Robert J Winchester, MD

Specialties:
Internal Medicine, Rheumatology

Profile Navigation

Overview
Schedule an Appointment
Insurance Accepted
Credentials & Experience
Research

Overview

Dr. Winchester has had a sustained interest in human autoimmunity. His earlier studies defined the molecular importance of rheumatoid factors, other autoantibodies and immune complexes in human disease. Moreover, Dr. Winchester was involved in the early identification and tissue expression of human MHC class II molecules. As importantly, his studies of the polymorphisms of MHC molecules have provided the basis of establishing the link between MHC genotype and susceptibility to autoimmunity. For example in the late 1980's Dr. Winchester and colleagues showed that susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis was determined by sequences in the b chain of MHC class II molecules.
This observation led to the shared MHC 'epitope' hypothesis which provides a molecular basis for susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis associated with a region on the MHC molecule involved in both binding of the peptide and interacting with the TCR. This seminal discovery has emphasized the importance of the modern means of HLA typing which involves DNA sequencing of the MHC genes and the theoretical basis for the discovery of antigens that initiate autoimmune disease. In recent years Dr. Winchester has also focused on DNA and peptide sequence analysis of T cell receptor a and b chains in order to define the changes in the TCR repertoire associated with autoimmunity.
Email: rjw8@cumc.columbia.edu

Academic Appointments

Professor of Medicine
Professor of Pathology & Cell Biology
Professor of Pediatrics

Hospital Affiliations

NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital

Gender

Male

Schedule an Appointment

Connect Patient Portal

For existing patients, login to make an appointment, view documentation or contact your care provider.
Connect Sign In

Insurance Accepted

Aetna

Aetna Signature Administrators
HMO
Medicare Managed Care
NYP Employee Plan
NY Signature
PPO

AgeWell

Medicare Managed Care
Special Needs

Cigna

EPO
Great West (National)
HMO
POS
PPO

Emblem/GHI

Medicare Managed Care
PPO

Emblem/HIP

ConnectiCare
EPO
Essential Plan
HMO
Medicaid Managed Care
Medicare Managed Care
POS
PPO
Select Care (Exchange)
Vytra

Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield

HMO
Medicare Managed Care

Local 1199

Local 1199

MagnaCare (National)

MagnaCare

Medicare

Railroad
Traditional Medicare

Multiplan

Multiplan

MVP Health Care

Child/Family Health Plus
Essential Plan
HMO
Medicaid Managed Care

Oxford Health Plans

Freedom

RiverSpring

Special Needs

UnitedHealthcare

Columbia University Employee Plan
Compass (Exchange)
Empire Plan
HMO
Medicaid (Community Plan)
Medicare Managed Care
POS
PPO

*Please contact the provider’s office directly to verify that your particular insurance is accepted.

Credentials & Experience

Education & Training

Cornell University Medical College, NY
Internship: New York Hospital - Cornell Medical Center
Residency: New York Hospital - Cornell Medical Center

Board Certifications

Internal Medicine
Rheumatology

Research

For a complete list of publications, please visit PubMed.gov