Our team

Your rheumatologists in Heidelberg

We are a committed and competent team working hand in hand to look after you and your health as well as possible. Our close collaboration at the practice makes us a well-rehearsed, harmonious team, and a friendly manner – among ourselves and towards you – is what defines us. Dr Dornacher, Dr Schmitt, Dr Max, Dr Lutz, Dr Kihm and Dr Tuleweit also place great value on very personal, individual contact with their patients.

To practise high-quality medicine at the current state of knowledge, all of us attend continuing education regularly. For the best possible specialist care in rheumatology, our physicians also maintain close contact with the surrounding rheumatology hospitals. Interdisciplinary dialogue with other specialties is equally important, and we cooperate with specialists throughout Germany. Being based at the ATOS Clinic Heidelberg is the ideal starting point for this.

Dr. med. Ines Dornacher

Dr. med. Ines Dornacher

Specialist in internal medicine and rheumatology

Dr. med. Verena Schmitt

Dr. med. Verena Schmitt

Specialist in internal medicine and rheumatology

Dr. med. Regina Max

Dr. med. Regina Max

Specialist in internal medicine and rheumatology

Dr. med. Thomas Lutz

Dr. med. Thomas Lutz

Specialist in paediatrics, paediatric rheumatology

Dr. Melanie Kihm

Dr. med. Melanie Kihm

Specialist in internal medicine and rheumatology

Dr. med. Anika Tuleweit

Dr. med. Anika Tuleweit

Specialist in internal medicine and rheumatology

Kristin Tison

Kristin Tison

Practice manager

Nicole Baumann

Nicole Baumann

Medical assistant

Sarah Raad

Sarah Raad

Medical assistant

Myriam van Eecke

Myriam van Eecke

Medical laboratory technician

Natalia Filger

Natalia Filger

Medical assistant and training officer

Kateryna Ukhal

Trainee medical assistant

Seraphina Malzkorn

Seraphina Malzkorn

Medical assistant

Sabrina Wiesendanger

Medical assistant

CV Dr. med. Ines Dornacher

Studies

  • 1984–1985 Medical studies, University of Florence
  • 1985–1994 Medical studies, Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg
  • 1995 Doctorate: “Immunohistochemical study on the histogenesis of renal cell carcinoma”
  • 1996 Licence to practise medicine

Clinical career

  • 1996–2004 Specialist training in internal medicine,
  • Salem Academic Teaching Hospital, Heidelberg
  • 2003–2004 Heidelberg University Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine V, Section of Rheumatology,
  • Prof. Dr. Fiehn and Prof. Dr. Lorenz
  • 2004 Board certification in internal medicine
  • 2004–2005 Inpatient rheumatology, Acura Kliniken Baden-Baden,
  • Prof. Dr. Fiehn and Prof. Dr. Lorenz
  • 2005–2010 Specialist rheumatology practice Dr. I. Gao, Heidelberg
  • 2006 Subspecialty certification in rheumatology
  • 2009 Additional qualification in nutritional medicine (DGEM)
  • 2011–2013 Medical consulting institute Patient CONSULT, Heidelberg
  • 03/2013–07/2014 Rheumatologist at MVZ Endokrinologikum Karlsruhe
  • 10/2013 Opening of the Centre for Rheumatology (ZfR)

CV Dr. med. Regina Max

Studies

  • 10/1988–05/1995 Medical studies, Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg
  • 1994 Doctorate: Late effects of aggressive polychemotherapy and total body irradiation in patients with malignant haematological diseases – a prospective study
  • 10/1995–03/1997 Research project on integrin expression in tumour vessels, Academisch Ziekenhuis Nijmegen, Netherlands (Prof. D.J. Ruiter)
  • 1997 Licence to practise medicine

Clinical career

  • 1997–2004 Specialist training in internal medicine, Department of Internal Medicine V, Heidelberg University, Medical Director: Prof. Dr. A. D. Ho, Rheumatology: Prof. Dr. C. Fiehn
  • 2004 Board certification in internal medicine (Medical Association of North Baden, Karlsruhe)
  • 2004–2013 Head of internal medicine at the Interdisciplinary Uveitis Centre, Heidelberg University Eye Hospital
  • 2004–2019 Section of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine V, Heidelberg University, Prof. Dr. H.M. Lorenz
  • 2005 Subspecialty certification in rheumatology (Medical Association of North Baden, Karlsruhe)
  • 2008 Training as quality officer and internal monitor (DGQ, Frankfurt am Main)
  • 2013–2019 Senior physician, cooperation unit St. Vincentius Hospital Heidelberg (haematology/oncology/rheumatology)
  • since 01/2020 Centre for Rheumatology

CV Dr. med. Verena Schmitt

Studies

  • 1989–1997 Medical studies, Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg,
  • 05/1997 Third state examination (grade “very good”)
  • 1997 Doctorate: “Metabolic syndrome – relationship to homocysteine, Lp(a), ApoE” (magna cum laude)
  • 1999 Licence to practise medicine

Clinical career

  • 07/1997–02/2006 First Department of Internal Medicine, Karlsruhe Municipal Hospital,
  • Division of Nephrology/Rheumatology
  • 03/2006–12/2008 Cardiology practice Prof. Dr. Gless / Dr. Dr. Kuhn, Heidelberg
  • 01/2009–03/2011 Specialist rheumatology practice Dr. I. Gao, Heidelberg
  • 10/2009 Board certification in internal medicine
  • 03/2011 Subspecialty certification in rheumatology
  • 04/2011–12/2013 Ludwigshafen Municipal Hospital, Rheumatology
  • 10/2013 Opening of the Centre for Rheumatology (ZfR)

CV Dr. med. Thomas Lutz

Studies

  • 1992–1999 Medical studies, Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg
  • 1998 Final clinical year in Monterey and Heidelberg
  • 1999 Licence to practise medicine

Clinical career

  • 2000–2007 Specialist training in paediatrics at Heidelberg University Hospital, Centre for Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, under Prof. Dr. Rating and Prof. Dr. Hoffmann
  • 2007 Board certification in paediatrics
  • 2008 DEGUM certificate in musculoskeletal ultrasound
  • 2009 Doctorate: Antioxidants in the treatment of severe acute protein-energy malnutrition – results of a randomised, placebo-controlled double-blind study in Ethiopia, Prof. Dr. Leichsenring, Prof. Dr. Hoffmann
  • 2009 Subspecialty certification in neonatology
  • 2009 Certification in paediatric rheumatology
  • 2009–2015 Attending physician, Clinic 1 of the University Centre for Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, focus on paediatric rheumatology and the general and emergency outpatient clinic
  • 2016–2019 Senior physician and head of paediatric rheumatology and of the general and emergency outpatient clinic, Centre for Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Heidelberg University
  • 2012–2019 Head of the paediatric section of the Interdisciplinary Uveitis Centre
  • 2012–2019 Lecturer in paediatrics and deputy teaching coordinator of the Faculty of Medicine
  • 2013–2015 Part-time Master of Medical Education (MME)
  • since 07/2020 Associated with the Centre for Rheumatology
  • since 2022 Own paediatric practice in Heidelberg

CV Dr. med. Melanie Kihm

Studies

  • 2002–2008 Medical studies, Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg
  • 2005–2006 Erasmus scholarship, Karolinska Institute Stockholm, Sweden
  • 2008 Licence to practise medicine
  • 2013 Doctorate: “Long-term course of desmoid tumours in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and their differential response to various treatment modalities”

Clinical career

  • 03/2009–12/2019 Specialist training in internal medicine and nephrology at the Kidney Centre, Heidelberg University Hospital, Prof. Martin Zeier
  • 05/2015 Board certification in internal medicine
  • 01/2019–03/2019 Medical director, Medical Project Management, Gotthardt Health Group
  • 04/2019–08/2021 Subspecialty training in rheumatology, rheumatology practice PD Dr. Bernhard Heilig
  • 10/2021–12/2023 Subspecialty training in rheumatology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine V, Prof. H.M. Lorenz

CV Dr. med. Anika Tuleweit

Studies

  • 1998–2004 Medical studies, University of Hamburg
  • 2004–2005 Medical studies, University of Mannheim; third state examination, Heidelberg University, Mannheim University Hospital
  • 2005 Licence to practise medicine
  • 2010 Doctorate

Clinical career

  • 2005–2007 Resident physician, Weinheim Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, headed by Dr. Dr. F. Gutzler
  • 2007–2026 Ludwigshafen Hospital, Department of Haemato-Oncology, Nephrology and Rheumatology, headed by Prof. Dr. Bergner and Prof. Dr. med. M. Uppenkamp
  • 2011 Board certification in internal medicine
  • 2019 Board certification in internal medicine and rheumatology
  • 2013–2026 Specialist in the §116b rheumatology outpatient clinic / ASV rheumatology clinic (outpatient specialist care)
  • 2022–2026 Deputy ASV team lead under Prof. Dr. Bergner
  • since 07/2026 Physician at the Centre for Rheumatology
+49 6221 9832980

For patients with statutory health insurance

Dear patient,

Despite our best efforts we have not been granted a statutory health insurance licence. Patients with statutory health insurance (GKV) can therefore only be seen in our practice as self-paying patients. A rheumatological work-up is best arranged in consultation and cooperation with your general practitioner. For cost reasons, the necessary laboratory diagnostics should, for example, be ordered through your GP, who is also welcome to contact one of our physicians in advance. A list of the required rheumatological laboratory values is available from the practice on request. The cost of an initial rheumatological consultation as a self-paying patient is between 150 and 200 euros. We do our best to offer every patient an appointment at short notice, particularly in the case of acute illness, joint swelling or elevated inflammatory markers. We see ourselves as a “signpost” for statutory-insured patients: once a rheumatic disease has been confirmed, we help you find a path within the statutory health care system and stay in close contact with your treating doctors.
We are happy to answer further questions by phone.

If you are interested in an examination, please send an e-mail to rheumatologie-hd@atos.de with the subject line “Laborwerte Kassenpatient” so that we can send you the laboratory sheet.