Meet John Botson, MD, RPh, CCD
Dr. Botson joined OPA in 2009, starting the rheumatology division. In addition to treating general rheumatologic conditions, he specializes in gout, osteoporosis management and musculoskeletal ultrasound. He treats both adult and pediatric patients in close care coordination with referring physicians.
At Ohio Northern University, Dr. Botson double-majored in pharmacy and chemistry — graduating Summa Cum Laude in both. After obtaining his medical degree from The Ohio State University, he served as resident at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and in 2009 completed his rheumatology fellowship at the National Institutes of Health.
In addition to his expertise treating a variety of conditions as a rheumatologist, Dr. Botson has additional training in musculoskeletal ultrasound used to diagnose and treat various musculoskeletal diseases.
Dr. Botson has been the Principal Investigator on 12 clinical trials while at OPA, authored over 20 manuscripts, and has presented his work locally, nationally, and internationally.
When he is not treating patients, Dr. Botson enjoys family time and an active lifestyle. He participates in distance running events, basketball, skiing, and bowling. He is also passionate about community service, having served as a the founder and president of the Alaska Rheumatology Alliance and volunteering annually at the Camp Polar Tuf for children with rheumatologic conditions.
Education & Training
Board Certifications & Affiliations
- American Board of Internal Medicine
- American Board of Internal Medicine - Rheumatology Certification
- Certified Clinical Densitometrist
- President, Alaska Rheumatology Alliance
- Member, American College of Rheumatology, Alaska State Medical Association, American Medical Association, American College of Physicians, and International Society for Clinical Densitometry
Procedures Performed
- Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
- Ultrasound Guided Injections
Troum, O., Botson, J., Fang, F., Mohammad, A., Verma, S., LaMoreaux, B. (2026). “Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Shorter Infusion Durations of Pegloticase Administered to Patients With Uncontrolled Gout Receiving Methotrexate: AGILE Trial.” J Clin Rheumatol. 1;32(1):e16-e22. doi: 10.1097/RHU.0000000000002283. Epub 2025 Sep 23.
Marder, B., Dalbeth, N., Abdellatif, A., Botson, J., et al. (2025). “Dual-Energy CT Bone Erosion Findings Before and After Pegloticase Treatment in Kidney Transplant Patients with Uncontrolled Gout: PROTECT Trial.” Am. J. Transplant 25(8):S920 DOI:10.1016/j.ajt.2025.07.2188
Dalbeth, N., Abdellatif, A., Botson, J., et al. (2025). “Monosodium Urate Crystal Depletion and Bone Erosion Response in Kidney Transplant Recipients With Uncontrolled Gout Treated With Pegloticase: PROTECT Serial Dual-Energy Computed Tomography Findings.” Transplant Direct. 11(6):e1803. doi: 10.1097/TXD.0000000000001803.
Troum, O., Botson, J., Obermeyer, K., et al. (2025). “Pegloticase + Methotrexate Co-therapy in Uncontrolled Gout Patients with Prior Pegloticase Monotherapy Failure: Findings of the ADVANCE Open-Label Trial.” ACR Open Rheumatol 7(1):e11789. doi: 10.1002/acr2.11789.
Botson, J., Obermeyer, K., LaMoreaux, B., Padnick-Silver, L., Verma, S., Weinblatt, ME., Peterson, J. (2024). “Quality of life and clinical gout assessments during pegloticase with and without methotrexate co-therapy: MIRROR randomized controlled trial exploratory findings.” Rheumatol Adv Pract. 8(4):rkae145.
Johnson, R., Mandell, B., Schlesinger, N., Mount, D., Botson, J., et al. (2024). “Controversies and practical management of patients with gout and chronic kidney disease.” Kidney Int 106(4):573-582.
Dalbeth, N., Botson, J., Saag, K., et al. (2024). “Monosodium urate crystal depletion and bone erosion remodeling during pegloticase treatment in patients with uncontrolled gout: Exploratory dual-energy computed tomography findings from MIRROR RCT.” Joint Bone Spine 91(4):105715.
