Dr. Francis specializes in an integrative approach to the practice of Rheumatology taking into account the whole individual and applying a personalized strategy that is unique to each patient.  

She is board certified in Rheumatology and specializes in state-of-the-art management of Rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, Sjogren’s syndrome, Scleroderma, Gout, Pseudogout, Vasculitis, Polymyalgia rheumatica, Giant cell arteritis, Lyme arthritis, Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis among many other musculoskeletal and autoimmune disorders.

• Rheumatology
• Integrative Rheumatology
• Geriatric Rheumatology

2008 – 2014 Faculty Member – Clinical Instructor, Division of Rheumatology,

University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI

Research focus at Michigan – Systemic lupus erythematosus, Inflammatory arthritis.

Board Certified – Rheumatology

• American College of Rheumatology
• American Medical Association
• New York Academy of Sciences

Fellowship 

Rheumatology 2007 – University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Geriatric Medicine 2005 – University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Integrative Medicine 2015 – University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

 

Internal Medicine Residency

St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York

 

Medical School

St. George’s University School of Medicine, Grenada, W.I

Clinical Training – Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, New York

 

Undergraduate

B.S. Pharmacology – State University of Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY

1. Sheeja Francis, Raymond L. Yung. Sjögren’s Syndrome in the Elderly; Geriatric
   Rheumatology: A Comprehensive Textbook, 1 st edition, Yuri R. Nakasato M.D.;
   Humana Press. June 2011. https://books.google.com/books id=pukgv_IhKxgC&pg=PR8&lpg=PR8&dq=sheeja+francis&source=bl&o

1. Littlejohn, E; Marder, W; Lewis, E; Francis, S; Jackish, J; McCune, WJ; Somers, EC: The Ratio of ESR to CRP is useful in distinguishing infection from flare in SLE patients presenting with fever.  Lupus (2018) 0, 1-7.  https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/5938146
2. Janggun Jo ; Guan Xu ; Meng Cao; April Marquardt ; Sheeja Francis; Gandikota Girish; Xueding Wang: A Functional Study of Human Inflammatory Arthritis Using Photoacoustic Imaging.  Nature, Scientific Reports 7, 15026 (2017)  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-15147-5
3. Janggun Jo ; Guan Xu ; April Marquardt ; Sheeja Francis ; Jie Yuan ; Dhanuj Girish; Gandikota Girish; Xueding Wang: Photoacoustic Imaging of Inflammatory Arthritis in Human Joints. SPIE 9689, Photonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics XII, 96894H (February 29, 2016) https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/9689/96894H/Photoacoustic-imaging-of-inflammatory-arthritis-in-human-joints/10.1117/12.2213151.short?SSO=1

1. Vivek Nagaraja; David A. Fox; Sheeja Francis; Ora Singer; Puja Khanna; Timothy Laing; Rory Marks; Seetha U. Monrad; Vladimir M. Ognenovski; Kristine Phillips; Dinesh Khanna: Interpretation Of Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) By Rheumatologist [abstract].  ACR 2013 https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/interpretation-of-patient-reported-outcomes-measurement-information-system-promis-by-rheumatologists/
2. Somers, E; Marder, Wendy; Lewis, E; Francis, S; Cagnoli, P; DeGuire, P; et al; Michigan Lupus Epidemiology & Surveillance Program (MILES): Increased Proportion of Target-Organ Threatening Involvement Among Male Versus Female SLE Patients [abstract]. Arthritis Rheum 2009;60 Suppl 10 :302
3. Francis S, Somers E, Lewis E, Marder W, Shaltis D, Curry E, Kallarackal-Maliakal T, VanHuysen C, Cagnoli P, Levy L, Leisen J, Dhar P, DeGuire P, McCune W.J: Michigan Lupus Epidemiology & Surveillance (MILES) Program:  False Positive Diagnosis of ANA Negative Lupus by the ACR Criteria and Boston Weighted Criteria as Compared to Rheumatologist Classification in a Population Based Cohort, Arthritis & Rheumatism 2007 56:9:S732

ARTICLES:

• Can Smoking Cause Rheumatoid Arthritis?

 

QUOTES:

https://health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/articles/what-is-sjogrens-syndrome

https://www.umassmed.edu/globalassets/orthopedics/documents/ratoday—vol-5-issue-1.pdf

https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/the-symptoms-of-lyme-disease-and-why-its-important-to-pay-attention-to-them/articleshow/75879523.cms

https://www.the-rheumatologist.org/article/chart-new-course-rheumatologist-talks-practicing-orthopedic-environment/

https://www.prevention.com/health/a20448136/sleep-hacks-for-joint-pain/