About Us
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The West Michigan Rheumatology, PLLC, (WMR) established in 1991, is a growing, academically oriented rheumatology practice with 4 rheumatologists and a nurse practitioner.
Location
Our office is located in the East Paris medical corridor in Grand Rapids Township. Adjacent to our office, in suite 200, is the Mary Freebed Rehabilitation Hospital Pain Program. This is a national quality, comprehensive rehabilitation program for individuals seeking non-drug oriented therapeutic programs to live better with chronic musculoskeletal pain.
Mission
Our mission is to provide research inspired care. One of our central goals is to make available innovative clinical trials to our patients while still receiving care in West Michigan. The clinical investigators at the WMR have more than 15 years of experience leading and conducting clinical trials related to rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, raynaud's phenomenon, psoriatic arthritis, polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus. In particular we have focused on phase I -III trials of innovative biologic therapies for immune based rheumatic diseases. We hope to continue to provide this valuable tool so that we can offer opportunities for the most current scientific treatments for our patients.
Patient Education
We have evolving patient education and support offering and over the years have offered the Arthritis Self-Help Program, Fibromyalgia Self-Help Course and Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management Forums.
Medical Student and Resident Education
In addition to the education of our patients, we are committed to increasing rheumatic disease awareness of our health care providers in West Michigan. WMR is a key training site for the MSU College of Human Medicine. All of our physicians are faculty in the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and our practice supports the internal medicine and family practice residencies of the Spectrum Health and St. Mary’s Health System's. Each month we have 1-3 medical students or residents rotate with us in our clinic. This supports an environment of inquiry and collaboration which we believe results in a higher standard of care made available to our patients.
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What is a Rheumatologist? |
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A rheumatologist is a physician who has completed a three year internal medicine residency followed by additional subspecialty training in the care of arthritis, immunologic and musculoskeletal diseases. Some examples would include: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, systemic lupus, vasculitis, inflammatory muscle disease, scleroderma, Sjogren's, and osteoporosis.
A rheumatologist strives to integrate medical, rehabilitative and cognitive interventions to reduce pain, maximize function, prevent joint contractures, as well as maintain physical strength, work and social integration. They work with their patients to create a balanced treatment plan that emphasizes adaptation, self-management and effective coping. Medical treatments may include: exercise, occupational and physical therapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and immunomodulators. Therapy for rheumatic diseases has evolved substantially over the past decade, and now has an increased focus on the use of intensive drug and biologic immune modulators to reduce symptoms and to attempt to prevent tissue damage.
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Richard Martin, MD, MA
Dr. Martin, a native of New Jersey, earned his B.S. degree at the University of Michigan, and M.D. at Michigan State College of Human Medicine. He completed an internship at Butterworth Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI, his residency in Primary Care Internal Medicine at the University of Rochester, New York, and a Fellowship in Rheumatology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. He founded the West Michigan Rheumatology in 1991.
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Andrew Head, MD:
Dr. Head is originally from Cincinnati, OH, where he received his M.D. at the University of Cincinnati. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, OH. His Rheumatology Fellowship was at the University of Tennessee – Memphis, where he also completed the CHORD fellowship in Health Services Research.
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Aaron Eggebeen, MD:
Dr. Eggebeen is a native of Grand Rapids and a graduate of Calvin College, MSU College of Human Medicine, and Michigan State University-Spectrum Health IM-Peds residency. He is board certified in pediatrics and internal medicine. He completed his rheumatology fellowship at the University of Pittsburg Medical Center. He has been with the WMR since 2007.
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James Birmingham, MD:
Dr. Birmingham is a graduate of Hillsdale College, Ohio State University School of Medicine, and Michigan State University-Spectrum Health IM-Peds residency. He has completed 4 years of fellowship training in rheumatology at Duke University in Durham, NC. He is has dual certification in both adult and pediatric rheumatology. He has been with the WMR since 2007.
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It is our goal to develop a comprehensive resource for arthritis care of adults and children that is inspired by relevant community based research. The joint recruitment of Drs. Birmingham and Eggebeen has enabled the West Michigan Rheumatology and Spectrum Health - DeVos Children's Hospital and partner to provide continuous pediatric specialty consulting services to patients in the West Michigan and Lakeshore Region.
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Josh Brinks, MSN, Nurse Practitioner:
Josh is a long time resident of Grand Rapids, MI. He received his Bachelors in Nursing from Grand Valley State University, and his Masters in Nursing from Michigan State University. Josh has extensive clinical experience first at Spectrum Health Hospitals, and later as a primary care and emergency department advanced practice nurse. Josh has been at the West Michigan Rheumatology since 2003.
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