Joy Schechtman, DO
CEO and President
SunValley Arthritis Center, Ltd.
Prior to starting Sun Valley Arthritis Center, Ltd., Dr. Schechtman completed her fellowship in Rheumatology and Immunology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio from 1983 to 1985. Following this, she developed the first rheumatology clinic in Joliet, IL from 1985 to 1987. In late 1987, she moved to the greater metropolitan Phoenix area which she now considers her home. Following the inception of Sun Valley Arthritis Center, Ltd., located in Phoenix and North Phoenix, she moved the practice in 1989 to the newly built Arrowhead Community Hospital, now Arrowhead Hospital and part of the Abrazo Medical System. Dr. Schechtman has been active at Arrowhead Hospital over the years on the Infectious Disease Committee 1995-1999, Chief of Medicine 1992-1996, Chief of Credentialing Committee 1996-2000, Chief of Staff of Arrowhead Hospital 2000-2004 and member of the Board of Trustees of Arrowhead Hospital from 1999-2016.
She holds a position as Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Midwestern University College of Osteopathic Medicine and the College of Allied Health Professionals at Midwestern University and is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Kirksville College of Medicine and Adjunct Professor at Arizona State University College of Nursing. She is a clinical advisor of Family Practice residents at Phoenix Baptist Hospital and the Internal Medicine and Rheumatology director of the Abrazo Health System. In September 2013, she was selected as the Outstanding Faculty Preceptor at Midwestern University along with being rated as the Top Doctor in Phoenix Magazine from 2003-2021. Dr. Schechtman is presently the Chairman of Arizona United Rheumatology Alliance (AURA) and a member of the Association of Women in Rheumatology. She is a past board member from 2015 to 2021 of the American Arthritis and Rheumatology Association (AARA), a nationwide group of several hundred rheumatologists in active practice and presently is a medical director for AARA.
Dr. Schechtman has participated in over 200 clinical research studies as a principal investigator in areas of research including gout, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), scleroderma, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. She has devoted her time in medical practice caring for adult and pediatric patients with rheumatic diseases and adults with osteoporosis. In addition to her private practice, she has provided services to the Children’s Rehabilitative Service Clinic for 20 years working with children with juvenile rheumatic diseases. Dr. Schechtman is an accomplished medical professional, academician, and humanitarian. She feels very privileged to have had the opportunity to serve the community and to live in such a beautiful state as Arizona.
