Neal S. Birnbaum, MD, FACP, MACR, is currently Director of the Division of Rheumatology at California Pacific Medical Center and Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California San Francisco. Since 1977, Dr. Birnbaum has enjoyed the private practice of Rheumatology and internal medicine in San Francisco. Chief of Rheumatology since 1983, Dr. Birnbaum has also twice been Chief of Staff at California Pacific Medical Center. His clinical skills have been recognized by his inclusion in every edition of The Best Doctors in America. Dr. Birnbaum has been active in the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) for many years, serving as the 2006-2007 ACR president. He is also past president of the California Society of Internal Medicine and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. Dr. Birnbaum has been Vice-chairman for Medical Affairs of the northern California chapter of the Arthritis Foundation and was a founding board member of the Scleroderma Research Foundation. He lectures frequently on all aspects of rheumatic disease diagnosis and management as well as the effects of managed care on rheumatology practice. In 2009, Dr. Birnbaum assumed an additional role as board chairperson of Brown and Toland Medical Group, San Francisco’s largest IPA. He has published numerous scientific articles and recently co-authored a book for patients, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Arthritis. In November 2011, Dr. Birnbaum was named a Master of the American College of Rheumatology.