December 23, 2025
Dear Members of the DOM Community:
The Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology has grown rapidly over the last ten years. There are seven Rheumatologists, three Allergists/Immunologists, one physician assistant for Allergy/Immunology and two basic researchers in the Division. Patient volume has significantly increased including busy patient referrals from across the country. To better coordinate and provide highest quality patient care, particularly for rheumatic diseases, there is a necessity of appointing a Rheumatologist in our Division to serve as the Rheumatology Clinic Director.
We are pleased that Dr. Ayse Bag Ozbek has been named by the Department of Medicine and approved by the school dean’s office to serve as the Rheumatology Clinic Director. 
Dr. Bag Ozbek is board certified in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Rheumatology. She served as a full-time rheumatologist (0.5 FTE at Stony Brook University and 0.5 FTE at VA) and Assistant Professor of Medicine after completing her rheumatology fellowship training in the Division of Rheumatology, Columbia University in New York since July 2015. She graduated at 9 Eylul School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey in 2001 and performed Internal Medicine and Pediatric Residency at Stony Brook School of Medicine, NY from 2009 to 2013. Since 2022, Dr. Bag Ozbek has served as a full-time Rheumatologist and an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Rheumatology, the Department of Medicine at Stony Brook University.
The Clinic Director has following roles in addition to serving as full-time rheumatologist to care for patients and teaching.
1) Providing clinical and strategic leadership for the Division, managing daily operations, mentoring staff, and overseeing patient care for rheumatic and complex autoimmune diseases
2). Making an annual schedule for all clinicians (Rheumatologists), including Rheumatology fellows in the Division in collaboration with Rheumatology Program Director and Divisional Assistant/Program coordinator.
3). Making proper adjustments of physicians’ schedules and monitor to minimize bumps of previously scheduled patients.
4). Coordinating with patient schedulers to accommodate patient visits timely and properly.
5). Working with Clinic Administrators of the Department of Medicine, managers, and head nurses at clinic sites such as Commack and Lake Grove to identify and resolve potential issues that might affect patient care and visits.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Bag Ozbek.
Qingping Yao, M.D., Ph.D.
Zhang Family Endowed Chair in Rheumatology
Professor, Department of Medicine
Chief, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology
Director, Center of Autoinflammatory Diseases
Vincent W. Yang, M.D., Ph.D., FACP, AGAF, FAAAS
SUNY Distinguished Professor
Simons Chair of Medicine
Professor, Department of Medicine
Professor, Department of Physiology & Biophysics
Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine