“It is much more important to know what sort of a patient has a disease than what sort of a disease a patient has.”
Dr. Macalester
Dr. Macalester grew up in Eugene and did his undergraduate work at Portland State University. He received his medical degree from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, and then completed an osteopathic medical residency in internal medicine in Columbus, Ohio. An interest in immunology led him to a rheumatology fellowship at the University of Virginia. Dr. Macalester moved back to Oregon in 2012, and practiced rheumatology at Tuality Hospital until opening Oregon Rheumatology in 2017.
Dr. Macalester is on the leadership board for the Oregon chapter of the Arthritis Foundation and participates in their annual cycling fundraiser along scenic Oregon routes. He lives in Portland with his wife and young daughter.
Diane Schmitz
Diane Schmitz grew up in Woodland, Washington and earned a master’s in English from Washington State University. She spent more than 20 years working in higher education as an instructor and grant specialist. Her interest grew in health care, so she became a physician assistant. In 2019, she graduated from the University of Washington with a Master of Clinical Health Services. She is deeply interested in rheumatology and in helping people manage and live well with chronic disease. She values working as a partner with patients and their families to help them lead the healthiest and most fulfilling lives possible.
Hanna Gietzen
Hanna was born and raised in Albany, Oregon and graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Exercise and Sport Science in 2015. She then moved to Glendale, Arizona where she graduated from Midwestern University with her Master of Medical Sciences in Physician Assistant Studies in 2019. Hanna missed the beauty of the Pacific Northwest while attending school in Arizona, so she moved back to her home state of Oregon to begin her career as a PA. She enjoys building relationships with patients and is drawn to rheumatology for the ability to make a positive impact on their quality of life.
In her free time, Hanna enjoys hiking, camping, running, snowboarding, crafting, and spending time with her husband and family.
Salem Rheumatology’s Mission
For most of the 20th century, it was the job of the rheumatologist to run long-term hospitals for patients with autoimmune diseases. Fortunately, these diseases are no longer debilitating, deforming, and deadly. At Salem Rheumatology, our mission is to help our patients manage these chronic diseases. We combine a patient-centered approach with modern breakthroughs in disease treatment. Our goal is to give you back the mobility to perform the daily tasks you need to do, as well as the ability to do the things you really want to do, so that you can live your fullest life.
About Osteopathic Medicine
While the immune system can affect any part of the body, the musculoskeletal system is most often impacted. As an osteopathic physician (doctor of osteopathic medicine, or D.O.), Dr. Macalester has had additional training in the musculoskeletal system. Osteopathic practice is based on the philosophy that the structure and function of the body are interrelated, and that the body has the ability to heal itself. It also emphasizes a “whole person approach,” which places special value on listening to patients and partnering with them to achieve their healthcare goals. While Dr. Macalester’s primary means of disease management is immune-based therapy for rheumatic disease, his practice is informed by these basic tenets of osteopathy.
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