Meet Tammy Chiesa, M.D.
Tammy Chiesa, M.D., is unlike other providers at Summit Orthopedics. Dr. Chiesa is neither an orthopedic specialist nor a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor. Instead, she is an internal medicine physician who specializes in bone health in general and osteoporosis in the adult population.
For the past 30 years, Dr. Chiesa has been practicing internal medicine in the St. Paul area. At Summit Orthopedics, she hopes to continue her work in bone health, focusing on osteoporosis. “Osteoporosis is very common, especially among postmenopausal women, and it is grossly undertreated. Of those diagnosed with osteoporosis, only 20 percent are being actively treated. We can do better. There is a huge need to look at the underlying reasons why women (and men) have fractures — and to treat them,” she said. “Ultimately, reducing osteoporosis rates, and treating osteoporosis effectively, could really help improve quality of life and reduce morbidity for many people.”
Dr. Tammy Chiesa’s background
Dr. Chiesa had always been interested in medicine as a career possibility because she has loved science from an early age. Growing up, some of her first jobs were in a hospital setting, and the medical team inspired her in general. She earned her medical degree with highest distinction from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, followed by residency training in internal medicine at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI, where she served as chief resident.
Her elderly mother inspired her to prioritize her patients’ bone health. Osteoporosis has significantly disabled her mother, reducing her quality of life. “If some of the treatments and knowledge we have currently had been available to her then, her quality of life would be much different today,” Dr. Chiesa said. “Seeing her experience has been a driving force in my interest in bone health.”
Dr. Tammy Chiesa’s practice philosophy
Dr. Chiesa’s practice philosophy is rooted in her long-term commitment to her patients, which grew out of her work as an internal medicine doctor. “My philosophy is to be engaged with the total person. One of the reasons I was drawn to internal medicine is because it is a specialty where you could solve a puzzle/problem diagnostically, yet also be there for the long haul, developing ongoing relationships,” she said.
Although osteoporosis is a specific diagnosis, Dr. Chiesa approaches it in a holistic manner, using a combination of diet, exercise, physical therapy, and medications to help her patients. She hopes her patients find her approach to their care to be not only state of the art but also administered with a great deal of care and compassion.
More about Dr. Chiesa
Dr. Chiesa is a mom to three daughters, and she loves to spend time with them and her husband. “I’m very family oriented,” she said. When she’s not having quality family time or making a meal for her family to share, she enjoys running recreationally and is a member of a small running group.
When she’s not working or spending time with family, Dr. Chiesa also enjoys getting out and sampling the many things the Twin Cities has to offer, from live theater to sporting events. She and her husband also love to travel.
Education
Residency
Chief Resident
Internal Medicine Residency
William Beaumont Hospital — Royal Oaks, Michigan
Internal Medicine Resident
William Beaumont Hospital — Royal Oaks, Michigan
Medical School
Doctor of Medicine
Wayne State University School of Medicine — Detroit, Michigan
Undergraduate Studies
Bachelor of Science | Biology
University of Michigan — Ann Arbor, Michigan
Professional Memberships
- International Society of Clinical Densitometry
- American College of Physicians
- American Board of Internal Medicine
- Wayne State University Alumni Association
Specialties
- Osteoporosis & Bone Health
