About Dr. Micha Abeles, Connecticut-Based Rheumatologist
Dr. Micha Abeles, an accomplished rheumatologist in Meriden, Connecticut.
Throughout his career that spans more than four decades, Micha Abeles has not only attained board certification in rheumatology as well as internal medicine, but he has also acquired an impressive history of publications, papers, book chapters, and editorials. Many of these studies are still referenced today, and have set the groundwork for many other important discoveries in fibromyalgia, arthritis, lupus, and gout studies. He was instrumental in the clinical trials that eventually led to the development of two significant arthritis medications, Humira and Enbrel, and continues to serve as a dedicated physician to his patients as a private practitioner.
Micha Abeles began his career in medicine at the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo) after completing his residency in internal medicine. From there, Micha enlisted in the United States Army has a major and chief of the outpatient department at the Fort Monroe U.S. Army base in Virginia. It was here that he received a commendation for his outstanding clinical skills, but also for his shining ability to maintain a positive morale on the base. He organized events such as chess and table pool competitions, which made a significant impact on the future of his career. Once leaving the army, Micha Abeles was given the opportunity to become a fellow of rheumatology at the University of Connecticut, thanks to his glowing recommendations. Although he didn’t know it at the time, this fellowship and eventual certification in rheumatology would soon shape the course of his career.
Post-fellowship, Micha Abeles became the Associate Director of the UConn Multipurpose Arthritis Center. This federally-funded grant allowed him to conduct numerous clinical trials sponsored by many pharmaceutical companies across the country. These studies brought attention and funds back to the university, as well as gave Dr. Abeles firsthand experience in running these trials before beginning his own original research.
It was in 1990 that Micha Abeles became the co-author to a fibromyalgia criteria paper, and it was at this time, for the first time, that fibromyalgia had truly been defined by medical professionals. This study then led to additional research. So many, in fact, that Dr. Abeles and his co-authors eventually produced thirty-seven publications, book chapters, and national presentations about fibromyalgia.
Currently, Dr. Abeles has become interested in antibody testing — one of his most recent publications showed that anti-nuclear antibodies (ANAs) were difficult to interpret, and that contradictory findings that were very common in laboratories made them even more challenging to understand. Micha Abeles has also co-authored several of the first papers that explained the use of methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis and in eosinophilic fasciitis.
To stay up to date in rheumatology, Micha Abeles is a member of the American College of Rheumatology, which is a professional organization that globally represents rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals, and also sits on the Connecticut Rheumatology Association Board of Directors.
When Dr. Abeles isn’t seeing patients or working on a new trial, he can be found reading up on the latest studies in arthritis, lupus, and the United States healthcare system.
