Dr. Micah Yu
MD, MHA, MS, ABOIM, DipABLM, IFMCP
Integrative Rheumatology grounded in lived experience
Dr. Micah Yu, MD is an integrative rheumatologist who combines conventional rheumatology with lifestyle, functional, and integrative medicine to support patients with complex autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.
He is quadruple board-certified in Rheumatology, Internal Medicine, Integrative Medicine, and Lifestyle Medicine. Dr. Yu earned his medical degree from the Chicago Medical School and holds master’s degrees in Healthcare Administration and Biomedical Sciences. He completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at Loma Linda University and is a graduate of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine Fellowship at the University of Arizona. He is also certified in Functional Medicine through the Institute for Functional Medicine.
Dr. Yu is an active member of professional organizations focused on complex and environmentally driven illness, including the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), the International Society for Environmentally Acquired Illness (ISEAI), and the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM).
What sets Dr. Yu’s care apart is his personal understanding of autoimmune disease. Diagnosed with gout at age 17 and later with spondyloarthritis, he brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every patient interaction. This perspective allows him to approach care with empathy, curiosity, and realism.
The foundation of Dr. Yu’s practice is partnership. He works closely with patients to develop thoughtful treatment plans that address disease activity while also aligning with each patient’s goals, values, and quality of life — using medication when appropriate and complementary strategies to support long-term health.
- Board Certified in Rheumatology
- Board Certified in Internal Medicine
- Board Certified in Lifestyle Medicine
- Board Certified in Integrative Medicine
- Certified in Functional Medicine
- Fellowship:
University of Arizona
Tucson, CA
Integrative Medicine 2020-2022
- Fellowship:
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, CA
Rheumatology 2018-2020
- Residency:
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, CA
Internal Medicine 2015-2018
- Medical School:
Chicago Medical School
North Chicago, IL
Doctorate of Medicine 2015
- Graduate School:
Rosalind Franklin University
North Chicago, IL
Masters in Healthcare Administration 2013
Masters in Biomedical Sciences 2011
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Michigan
- Nevada
- New York
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
- English
- Cantonese
- Mandarin(Basic)
Care shaped by lived experience
Dr. Yu’s approach to autoimmune care is deeply personal. As a young adult, he developed severe inflammatory arthritis and was later diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis. Living with chronic autoimmune disease shaped not only his understanding of medicine, but how he practices it. This lived experience brings empathy, realism, and perspective into every patient interaction. Dr. Yu understands that autoimmune and inflammatory conditions affect far more than joints or lab results—they impact daily function, identity, and quality of life.
From a patient’s perspective…
“I understand what it feels like to live with chronic pain and uncertainty—to search for answers while feeling
dismissed or misunderstood. That perspective shapes how I care for every patient.”
As a rheumatologist..
Dr. Yu’s goal is to help patients understand why disease develops and how body systems interact. By combining conventional rheumatology with integrative, functional, and lifestyle-based strategies, he creates treatment plans that are both evidence-based and personalized.
Medication is used when appropriate, but never in isolation. Care plans are
developed collaboratively, with attention to inflammation, immune balance, lifestyle factors, and long-term quality of life.
meet with dr. yu
Care for complex immune and inflammatory conditions
Patients who work with Dr. Yu receive individualized care that combines conventional rheumatology with integrative, lifestyle, and functional medicine. This approach allows for thoughtful evaluation, clear communication, and direct access throughout care.
Dr. Yu’s focus is understanding complex immune and inflammatory conditions — especially when symptoms are persistent, unclear, or difficult to manage.
Symptoms that may prompt the need to see Dr. Yu
- Chronic fatigue
- Brain fog
- Joint pain and joint swelling
- Chronic muscle pain
- Muscle weakness
A thoughtful, integrative approach to autoimmune care
Dr. Yu uses an integrative and functional medicine approach to support patients with autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. His care combines conventional rheumatology with lifestyle-based and systems-focused strategies to better understand disease patterns and individual needs.
When appropriate, Dr. Yu carefully evaluates the role of medications and biologic therapies, discussing both their benefits and limitations. Treatment plans are personalized, evidence-based, and developed in partnership with each patient.
In addition to rheumatologic conditions, Dr. Yu also works with patients experiencing complex or overlapping health concerns, drawing on his training in lifestyle, integrative, and functional medicine to provide comprehensive care.
