Rheumatologist Spotlight: Robert Simms, MD, Triathlete

“I originally wanted to become a neurologist because of the diagnostic hunt, or chase,” says Dr. Simms, who also completed a mini-fellowship in rheumatology as part of the National Health Service Corps program. “But brain scanning, which figured out where somebody’s tumor was in a matter of seconds, almost put neurologists out of business. So I got very interested in rheumatology, which is also a diagnostic challenge. I also liked the idea of having long-term relationships with patients and making a difference in their lives by understanding them, the impact of their disease and designing appropriate treatment.”