Rheumatology & Immunology

The MUSC Health Rheumatology and Immunology program offers nationally recognized expertise in diagnosing and treating complex rheumatic and autoimmune diseases in patients of all ages. From cutting-edge clinical trials to comprehensive, patient-centered care, our program leads the Southeast in advancing rheumatologic medicine.

Whether you're newly diagnosed or managing a complex, chronic condition, our multidisciplinary team partners with you to provide care that’s compassionate, evidence-based, and personalized.

What We Offer You:

Our program is built around the understanding that autoimmune and rheumatic diseases are complex and often involve multiple systems. Our approach is equally comprehensive—combining expertise, collaboration, and advanced therapies to help you feel your best.

• Comprehensive, Multidisciplinary Care: We collaborate closely with experts across MUSC Health—including pulmonology, nephrology, dermatology, neurology, cardiology, and infectious disease—to treat the whole person, not just the disease. Our team builds care plans around your lifestyle, needs, and goals to improve your quality of life using the most current, proven treatments.
• State-of-the-Art Diagnostics and Personalized Treatments: Our team uses advanced diagnostic tools and individualized treatment strategies to deliver targeted care for conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, and more. Services include:
  • On-site infusion therapies
  • Bone density testing (DEXA scans)
  • Musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound for real-time, non-invasive diagnosis and guided procedures
• Clinical Trials and Research Access: As a research-driven academic health center, we offer access to groundbreaking clinical trials. Participation can connect you with therapies not yet widely available—especially for conditions like scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus.
• Nationally Recognized Expertise: MUSC Health Rheumatology is consistently ranked among the nation's best for the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases by leading authorities on health care quality.

Conditions We Treat

Our rheumatologists treat a full spectrum of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, including:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus)
• Osteoarthritis
• Gout
• Vasculitis
• Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis)
• Sjögren’s syndrome
• Inflammatory myopathies
• Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
• Connective tissue diseases
• And more

Specialized Programs and Centers of Excellence

• MUSC Vasculitis Clinic: Led by Dr. Kathleen Maksimowicz-McKinnon, our Vasculitis Clinic delivers integrated, urgent care to patients across the region and participates in pioneering research and clinical trials.
• MUSC Scleroderma Center: Recognized as the only Designated Scleroderma Research and Treatment Center in South Carolina by the National Scleroderma Foundation, we lead the state in clinical care and research for systemic sclerosis.
• SmartState Center for Inflammation and Fibrosis Research: Our faculty direct this cutting-edge research center focused on lupus and scleroderma, developing novel diagnostics and therapies for fibrosing autoimmune diseases. Learn more about SmartState at MUSC.

Pediatric Rheumatology Services

In collaboration with the Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic and Research Center at MUSC Health at MUSC Health, our pediatric specialists care for children and teens with autoimmune conditions, musculoskeletal pain syndromes, periodic fevers, and inflammatory disorders. We provide age-appropriate, family-centered care for our youngest patients.