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. To improve access to specialty care across Alaska, Dr. Botson also provides rheumatology services at Glacier Family Medicine Clinic in Seward on a monthly basis. Patients interested in scheduling an appointment in Seward may call the OPA Rheumatology office directly at (907) 249-5542.
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
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. https://doi.org/10.1093/rap/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. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kint.2024.05.033
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. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbspin.2024.105715
Botson, J.K., Saag, K., Peterson, J., et al. (2023). “A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter, Efficacy and Safety Study of Methotrexate to Increase Response Rates in Patients with Uncontrolled Gout Receiving Pegloticase: 12-month Findings.” ACR Open Rheumatol 5(8):407-418. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr2.11578
Botson, J. K., Saag, K., Peterson, J., et al. (2023). “A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study of Methotrexate to Increase Response in Patients with Uncontrolled Gout Receiving Pegloticase: Primary Efficacy and Safety Findings.” Arthritis Rheumatol 75(2): 293-304.
Botson, J. K., Baraf, H. S. B., Keenan, R. T., et al. (2022). “Expert Opinion on Pegloticase with Concomitant Immunomodulatory Therapy in the Treatment of Uncontrolled Gout to Improve Efficacy, Safety, and Durability of Response.” Curr Rheumatol Rep 24: 12-19.
Botson, J. K., Tesser J. R. P., Bennett R., et al. (2022). “A Multicentre, Efficacy and Safety Study of Methotrexate to Increase Response Rates in Patients with Uncontrolled Gout Receiving Pegloticase (MIRROR): 12-Month Efficacy, Safety, Immunogenicity, and Pharmacokinetic Findings During Long-term Extension of an Open-Label Study.” Arthritis Res Ther 24: 208. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-022–2865-z.
Botson, J. K., Obermeyer, K., LaMoreaux, B., et al. (2022). “Improved Joint and Patient-Reported Health Assessments with Pegloticase Plus Methotrexate Co-therapy in Patients with Uncontrolled Gout: 12-month Exploratory Outcomes of the MIRROR Open-Label Trial.” Arthritis Re Ther 24: 281. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-022-02979-4 .
Dalbeth N., Becce F., Botson, J. K., et al. (2022). “Dual-Energy CT Assessment of Rapid Monosodium Urate Depletion and Bone Erosion Remodeling During Pegloticase Plus Methotrexate Co-therapy.” Rheumatology (Oxford) 28; 61(12):4898-4904. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keac173
Botson, J. K. and J. Peterson (2022). “Pretreatment and Coadministration With Methotrexate Improved Durability of Pegloticase Response: An Observational, Proof-of-Concept Case Series.” J Clin Rheumatol 28: e129-e134.
Keenan, R. T., Botson, J. K., et al. (2021). “The effect of immunomodulators on the efficacy and tolerability of pegloticase: a systematic review.” Semin Arthritis Rheum 51(2): 347-352.
Botson, J. K., et al. (2021). “Pegloticase in combination with methotrexate in patients with uncontrolled gout: A multicenter, open-label study (MIRROR).” J Rheumatol 48: 767-774.
Botson, J. K. (2020). “Pegloticase hypersensitivity desensitisation: an outpatient, 3-bag, 12-step protocol.” BMJ Case Rep 13(6).
