About Us

Under the leadership of Dr. Peter Merkel, the Penn Vasculitis Center is now one of the largest clinical and research centers in the world that specializes in vasculitis. The Penn Vasculitis Center includes 5 vasculitis specialists within the Division of Rheumatology, and a full team of other specialists with clinical expertise in vasculitis, including nephrologists (kidney disease), dermatologists, pulmonologists, cardiologists, otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat), ophthalmologists, vascular surgeons, and more. Patients throughout the world request to be seen at the Penn Vasculitis Center.

The Penn Vasculitis Center is also at the forefront of cutting-edge clinical and translational research. Penn is the coordinating center for the Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium, a group of over 100 academic medical centers worldwide and patient-support organizations dedicated to improving the lives of patients with vasculitis through clinical research. The Penn Vasculitis Center has either led or participated in almost every major clinical trial in vasculitis conducted and continues to direct innovative studies to advance our knowledge of vasculitis. The success of the Penn Vasculitis Center is a testament to the patients and donors dedicated to progressing the field of vasculitis. The Penn Vasculitis Center is also a leader in training the next generation of physicians expert in the evaluation and management of patients with vasculitis.