Zunaira Ali, M.D.
Fellowship Trained Rheumatology
Clinical Specialties: Rheumatology

After graduating from King Edward Medical School, Dr. Ali completed residency training in Internal Medicine in Grand Rapids, Michigan and fellowship training in Rheumatology at UTHSC in Memphis, Tennessee.

Dr. Ali employs a multidisciplinary and evidenced-based approach in which each patient’s plan of care is customized to their specific needs and goals. In clinical practice, Dr. Ali emphasizes the importance of diagnosing the cause of each patient’s pain, and she enjoys explaining and educating patients about treatment options.

Dr. Ali's journey is marked by a commitment to advancing rheumatological care and a compassionate approach to improving the lives of those facing musculoskeletal challenges. We are confident that Dr. Ali will play a pivotal role in enhancing the comprehensive care we provide to our valued patients.

Dr. Zunaira Ali completed her Internal Medicine residency training at Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners in Michigan. She then completed her Rheumatology fellowship training at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences in Memphis, TN in June 2018, where she received the Best Fellowship Teaching Award.

Dr Ali has expertise in treating a wide range of autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, SLE, Gout, Osteoporosis, Ankylosing Spondylitis and Vasculitis. Dr Ali offers joint injections as well as biological infusions.

About Rheumatology

Rheumatology is a medical field concerned with autoimmune conditions - those diseases that occur when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own healthy tissue. Rheumatic diseases include a wide spectrum of disorders that can involve many tissues, with a predominant involvement of the musculoskeletal system.

There are more than 200 different rheumatic diseases affecting both children and adults. Some may have a genetic component while others may be secondary to factors such as infections. Pain and inflammation are the common symptoms of many rheumatic diseases. Most of the diseases, if left untreated, can cause significant joint deterioration, and disability affecting quality of life and expectancy.

Rheumatology Treatments

The Goal of treatment is to reduce pain and inflammation while improving function. Medications used to treat rheumatic disease include corticosteroids and immunosuppressants such as disease modifying agents (conventional and biologics). In addition, physical therapy, braces, splints, assisted devices and alternative therapies like Yoga and Tai Chi also play a very important role.

Conditions Treated

Common conditions that I encounter in the clinic include:

Osteoporosis:

Osteoporosis is a common condition impacting approximately 10 million Americans as a result of decreased bone mass and changes in bone structure, thereby increasing the risk of a bone fracture

Osteoarthritis:

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disease that most often affects middle age to elderly people. It is commonly referred to as "wear and tear" arthritis, but OA is a disease of the entire joint, involving the cartilage, joint lining, ligaments, and bone.

Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common autoimmune type of arthritis. In RA, your body’s immune system begins to react against its own tissues, causing significant inflammation in your joints and various other organs. This can cause joint pain, stiffness, swelling and decreased flexibility of the joints. Early diagnosis and the right treatments can ease symptoms and prevent joint damage or disability.

Psoriatic Arthritis:

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune condition characterized by inflamed joints. Psoriatic arthritis often, but not always, occurs in people who also have psoriasis, an autoimmune skin condition that results in scaly, red itchy patches.

Ankylosing Spondylitis:

Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory arthritis affecting the spine. The main symptom (what you feel) in most patients is low back pain. Many people with axial spondyloarthropathies progress to having some degree of spinal fusion, known as ankylosing spondylitis

Gout:

Gout is a form of arthritis caused by too much uric acid build-up in your body. Gout often causes sudden pain and swelling in one joint, often the big toe or other joints in the feet. Gout affects men more often than women.

Reactive Arthritis:

Reactive arthritis is an inflammatory disease that occurs in reaction to infections by certain bacteria particularly involving the genitourinary or gastrointestinal system. The most common infections include the sexually transmitted infection Chlamydia trachomatis and bowel infections such as Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella and Yersinia.

IBD-associated Arthritis:

IBD associated arthritis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune condition characterized by inflamed joints usually seen in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s disease)

Lupus:

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic disease that causes systemic inflammation which affects multiple organs including the skin, joints, kidney, heart, and lungs. SLE often starts in females during their fertility age, although it can sometimes start during childhood. The disease tends to be more common and worse in African Americans and Asians.

Scleroderma:

Scleroderma is a rare, chronic autoimmune disease that affects the skin and internal organs. It often leads to skin tightening and thickening, and can sometimes affect joints, muscles, heart, lungs, kidneys, blood vessels or intestines. Women between the ages of 30 and 50 are mostly affected. While there is no cure for scleroderma, there are treatments to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

Sjogren’s Syndrome:

Sjogren’s disease is a chronic autoimmune disease. It can occur alone or with other autoimmune conditions such as RA or Lupus. Sjogren’s presents with dry eyes and dry mouth due to damage and Inflammation of the tear ducts and salivary glands. Fatigue and joint pain are other common symptoms. Sjögren’s affects women about 10 times more often than men and usually occurs between 45 and 55.

All conditions that I see in the clinic:

Conditions

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Reactive arthritis
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Enteropathic arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Gout
• Pseudogout
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus(lupus)
• Sjogren’s disease
• Mixed Connective tissue disease(MCTD)
• Undifferentiated Connective tissue disease(UCTD)
• Systemic sclerosis (Scleroderma)
• CREST syndrome
• Vascultis (Wegener, Churg-Strauss, ANCA etc)
• Temporal arteritis / Giant Cell arteritis(GCA)
• Sarcoidosis
• Inflammatory mynopathies (dermatomyositis, polymyositis)
• Inflammatory eye disease (uveitis, scleritis etc)
• Neuromyelitis optica(NMO)
• Periodic fever syndromes
• IgG4 realted disease
• Behcet disease
• Other autoimmune diseases
• Osteoporosis
• Osteopenia
• Ehlers-Danlos (EDS)