As a boy whose family hails from Tillman County, Oklahoma, it was a great honor and privilege when the University of Oklahoma accepted me into the medical training program. I have dedicated my life to diagnosing and treating patients who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, a condition in which the body's immune system is out of regulation and begins to attack the joints and other organs. Because more than 100 conditions mimic rheumatoid arthritis, it is critical for patients to receive highly specialized care from a rheumatologist.