1.800.KIDS DOC | 1.800.543.7362

Rheumatology

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Care at 5 locations

Specialties & Conditions Rheumatology

Founded in 1971, the Division of Rheumatology at Lurie Children's provides state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment for children who have rheumatologic associated musculoskeletal and inflammatory conditions. Our team of experts is the largest in Illinois. We provide coordinated care through our multidisciplinary clinics for a variety of conditions.

Our multidisciplinary specialists include:

  • Physical therapists
  • Occupational therapists
  • Nurse Practitioners​
  • Social workers
  • Laboratory technicians (for vascular disease testing)

Experience

Our team of specialists is led by Marisa Klein-Gitelman, MD, MS​,​ who has served as the division head since 2002. Together they treat a variety of childhood rheumatic diseases. Dr. Klein-Gitelman has expertise in pediatric lupus, vasculitis, uveitis and neuro inflammatory diseases. Special areas of expertise for Kaveh Ardalan, MD, MS, are juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) and scleroderma; for Deirdre De Ranieri, MD, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and musculoskeletal ultrasound; Amer Khojah, MD, in immune dysregulation, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and periodic fevers; and for Michael Miller, MD, in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Megan Hiskey MSN, APN,​ is our advancded practice nurse whose areas of expertise are JIA, lupus, uveitis, and other musculoskeletal diseases. Lauren Pachman, MD, is the director of the FOCIS Center of Excellence In Clinical Immunology and head of the Cure JM Program of Excellence in Juvenile Myositis Research.

Our multidisciplinary specialists include:

Approach

We have a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to care, that uses specialized and evidence-based approaches to diagnosis and treatment. To help provide our patients with the best and most comprehensive care possible, we also work collaboratively with experts in the areas pediatric dermatology; allergy and immunology; kidney diseases, radiology, neurology, orthopaedics and sports medicine, and rehabilitation.

Conditions We Treat

Our physicians are at the forefront of advances in treatment to ensure they provide our patients with the best care possible. We take specialized and evidence-based approaches to diagnosing and treatment. The following is a list of some of the conditions we treat.

Locations

6 Results

Appointments

If you’d like to request an appointment with one of our specialists, call 1.800.543.7362 (1.800.KIDS DOC®). 

Learn more about preparing for your visit and what to expect during your visit.

Research

The Division of Rheumatology is engaged in research targeted to improve quality and outcomes for children who live with autoimmune and autoinflammatory disorders including childhood forms of arthritis, lupus and vasculitis.
Learn More

Fellowsh​ips

Keeping with our belief that quality education is inseparable from our quality patient care, we partner with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine to train tomorrow’s leading pediatric physicians. As the pediatric teaching hospital for the Feinberg School of Medicine, we offer several opportunities for residents to further their education in a pediatric specialty.

The Division of Rheumatology offers a three-year ACGME accredited fellowship training program in pediatric rheumatology. The first year of fellowship is weighted toward clinical training; in the second and third years, the majority of time is spent on research training and execution. Fellowship applicants must complete an ACGME-approved residency in pediatrics from a US based institution before entering our program. For more information on the program or to learn how to apply, please review the Rheumatology Fellowship page on the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics website.

Philanth​ropy

Your support is ​important in helping us continue to make a difference in the lives of patients and families. Lurie Children’s relies on philanthropic funding to enhance its programs, services and research for children. To learn more, please contact the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation at foundation@luriechildrens.org, call 312.227.7500 or make a gift today.