Rheumatology Clinical Care

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Advanced, comprehensive medical expertise delivered in a compassionate, supportive environment.

The UNC Hospitals Rheumatology Specialty Clinic provides state-of-the art care for adult patients with all types of rheumatologic diseases (affecting joints and muscles) – both common and rare. The clinic is recognized nationally and internationally for its expertise in providing care for difficult to diagnose patients, and patients with complex or multiple health conditions.
Because treating rheumatologic conditions often involves working with patients who are dealing with a number of diseases, the clinic UNC Hospitals Rheumatology Specialty Clinic frequently partners with other UNC medical departments such as Dermatology, Pulmonology, Orthopedics, Internal Medicine, Neurology, and Nephrology (study of the kidneys), to name a few. This unique ability to provide integrated and coordinated oversight ensures patients receive well planned, comprehensive care at all times.

Serving the Needs of the Latino Population
Because providing compassionate, high-quality medical care to all patients is a core goal of the clinic, on specified days of the month Latino patients benefit from being able to interact in a primarily Spanish-language clinical experience.

UNC Rheumatology Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Clinic – A Unique Offering For Diagnosis and Treatment
Directed by Dr. Amanda Nelson, MD, MSCR, RhMSUS, the ultrasound clinic allows physicians to visualize the internal anatomy of joints and tissues. This enhances the clinical examination and helps physicians determine the optimal medical approach for individual patients. The use of ultrasound also provides therapeutic benefits by enabling physicians to pinpoint injection of medicines into the specific affected area(s).

Core Clinic Services

Therapeutic Infusion Center. A 22-seat facility which serves multiple divisions and departments at UNC, including Rheumatology, Allergy, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, and Dermatology. Patients can receive the full range of infusion therapies, including advanced biologic medicines, as well as other treatments such as intravenous (IV) osteoporosis medicines, IV immunoglobulin, and IV immunosuppressive medicines.

Onsite Radiology and Lab Services. Fully equipped facilities are located onsite for patient convenience, and to shorten turn-around times for results.

Consultation for the diagnosis and treatment for the full spectrum of rheumatologic diseases, including:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Reactive arthritis
• Enteropathic arthritis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Gout
• Vasculitis
• Inflammatory myopathies
• Scleroderma
• Sjogren’s syndrome
• Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

Physicians and Providers

• Nicole Orzechowski, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the UNC Rheumatology Clinic
• Abigail Gilbert, MD, MSCI, Assistant Professor of Medicine
• Rumey Ishizawar, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine & Director of the UNC Rheumatology Fellowship Program
• Beth Jonas, MD, Distinguished Professor of Medicine
• Amanda Nelson, MD, MSCR, RhMSUS, Associate Professor of Medicine
• Alfredo Rivadeneira, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine
• Saira Z. Sheikh, MD, Distinguished Professor of Medicine
• Grace Smoak, FNP-C, Nurse Practitioner
• Ellen Amanda Snyder, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine
• Aubrey Wilson, PA

 We Are See Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology Clinic Patients in Our UNC Eastowne Medical Building, Located at the Intersection of I-40 & Highway 15/501

Our facility offers more services and easy parking,
all in one convenient location!

Click here to learn more about UNC Eastowne.

Contact Information

Rheumatology Clinic Phone: (984) 974-4191