Andrew Jasek, MD

As one of the four Rheumatology specialists on our team, I would like to welcome you to Ortho Illinois! I was born and raised in Poland, where I received my medical degree and began my career as a neurologist in Warsaw, Poland. After practicing for three years, I relocated to the United States where I completed three additional years of residency training in internal medicine in Pennsylvania before moving to practice medicine at what is now known as Rockford Health System. I further specialized and established my rheumatology practice at Mercy Clinic in Janesville for nine years before joining OrthoIllinois.

Many people wonder what a Rheumatologist is, or why they are being referred to a Rheumatologist when they don’t have “arthritis.” Rheumatologists manage many conditions, seeing patients from adolescent years to geriatric.

So what do Rheumatologists do? In my practice I see a wide spectrum of diseases. While I have a special interest in treating rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, I provide care for osteoarthritis, lupus, Sjogren’s disease, connective tissue disease, gout and pseudo-gout, scleroderma, derma myositis/polymyositis, and vasculitis. I also treat osteoporosis and am certified in bone densitometry.

Providing my patients with an accurate diagnosis is key to helping them begin to resume a more active lifestyle. To do so requires listening carefully to my patients’ symptoms, having a good understanding of many types of disorders and their manifestations, reviewing lab tests and sometimes utilizing musculoskeletal ultrasound for diagnosis. This “detective work” is precisely why I was drawn to Rheumatology.

I believe treating my patients involves working together in partnership. Educating my patients in plain language is vital for them to understand the diagnosis, the treatment plan and how to prevent disease progression or the development of additional conditions.

Rheumatology is an ever-evolving specialty with new treatments continually being developed. At OrthoIllinois we are excited to be at the forefront of improvements in care by actively being involved in clinical research trials for various conditions.

When I am not practicing medicine, I enjoy computers and the arts. I am a movie enthusiast, attend theatrical productions, and paint in oils. I am also multi-lingual and speak English, Polish, Russian, and German.

I again welcome you to OrthoIllinois and look forward to providing you with compassionate care.

Andrew Jasek, MD