President

Valentin Marian, MD

Dr. Marian is an esteemed Rheumatologist serving as the Chief of Rheumatology at RWJBarnabas Health - Jersey City Medical Center and holding a faculty position as Clinical Associate Professor at Rutgers NJMS. With a philosophy rooted in attentive listening and collaborative care, Dr. Marian prioritizes understanding patients' concerns deeply to determine the best path forward. Fluent in Romanian, English, and Spanish, Dr. Marian specializes in treating various musculoskeletal and autoimmune disorders, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis. Dedicated to ongoing education and professional development, Dr. Marian is actively involved in medical associations such as the American College of Rheumatology and the New Jersey Rheumatology Association.

Vice President

Seema Malkana, DO

Dr. Seema Malkana received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Psychology from Cornell University in 2004. She had a career in internal consulting before pursuing her medical degree from the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, where she was the inaugural recipient of the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine award and was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society upon graduation. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency training at Temple University Hospital and her Rheumatology Fellowship at the Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. Malkana joined Rutgers RWJMS and the Division of Rheumatology in 2020. She is Associate Program Director of the Rheumatology Fellowship at Rutgers and also teaches and mentors medical students in their preclerkship years.

Treasurer

C. Michael Knee, MD

Dr. C. M. Knee received his medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Dr. C. M. Knee has expertise in treating rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis, among other conditions.

Immediate Past President

Arik Zaider, MD

Dr. Arik Zaider is a rheumatologist at the Valley Medical Group in Ridgewood. He completed his fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery and served as Assistant Professor of Medicine at University of Buffalo before starting at Prospect Medical Offices in New Jersey. In 2015, he joined the Valley Health System and is currently Chief of the Rheumatology Division.

Dr. Zaider believes in treating the whole patient, considering all physical and emotional concerns, and emphasizing good communication.

Dr. Zaider works with the Arthritis Foundation, a recipient of their Medical Honoree Award in 2024.