Joseph Azzam

A native of California, Dr. Joseph Azzam brings a deep commitment to patient well-being shaped by his own life experiences. His path into medicine was sparked by the dedication he witnessed in his father, a beloved family physician known for the care he gave his patients.

Dr. Azzam earned his medical degree from St. George's University, where he was recognized with the Chancellor's Circle Legacy of Excellence. He completed his internal medicine residency at St. Mary's Medical Center, San Francisco's oldest hospital, where he served as Chief Resident and received the Florence Howe Outstanding Medical Resident Award. He then joined the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) as a clinical instructor and hospitalist on the advanced heart failure service.

Drawn to both long-term patient relationships and the complexity of autoimmune disease, Dr. Azzam pursued fellowship training in rheumatology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. During his fellowship, he was awarded funding from the Wallace Research Foundation to lead a research study observing the effects of hydroxychloroquine in patients living with autoimmune conditions. He developed expertise in musculoskeletal ultrasound and procedures such as synovial biopsies, and today is RhMSUS-certified and teaches ultrasound to fellows and practicing rheumatologists through USSONAR, the Southern California Rheumatology Society, and the Cedars-Sinai fellowship program. He serves as co-chair on the Sjögren's Foundation Committee for Good Practice Statements and is involved with Lupus LA. Committed to treating the whole person, he has also completed certification in functional medicine.

Outside of rheumatology, Dr. Azzam treasures time with his wife and daughter and maintains an active lifestyle, finding joy in swimming and creating music.