Dr. Andreea Coca, MD, MPH

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Get to know Rheumatologist Dr. Andreea Coca, who serves patients in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

A specialist in the field of rheumatology, Dr. Coca is the Medical Director of the UPMC Lupus Center of Excellence in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

“I strive to provide compassionate, up-to-date, timely clinical care to the patients with systemic inflammatory diseases and inflammatory arthritis. I am particularly interested in co-managing patients with uveitis and other inflammatory eye disease with the uveitis specialists. My ultimate goal is to develop a multidisciplinary rheumatology-ophthalmology clinic” expressed the doctor.

The UPMC Lupus Center of Excellence offers comprehensive care for lupus patients. The specialized physicians carefully review each patient’s history and administer a physical examination and lab tests to ensure a proper diagnosis. Once a diagnosis of lupus is confirmed, the team develops individualized treatment plans to help patients manage the disease and lead a normal and active lifestyle.

Back in 1999, Dr. Coca graduated with her medical degree from Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Romania. Upon relocating to the United States, she performed her residency at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. This was followed by a fellowship in rheumatology at Strong Memorial Hospital. 

A Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology, she is board-certified in rheumatology by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). The ABIM is a physician-led, non-profit, independent evaluation organization driven by doctors who want to achieve higher standards for better care in a rapidly changing world. 

With over two decades of experience, Dr. Coca is affiliated with Strong Memorial Hospital,  Highland Hospital of Rochester, UPMC Presbyterian, and Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital. 

Alongside her clinical role, she serves as a Professor within the Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

“My ultimate goal is to instill in the trainees I work with the importance of embracing education as a life-long experience, learners who thrive on always wanting to learn more and more. I continue to learn from my residents and fellows, and I aspire that I share with them my personal enthusiasm and compassion. Every patient we see is unique. By having the medical student, residents, and fellows interact with a wide variety of patients, will emphasize different aspects of clinical medicine, and help them discover subtitles of disease presentation and management options. By having the trainees rotate through multidisciplinary clinics, I believe will reinforce the importance of professional, close collaboration with other disciplines” stated Dr. Coca.

Her research interests stem from her exposure to the field of public health during her master’s years. She is very interested in the epidemiology of rheumatic diseases, outcome research, and quality improvement projects. In addition, she enjoys providing patients with access to the latest advancements in treatment through enrollment in clinical trials in systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjogren’s syndrome. She works closely with the uveitis specialists to develop a database and an inception cohort of uveitis and inflammatory eye disease patients.

Rheumatology is a branch of medicine devoted to the diagnosis and therapy of rheumatic diseases. Physicians who have undergone formal training in rheumatology are called rheumatologists. Rheumatologists treat arthritis, autoimmune diseases, pain disorders affecting joints, and osteoporosis. There are more than 200 types of these diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, lupus, back pain, osteoporosis, and tendinitis.

On a more personal note, Dr. Coca speaks both English and Romanian.

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