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Luigino Bernabela, M.D.

Luigino Bernabela, M.D.

Titles and Appointments

Assistant Professor

School
Medical School
Department
Internal Medicine

You have reached the Academic Profile.

For more information on the doctor and patient care, please visit the clinical profile.

  • Biography

    Luigino Bernabela, M.D, RhMSUS., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and a member of the Division of Rheumatic Diseases.

    Originally from Curacao, Dr. Bernabela earned his medical degree at Drexel University College of Medicine Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Jersey and completed a clinical research certification. Dr. Bernabela was also Chief Medical Resident. He completed advanced training through a rheumatology fellowship in rheumatology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, where he was Chief Fellow. 

    Dr. Bernabela's clinical interest is rheumatoid arthritis and the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound in the treatment and diagnosis of rheumatic diseases.

    Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in rheumatology, Dr. Bernabela joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2018. At UT Southwestern, Dr. Bernabela is on the committee for Immune-Related Adverse Events and co-directs the musculoskeletal ultrasound curriculum for the rheumatology fellows. 

    Personal Note

    Dr. Bernabela is fluent in Spanish and Dutch. Outside of medicine, Dr. Bernabela’s interests include outdoor activities, spending time with his wife and kids, reading, swimming, and jazz music.

  • Education
    Medical School
    St Martinus University Faculty of Medicine, Curacao (2009)
    Residency
    Saint Peter's University Hospital/Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (2013), Internal Medicine
    Chief Resident
    Saint Peter's University Hospital/Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (2014), Internal Medicine
    Fellowship
    UT Southwestern Medical Center (2018), Rheumatology
  • Research Interest
    • Large Vessel Vasculitis
    • Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Rheumatic Diseases
    • Myopathies/Polymyositis/Dermatomyositis
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Systemic Lupus Eythematosus
  • Publications

    Star Featured Publications

    Increasing Biosimilar Uptake in Rheumatology Clinics Within a Large Academic Medical Center.
    Zamir A, Eseddi J, Wishin S, Carmichael D, Bernabela L, Bajaj P, J Clin Rheumatol 2025 Feb
    Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Associated Rheumatoid Arthritis.
    Bernabela L, Bermas B, Curr Rheumatol Rep 2024 Nov 27 1 3
    Predictors of Clostridium difficile infection-related mortality among older adults.
    Chopra T, Awali RA, Biedron C, Vallin E, Bheemreddy S, Saddler CM, Mullins K, Echaiz JF, Bernabela L, Severson R, Marchaim D, Lephart P, Johnson L, Thyagarajan R, Kaye KS, Alangaden G Am J Infect Control 2016 11 44 11 1219-1223
    Oral contraceptive causing renal artery thrombosis.
    Bhargava A, Chopra A, Bernabela L, Chopra T BMJ Case Rep 2013 Jan 2013
    Impact of cefepime therapy on mortality among patients with bloodstream infections caused by extended-spectrum-?-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli.
    Chopra T, Marchaim D, Veltman J, Johnson P, Zhao JJ, Tansek R, Hatahet D, Chaudhry K, Pogue JM, Rahbar H, Chen TY, Truong T, Rodriguez V, Ellsworth J, Bernabela L, Bhargava A, Yousuf A, Alangaden G, Kaye KS Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 2012 Jul 56 7 3936-42