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Arizona Arthritis and Rheumatology (AARA) is a private single specialty medical practice with four locations across the Phoenix metropolitan communities, better known as the “Valley of the Sun”. Our expertise lies in the diagnosis and management of disorders wherein immune system aberrations result in unnecessary and harmful inflammation in various organs of the human body. Rheumatologists also assist in the care of a variety of non-immunological disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Our organization participates with most major health plans and provides the most modern avenues for diagnosis and treatment to fulfill our commitment to the citizens of Arizona affected by these disorders. In addition to traditional patient care relationships, AARA provides in house diagnostic and therapeutic services to facilitate optimal care and participation in pharmaceutical research trials. All of these technological features allow us to focus on the complete rheumatologic needs of our patients.
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Mission Statement
At Arizona Arthritis & Rheumatology Associates, we are committed to providing quality rheumatologic care for the people of Arizona.
To accomplish our mission, we will implement a strategy to:
Employ highly trained clinicians who will maintain their skills at the cutting edge of rheumatologic medical science.
Efficiently adopt the diagnostic and therapeutic technology of the day in manners that improve access to these services and value for our patients.
Engender throughout our organization a culture of caring and responsiveness to suffering.
Maintain operational processes that streamline access to care and our ability to meet demand.
Develop relationships with external entities that enhance the achievement of the mission.
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History
In 1994, Drs. Ralph Bennett and Paul Caldron moved from a previous practice in downtown Phoenix to create a new group practice at our Tatum and Shea location in Paradise Valley and thus formed AARA. The growth and development that have been necessary over the ensuing years to keep up with the rheumatologic needs of a growing population have been tremendous. It has been a continuously exciting challenge to meet the demands of our expanding community, while implementing extraordinary medical advances in an ever changing healthcare environment. Our group has scaled upward to include 9 physicians and 9 nurse practitioners and physician assistants staffing four offices throughout the Valley of the Sun. AARAstarted with small offices in the Sun City and Tempe areas in the mid ‘90s, AARA has become firmly established in Mesa, Glendale, and west Phoenix, in addition to the original Paradise Valley office. Dr. Eric Peters joined the group in 1997 after a 4 year initial practice in Kansas City. The group was enhanced sequentially by the addition of Dr. John Starr, Dr. Areena Swarup and Dr. Ramina Jajoo since 2001. In 2004, AARA was joined by Dr. John Tesser, a rheumatologist of national reputation who has practiced and performed clinical research in the Valley for over 20 years. In September 2006, AARA welcomed Dr. Michael Shishov, the first fully-qualified pediatric rheumatologist in the Valley and the only one currently practicing in Arizona. Dr. Sheetal Chhaya is the newest edition to AARA. Dr. Chhaya completed her Fellowship in Rheumatology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio in 2005. She then moved to Boston, MA to join the Department of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School and the VA Boston Healthcare System. In the near future, AARA will increase its physician manpower in the east and west ends of the Valley. |
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