MJH Life Sciences Expands into Rheumatology with Major Acquisition

CRANBURY, NJ – January 15, 2026 – In a significant strategic move poised to reshape the medical education landscape for rheumatology, MJH Life Sciences® has announced its acquisition of the Rheumatology Winter Clinical Symposium (RWCS™). The deal, unveiled today, is coupled with the simultaneous launch of a new, dedicated digital platform, creating a comprehensive, year-round engagement ecosystem for specialists in the field.

This dual initiative marks a major investment by North America's largest privately held healthcare engagement network, signaling its intent to establish a leadership position in rheumatology education and professional development. By combining a premier live event with a robust digital hub, the company aims to provide continuous, clinically relevant insights to rheumatologists, advanced practice providers, and their multidisciplinary care teams.

A Proven Playbook for Specialty Engagement

For industry observers, this expansion into rheumatology is a familiar and formidable strategy for MJH Life Sciences. The company has successfully employed a similar integrated model in other high-stakes medical specialties, most notably with its flagship brands OncLive® in oncology and HCPLive® in broader specialty care. These platforms have become go-to resources for clinicians by blending high-profile live events, continuous news coverage, and in-depth educational content.

The company's growth has been consistently fueled by a powerful combination of organic development and strategic acquisitions. Its 2019 acquisition of the UBM Life Sciences Group, which included prominent titles like Medical Economics and Dermatology Times, dramatically scaled its operations and solidified its status as a media powerhouse. More recent acquisitions, such as BPD Healthcare in 2025, have further expanded its reach into the hospital and health system space, demonstrating a clear vision for connecting stakeholders across the entire healthcare continuum.

This latest move into rheumatology is backed by significant financial investment and a long-term vision. “Expanding our presence in rheumatology through both RWCS and a dedicated digital platform reflects our long-term commitment to health care and the clinicians who advance patient care every day,” said Mike Hennessy Jr., chairman and CEO of MJH Life Sciences, in a statement. “Rheumatology is a strategic area where we plan to invest further to help drive meaningful progress across the market.”

Integrating a Premier Symposium with a Digital Future

At the heart of the acquisition is the Rheumatology Winter Clinical Symposium, an event widely regarded as the "premier international academic rheumatology meeting." For nearly two decades, RWCS has built a reputation for its evidence-based, practice-focused curriculum and its roster of expert faculty. The symposium is celebrated for its emphasis on translating emerging science into practical applications that clinicians can immediately implement in their practices.

Under the new ownership, the 19th Annual RWCS will continue its legacy, with MJH planning to leverage its extensive resources to enhance the experience. Physicians’ Education Resource® (PER®), a well-established arm of the company, will serve as the CME provider, ensuring the educational integrity of the event. Furthermore, HCPLive will act as a content partner, amplifying the symposium's reach and impact across the wider rheumatology community.

The launch of the new digital platform, accessible at rheum-live.com, is the critical second component of this strategy. It is designed to extend the mission of RWCS beyond the confines of an annual meeting, creating an ongoing destination for trusted content. This year-round hub will offer expert perspectives, educational resources, and timely news, ensuring that the dialogue and learning initiated at the live event can continue and evolve throughout the year. This hybrid approach addresses the modern clinician's need for flexible, on-demand access to information.

Empowering Clinicians to Advance Patient Care

The ultimate goal of this integrated ecosystem is to empower healthcare professionals and, in turn, improve outcomes for patients living with rheumatic and immune disorders. By providing more frequent and accessible touchpoints for education, MJH aims to help clinicians stay ahead of rapid advancements in diagnostics, treatments, and patient management.

The move has been met with enthusiasm by the leadership of RWCS. “I’m excited to begin this new chapter of the Rheumatology Winter Clinical Symposium alongside the team at MJH Life Sciences,” commented Arthur Kavanaugh, MD, co-chair of RWCS. Dr. Kavanaugh highlighted the symposium's standing as a top-tier international meeting and expressed confidence that the partnership will accelerate its growth and impact. “The growth we envision alongside the impact we can have on patient care will only be accelerated knowing the talent and capabilities I’ve seen from MJH.”

This sentiment aligns with the company's stated mission. Hennessy Jr. emphasized that the new initiatives will enable support for the rheumatology community "not only at an annual meeting, but year-round through timely education, meaningful engagement, and trusted resources." This commitment to sustained support is particularly crucial in a specialty like rheumatology, where chronic disease management requires constant learning and adaptation to new therapeutic options.

A New Standard in a Competitive Landscape

MJH Life Sciences' entry into rheumatology with such a comprehensive offering sets a new competitive benchmark. The field of medical education is crowded, with established players like Medscape Rheumatology and Healio Rheumatology offering robust digital resources, and professional societies like the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) hosting major annual congresses.

However, by acquiring a respected live event and tightly integrating it with a dedicated digital platform from day one, MJH is differentiating itself. This model moves beyond simply reporting on events or offering standalone CME modules. Instead, it seeks to build a cohesive community and a continuous learning journey. The company will apply its deep expertise in audience engagement, educational strategy, and multimedia production to ensure the new rheumatology offerings capture and retain the attention of busy clinicians.

This strategic push reflects a broader trend in professional education, where the value lies not just in the quality of the content, but in its accessibility, integration, and ability to foster sustained interaction. As MJH Life Sciences applies its proven formula to this new specialty, the entire rheumatology community—from clinicians and researchers to the patients they serve—stands to benefit from a more dynamic and connected educational environment.