ALERT

For the latest coronavirus care instructions and resources, please call our COVID-19 hotline at 208-381-9500. Find additional information and resources here and learn more about how we're working to keep you healthy and safe.
toggle mobile menu Menu
toggle search menu

Site Navigation

Supplemental

Menu

Specialties

Rheumatology

Rheumatologists specialize in diagnosis, treatment, and pain management for conditions affecting joints, muscles, and bones, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Our team will work closely with your primary care provider to coordinate a personalized care plan to help reduce your pain, increase your mobility, and improve your quality of life. We also offer you access to national clinical research trials focused on the advancement of arthritis treatment.

Highlights & Resources

  • Blog Post

    Patients’ Advocates Receive Everyday Angels Surprise Visit from Dr. Pate

    Read More

  • Blog Post

    St. Luke's Doing Trailblazing Work in Treatment of Juvenile and Adult Arthritis

    Read More

  • Article

    Arthritis: Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis

    Read More

  • Article

    Coping With Osteoarthritis

    Read More

Providers

  • Marcy S. Bauer, NP

    Rheumatology

    Biography

    Marcy Bauer, NP earned her bachelor’s degrees in business administration from the University of Puget Sound and in nursing from Boise State University. She earned her master’s degree in nursing (family nurse practitioner) from Gonzaga University.

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
    • St. Luke's Health Partner
      St. Luke's Health Partner

      These providers work together to achieve patient-centered care, using proven best practices to offer better care to you and your family.

      see full profile

    • Specialties, Conditions & Treatments

      See Less See More

  • Abigail L. Bell, CNS

    Rheumatology

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
    • St. Luke's Health Partner
      St. Luke's Health Partner

      These providers work together to achieve patient-centered care, using proven best practices to offer better care to you and your family.

      see full profile

    • Specialties, Conditions & Treatments

      See Less See More

  • Achini P. Dingman, MD

    Rheumatology

    Biography

    Achini P. Dingman, MD specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory autoimmune disease. She has a passion for treating and managing rheumatic disease, and actively participates in research trials to further develop her field.

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
    • St. Luke's Health Partner
      St. Luke's Health Partner

      These providers work together to achieve patient-centered care, using proven best practices to offer better care to you and your family.

      see full profile

    • Specialties, Conditions & Treatments

      See Less See More

  • Michelle L. Hicks, NP

    Rheumatology

    Biography

    Michelle Hicks, NP earned bachelor's degrees in biomedical science from Texas A&M University and nursing from the University of Texas. She earned her master's degree in nursing, family nurse practitioner, at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. She has completed the Nurse Practitioner Postgraduate Adult and Pediatric Rheumatology Training Program sponsored by the American College of Rheumatology.

    Availability

    Accepting new patients

  • Michelle R. Hurty, PA-C

    Rheumatology

    Biography

    Michelle Hurty, PA-C has clinical experience in endocrinology and internal medicine. She has professional interest in osteoporosis and sees patients as part of the St. Luke's Osteoporosis and Bone Health program.

    Michelle has worked for the physician assistant program at Oregon Health and Science University as a regional clinical coordinator.

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
    • St. Luke's Health Partner
      St. Luke's Health Partner

      These providers work together to achieve patient-centered care, using proven best practices to offer better care to you and your family.

      see full profile

    • Specialties, Conditions & Treatments

      See Less See More

  • W. Patrick Knibbe, MD

    Rheumatology

    Biography

    W. Patrick Knibbe, MD, FACR specializes in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, osteoporosis, and pediatric rheumatologic diseases. He is a fellow of the American College of Rheumatology.

    Dr. Knibbe earned his medical degree in the internal medicine honors program at University of Utah School of Medicine and served as an internal medicine resident at the University of Iowa. He then completed a fellowship back at the University of Utah, where an elective month at Children's Hospital Los Angeles set the stage for his specializing in pediatric rheumatology in Utah and Idaho. 

    Availability

    Accepting new patients

  • Mikael D. Lagwinski, MD

    Rheumatology

    Biography

    Mikael Lagwinski, MD has a passion for volunteerism. During his medical school and residency training, he volunteered at the Open-M Clinic in Akron, OH, which provides free health care for impoverished patients. He continues his volunteer activities through the Volunteer Physician Network in Boise and at the Family Medicine Residency of Idaho. Dr. Lagwinski is the clinical research director for Idaho Arthritis Center and a principal investigator involved in several clinical trials investigating new medications for rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
    • St. Luke's Health Partner
      St. Luke's Health Partner

      These providers work together to achieve patient-centered care, using proven best practices to offer better care to you and your family.

      see full profile

    • Specialties, Conditions & Treatments

      See Less See More

  • James E. Loveless, MD

    Rheumatology

    Biography

    James E. Loveless, MD, FACR is fellow of the American College of Rheumatology. He specializes in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and Sjögren's syndrome. He has extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and is the medical director of St. Luke's Osteoporosis and Bone Health program. He is actively involved in clinical trials investigating new treatments for arthritis and osteoporosis. Dr. Loveless completed his internal medicine residency and rheumatology fellowship at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.

    • St. Luke's Health Partner
      St. Luke's Health Partner

      These providers work together to achieve patient-centered care, using proven best practices to offer better care to you and your family.

      see full profile

    • Specialties, Conditions & Treatments

      See Less See More
  • Teri Meadows, NP

    Teri A. Meadows, NP

    Rheumatology

    Biography

    Teri Meadows, DNP earned her bachelor's degree in nursing from Boise State University, and her doctor of nursing practice degree from Idaho State University. She is a member of the American College of Rheumatology and has completed advanced courses from ACR.

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
    • St. Luke's Health Partner
      St. Luke's Health Partner

      These providers work together to achieve patient-centered care, using proven best practices to offer better care to you and your family.

      see full profile

    • Specialties, Conditions & Treatments

      See Less See More

  • Svetlana Meier, MD

    Rheumatology

    Biography

    Svetlana Meier, MD was born in Resekne, Latvia, and she completed medical school at Riga Stradins University in Riga, Latvia. Dr. Meier was attracted to the quality of life and opportunities for outdoor recreation that the Boise community provides. She and her husband have two sons.

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
    • St. Luke's Health Partner
      St. Luke's Health Partner

      These providers work together to achieve patient-centered care, using proven best practices to offer better care to you and your family.

      see full profile

    • Specialties, Conditions & Treatments

      See Less See More

  • Eric J. Palfreyman, MD

    Rheumatology

    Biography

    Eric Palfreyman, MD is a native of Boise and is excited to practice rheumatology in his hometown community. He received his bachelor's degree in microbiology from Brigham Young University. During his internal medicine internship and residency at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Dr. Palfreyman received the Norman Gordon Award, an award presented to one medical resident for their demonstration of humanism in medicine. Additionally, Dr. Palfreyman served as the chief rheumatology fellow. Dr. Palfreyman has interpreted hundreds of DXA scans, attended a bone densitometry course and became a certified clinical densitometrist. 

    Dr. Palfreyman enjoys serving his community and his church. He spent two years serving as a missionary in northeastern Brazil, where he strengthened his leadership skills and became fluent in Portuguese. Dr. Palfreyman enjoys outdoor recreation with his wife and two children.

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
    • St. Luke's Health Partner
      St. Luke's Health Partner

      These providers work together to achieve patient-centered care, using proven best practices to offer better care to you and your family.

      see full profile

    • Specialties, Conditions & Treatments

      See Less See More

  • Akavaram N. Reddy, MD

    Rheumatology

    Biography

    Akavaram N. Reddy, MD, FACR is a fellow in the American College of Rheumatology.

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
    • St. Luke's Health Partner
      St. Luke's Health Partner

      These providers work together to achieve patient-centered care, using proven best practices to offer better care to you and your family.

      see full profile

    • Specialties, Conditions & Treatments

      See Less See More

  • Peggy Ann F. Rupp, MD

    Rheumatology

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
    • St. Luke's Health Partner
      St. Luke's Health Partner

      These providers work together to achieve patient-centered care, using proven best practices to offer better care to you and your family.

      see full profile

    • Specialties, Conditions & Treatments

      See Less See More

  • Cody J. Scrivner, PA-C

    Rheumatology

    Biography

    Cody Scrivner, PA is an experienced physician assistant with a background in family medicine. He has professional interest in osteoporosis and sees patients as part of the St. Luke's Osteoporosis and Bone Health program.

    Cody earned his physician assistant degree from Idaho State University.

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
    • St. Luke's Health Partner
      St. Luke's Health Partner

      These providers work together to achieve patient-centered care, using proven best practices to offer better care to you and your family.

      see full profile

    • Specialties, Conditions & Treatments

      See Less See More

  • Chara J. Solich, MD

    Rheumatology

    Biography

    Chara J. Solich, MD, FACR is a fellow of the American College of Rheumatology. She specializes in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gout, systemic lupus erythematosus, and osteoporosis. Dr. Solich completed her internal medicine residency and rheumatology fellowship at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center.

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
    • St. Luke's Health Partner
      St. Luke's Health Partner

      These providers work together to achieve patient-centered care, using proven best practices to offer better care to you and your family.

      see full profile

    • Specialties, Conditions & Treatments

      See Less See More

  • Gregory J. Wilson, DO

    Rheumatology

    Biography

    Gregory J. Wilson, DO specializes in a wide range of rheumatic conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, gout, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and vasculitis. He practiced as an internist for five years before pursuing rheumatology fellowship training.

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
    • St. Luke's Health Partner
      St. Luke's Health Partner

      These providers work together to achieve patient-centered care, using proven best practices to offer better care to you and your family.

      see full profile

    • Specialties, Conditions & Treatments

      See Less See More
Picture Your Health.

How do you define health? Physical? Mental? Social? Health goes beyond medical care. It's how we take care of ourselves, how we interact with our communities, how we take care of each other.

Let St. Luke's support your health, however you define it.

Quick Links
Connect with Us
Contact Us In Boise (208) 381-2222