Rheumatology & Immunology

Carolyn O'Connor, M.D.

Drexel University College of Medicine™ Rheumatology is a vibrant program that has undergone change and development to better meet the needs of our patients. Dr. Carolyn Riester O’Connor provides the organizational leadership for this practice. Her experience with complex cases of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and osteoporosis has proved to be an invaluable asset in specialized patient care.

A message from Dr. O'Connor:

I recently appeared on Mystery Diagnosis regarding a patient with Sjogren’s syndrome who developed pernicious anemia.

Unfortunately, due to legal and time constraints, I am unable to make individual comments regarding specific patients when the patient has not been seen in the office.

However, if you would like to learn more about pernicious anemia, I recommend going to the internet and searching for pernicious anemia and then searching for B12 deficiency. You will find a wealth of good information

One good site is the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

If you would like to know more about Sjogren’s syndrome which is a cause of pernicious anemia, go to the American College of Rheumatology's Sjogren's Syndrome page.

If you would like to know what a rheumatologist does, please visit the American College of Rheumatology.

I restrict my practice to patients with rheumatologic problems. If you would like to see me in consultation, you must be referred by your family physician. Your doctor can send a letter of referral to my attention. After that you will be contacted for an appointment. Alternatively, you may have your physician fill out a referral form (Adobe PDF).

With best wishes for your good health,

Carolyn Riester O'Connor, M.D.

Dr. O'Connor's book, Osteoporosis for Dummies, was recently reviewed on Secondopinion.org!

There are new biotechnological advances in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in our practices:

We specialize in rheumatoid arthritis with ongoing research opportunities for interested patients. For more information, contact Daryl Spruill at 215-762-2518.
Our multispecialty practice at 219 N. Broad Street, 9th Floor offers infusions, where patients with uncontrolled disease can receive intravenous medications to halt the damage to bones and joints.
Our close relationship with the College's Department of Orthopaedics allows us to more carefully address the special needs of patients with rheumatoid arthritis who need surgery.
Drexel University supplies an additional resource from collaborative biotech research.

All the physicians in Rheumatology are involved with teaching medical students, residents and fellows, and therefore must stay current with changes in the field.

We invite you to explore our site and learn more about what makes us unique.