Dr. Christie Bartels is a professor and chief of the Division of Rheumatology within the Department of Medicine. As a physician scientist, leader, and national ACR leader she has co-led creating the first lupus quality measures. She Chairs the Academic Advisory Council of the CTSA implementation core, Co-Chair of the UW Medical Foundation and Chair of the DOM Finance Committees. She Chaired the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Registry and Health IT Committee (2023-26). Dr. Bartels has over 130 peer-reviewed publications, her work is cited in the US Cholesterol Guidelines, and her rheumatology CVD risk reduction protocols are recommended by the CDC and AHA Million Hearts program. She has received the Arthritis Foundation Community Impact Award, multiple mentoring and professionalism awards, and is listed in the Top Doctors in America (Castle Connolly 2019-2026).
Dr. Bartels also serves as CMO of the Orion Initiative and has led UW specialists to partner with rural PCPs and first responders to co-create Specialty Training at Rural Sites (STARS)—an upskilling program that addresses gaps in specialty care and provider well-being. Dissemination across specialties and locations plans to reach more than 50 rural providers this year, 100 in 2027, with dozens of faculty and thousands of rural lives impacted.
Dr. Bartels’ clinical interests include rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), and reducing cardiovascular disease and disparities.
View Dr. Christie Bartels’ Publications on NCBI My Bibliography
Dr. Bartels’ research aims to improve longevity health equity and reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) in lupus and rheumatic diseases. Dr. Bartels and her team design and study implementation of interventions to improve CVD health for patients who receive both specialty and primary care. She is also currently examining lupus outcomes related to “retention in care,” based upon a Centers for Disease Control/World Health Organization-endorsed model to reduce health disparities. As a rheumatologist and physician-scientist conducting health services research, she leads a research program with the long-term goal of improving cardiovascular health and reducing disparities for patients with rheumatic or other specialty conditions.
She also leads research studying novel screening methods to improve lupus care and an innovative rural outreach model through the philanthropically-funded Orion Initiative. Her research has been funded by National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, Rheumatology Research Foundation, Wisconsin Partnership Program, and others.