Irma Lee Vazquez-Sanabria, MD, FACR

Dr. Irma Lee Vazquez-Sanabria, MD is a board certified rheumatologist and internal medicine at Insight Hospital and Medical Center in Coldwater, MI.  She was born and raised in the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico who developed a passion for science since early childhood while she waited for her mother to finish her classes at the University of Puerto Rico in Human Anatomy and Physiology. As time progressed she developed a desire for research too which led her to perform basic science research in PR and the United States in areas of microbiology, ecology followed by translational research from the bench to the clinic at the NIH and during her fellowship. She developed an admiration for puzzling multisystemic rheumatic conditions early in her residency as in Internal Medicine which led her to make a grand round lecture of Hepatitis C infection and its associated rheumatic manifestations. Also, having several autoimmune diseases in her family and suffering a rheumatic condition herself drew her to pursue a career in the wonderful but challenging world of Rheumatology.  Other aspects of Rheumatology that reaffirm her decision making of becoming a Rheumatologist is the close knitted relationships that we build with our patients with Chronic Immunomodulating Inflammatory diseases.  Also, how rewarding it is to see the progress in the patients from rehabilitation to restoration of their quality of life.  It is so rewarding how much of an impact you can have in the life of these patients who have been longing for an answer to their complex myriad of symptoms and signs for many years without being heard in a compassionate yet assertive manner.   

Dr. Vazquez-Sanabria strives to provide empathetic, compassionate care following the most innovative medical therapies for treatment of chronic rheumatic diseases according to the latest guidelines by both the American College of Rheumatology and the European League of AntiRheumatism organizations.  She also complements her treatment of care by emphasizing in the patient as a whole individual with both pharmacological and non pharmacological approaches and reinforces how lifestyle modifications are fundamental to achieve a better outcome in their lives and in controlling their disease. Favorite pastimes include watching movies from Netflix, Prime, Disney + and Paramount; spending time with her family specially her 7 year old son; riding her Peloton bike and being an official Online shopaholic.