Bryce Binstadt, M.D., Ph.D. is a physician scientist and pediatric rheumatologist. He is a Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology at the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Binstadt graduated from Carleton College in 1992 and was a student in the Mayo Medical School M.D.-Ph.D. Program from 1992 to 1999. His interest in immunology and pediatrics was sparked by his Ph.D. thesis mentor, the late Paul J. Leibson, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Binstadt pursued residency training in pediatrics in the Boston Combined Residency Program (Boston Children’s Hospital and Boston Medical Center) followed by fellowship training in Pediatric Rheumatology also at Boston Children’s Hospital. As a fellow, he undertook postdoctoral research training at Harvard Medical School in the laboratory of Drs. Diane Mathis and Christophe Benoist, studying models of inflammatory arthritis.

In 2007, Dr. Binstadt moved back to Minnesota to start his own laboratory at the University of Minnesota Center for Immunology. His research team focuses on the immunopathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in the setting of systemic autoimmune/rheumatic diseases. In addition to his research and clinical activities, Dr. Binstadt is deeply committed to educating physician scientists and pediatric rheumatologists. He is an Associate Director of the University of Minnesota Medical Scientist Training Program (M.D./Ph.D.), Director of the Pediatric Physician Scientist Training Program (PSTP), and Director of the Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship Program. In 2016, Dr. Binstadt was named a Distinguished University Teaching Professor. In 2021, he received the Excellence in Investigative Mentoring Award from the American College of Rheumatology. He currently volunteers as Vice President of the Rheumatology Research Foundation.

Dr. Binstadt lives in Stillwater, Minnesota, with his wife Emily Spilseth Binstadt, M.D., MPH (Mayo Medical School, ’99). They have two daughters, one dog, and two chickens. Their family enjoys traveling, waterskiing, tennis, and summer trips to the Boundary Waters.

Danielle Beetler, Ph.D., is from Galesburg, Illinois. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Central Florida, majoring in biomedical sciences before joining the Clinical and Translational Sciences Ph.D. track at Mayo Clinic.

At Mayo, she worked under the mentorship of Dr. DeLisa Fairweather with a thesis project on biogenic nanoparticles as regenerative therapies for viral myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy. Her graduate work identified a potential avenue of treatment that repurposes the body’s own immune messaging system. Throughout her time at Mayo, Danielle served in various leadership roles in the Graduate Student Association, including as co-president. She is a trusted and respected student leader who has constantly advocated for her peers to make graduate school even better. Her work included initiatives regarding new student recruitment, food and financial stability for students, and tri-site equity among Mayo’s campuses.

Danielle’s long-term goal is to become a physician-scientist and a healthcare leader. She intends to use her Clinical and Translational Sciences doctoral degree along with future training to be a catalyst for change, both in patient care and in directed research.