Brock Harper, MD
Medical Honoree
 Award-winning, board-certified rheumatologist, Dr. Brock Harper dedicated his career to rheumatology because of the field’s compelling, complex illnesses, and the long-term relationships he forms with his patients.
Published co-author and clinical research participant, Dr. Harper attended medical school at University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. During his internship and Internal Medicine residency at Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, he was awarded Resident of the Year. Following his Rheumatology fellowship at University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, he began his practice at UTMB Galveston before relocating to Austin in 2013. Dr. Harper enjoys time with family, traveling, and reading. |
Whitton Smith is eleven years old and developed juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) symptoms in the third grade. Thanks to an amazing pediatric rheumatologist, she had a positive diagnosis (poly) within months. She is happy to be in remission after finding the right medication. She attended the JA Family Summit and JA Summer Camp for the first time last year and recommends both (but the summit was her favorite). To kids with new diagnoses, Whitton wants them to know it’s going to be okay! For her, the beginning was the scariest part of JIA. Today, she spends a lot less time being scared and a lot more time just being a kid.