We work for you

West Michigan Rheumatology feels that it is an honor to be trusted to participate in your care.  We take this confidence seriously, and promise to place your interests first.  We will coordinate with your primary care team, do our best to integrate your care, and always seek out the highest quality resources to advance your health.

Our story

The West Michigan Rheumatology, PLLC, (WMR) established in 1991, is an academically oriented rheumatology practice.  Our founder was recruited to Grand Rapids to develop clinical services, rheumatology research and training programs. These are the same three shields that represent the Mayo mission.    During this time we have closely aligned with and are faculty of the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.  We have built a dedicated team of rheumatologists, nurses, administrators and other professionals that support our mission. As an independent medical group, we work with but are distinct from regional health systems.  This means we only work for you.  In addition, we serve West Michigan providing consultation and support to patients and their doctors.  We are the only rheumatologists in the region who do bedside hospital based consultation.   Trinity Health St. Mary’s is the only hospital in the region to offer this type of advanced care.   We want our work to make a difference in your life.    

Meet the Team

Richard Martin, M.D., M.A.

A native of New Jersey, earned his B.S. at the University of Michigan, and M.D. at Michigan State College of Human Medicine. He completed his residency in Primary Care Internal Medicine at the University of Rochester, New York, and a fellowship in Rheumatology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.   Subsequently at Michigan State University, he earned a M.A. in Educational Psychology & Instructional Design and completed a 3 year NIH funded Clinical Epidemiology post-doctoral fellowship. He founded West Michigan Rheumatology in 1991.   His research has focused on evaluating emerging therapies for rheumatoid arthritis, Raynaud’s Phenomenon and scleroderma as well as developing decision aids to present balanced information for patients considering biologic therapy.

Click the link below to view a list of publications.


Aaron Eggebeen, M.D.

A native of Grand Rapids and a graduate of Calvin College, MSU College of Human Medicine, and a combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics residency at Michigan State University-Spectrum Health.  He is board certified in pediatrics and internal medicine.  He completed his rheumatology fellowship at the University of Pittsburg Medical Center.  He joined WMR in 2007.  While at the University of Pittsburg his research focused on antibody markers of polymyositis and dermatomyositis. In Pittsburg he trained with the quintessential sclerodermologist Dr. Thomas Metzger and myologist Dr. Chet Otis. He continued this thread of research by collaborating with investigators at Pittsburg to lead the NIH funded Rituxan in Myositis Study at WMR.  He has lead other clinical investigations at WMR of novel therapies for rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.


Eric Slavin, M.D.

A native of Saginaw, MI, he earned his B.S. degree at the University of Michigan, and M.D. at the Ohio State University College of Medicine.  He completed a residency in Internal Medicine at St Vincent Hospital Indianapolis, IN and a Fellowship in Rheumatology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He joined WMR in 2015.


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