patients who live a sedentary lifestyle are three times more likely to have depression on CBS News.
Publications
Apolipoprotein L1 risk genotypes in Ghanaian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a prospective cohort study.
Honors and awards
* 2020 40 under 40 Leaders in Health Award from the National Minority Quality Forum.
* 2020 Rheumatology Research Foundation Scientist Development Award.
* 2020 Third Coast International Audio Festival Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Competition, Contributing Physician for Dat Rona

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