JOPLIN, Mo. – Freeman Health System is pleased to welcome rheumatologist Dr. Justin Reed to its medical staff. Dr. Reed brings with him his expertise in a new specialty at Freeman. Freeman is expanding its services with Freeman Rheumatology, located at 931 E. 32nd Street, Joplin in the Freeman Center for Geriatric Medicine.

Rheumatologists diagnosis and treat diseases that affect the muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons and bones. They also treat systemic autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and scleroderma. 

Dr. Reed said he is excited to be able to bring a limited but much-needed service to the community.

“Rheumatologists deal with very complex diverse set of diseases,” Dr. Reed said. “It’s challenging because a lot of our diseases present insidiously. They can masquerade as other diseases before they fully present themselves in the textbook fashion. So, it takes some patience and diligence and getting to know your patients on a personal level.”

After earning his medical degree at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, Mo., Dr. Reed completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of Oklahoma in Tulsa, Okla. He then completed his rheumatology fellowship at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo.

Dr. Reed is currently accepting patients by referral only. To learn more, visit freemanhealth.com/rheum.