Dermatology-Rheumatology Combined Fellowship Program

Rheumatologists and dermatologists often work together in caring for patients with autoimmune, inflammatory, and connective-tissue diseases. As a discipline, rheumatology sits at the intersection of the immune system, inflammation, autoimmunity, and multiple organ systems. Its diseases often take on many forms, making them difficult to diagnose and only partially defined by biomarkers. Clinical uncertainty is  common, requiring careful pattern recognition and coordinated expertise, especially when disease first presents itself through the skin.

Conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, and vasculitis exemplify this overlap, often demanding close collaboration between dermatologists and rheumatologists for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. In response to this need, our Dermatology-Rheumatology Combined Fellowship Program, approved by the Texas Medical Board, is designed to prepares future clinicians to navigate complex, multisystem disease that crosses traditional specialty boundaries, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and supporting more comprehensive, patient-centered care.