Miriam Cisternas, MA, has over 25 years of experience researching the epidemiology and cost of chronic diseases through innovative use of primary and secondary data sources. Her specific experience in the musculoskeletal area includes more than ten years of analytic support to the CDC Arthritis Program, where she provides technical assistance and training to Program staff and as serves as co-PI and principal analyst on a number of research studies. She has also analyzed clinical trial data for lupus treatments and served as the epidemiologist and analyst for the California Lupus Surveillance Project.  Earlier in her career, Ms. Cisternas managed longitudinal panels of chronic disease patients (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome). She has been a coauthor of the economic cost chapter in all editions of BMUS.