The Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of Union Hospital is a research institute specialized in the treatment for, teaching of, and research on rheumatism and autoimmune diseases. It is the first independent department of rheumatology and immunology in central China, and has earned a high reputation in health care of patients with rheumatic diseases in Hubei Province and its surrounding areas. It has also become one of the most authoritative institutes for the diagnosis and treatment of various arthritis and autoimmune diseases. In addition, the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology is a training base of rheumatology specialists designated by the National Health Commission (formerly the Ministry of Health), and is responsible for the training of rheumatology specialists in South Central China.

The Department of Rheumatology and Immunology has a scientific talent composition. There are currently 34 medical workers, including 3 professors/chief physicians, 4 associate professors/associate chief physicians, and 9 attending physicians. All of the young and middle-aged experts have a doctor's degree, and most of them have studied abroad. There are 18 nurses, including 9 supervisor nurses, 6 senior nurses, and 3 junior nurses, all of whom hold a bachelor's degree. Dr. Guo-Min Deng works as the Chairman in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology and also as vice director in the institute of Internal Medicine in Union Hospital. Other professors also serve in various academic societies. There are 4 tutors of postgraduate, including 1 doctoral tutor. They have admitted dozens of master and doctoral students in the past two years. As a designated training base, it trains nearly 100 specialists, major internal medicine and general practitioners annually.

The department helps to diagnose and treat adults with known or suspected rheumatic diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout, osteoarthritis, polymyositis/dermatomyositis, Sjogren's syndrome, scleroderma, mixed connective tissue Diseases, ANCA-related vasculitis (microscopic polyangiitis, Wegener's granulomatosis), aortic arteritis, Behçet's disease, etc., as well as rare diseases, such as rheumatic polymuscularis Pain, fibromyalgia syndrome, erythematous limb pain, CREST syndrome, antiphospholipid syndrome, IgG4-related diseases, necrotizing panniculitis. The department has successfully treated many difficult cases of complicated and unexplained refractory fever, multiple serous effusions, and refractory thrombocytopenia. And it is well-known for its excellent medical care in Hubei Province and central China.

The Department of Rheumatology and Immunology has a strong academic atmosphere and currently undertake 3 National Natural Science Fund projects, including 1 general project and 2 youth projects. The department has published research articles in SCI and Chinese core journals every year. The Department of Rheumatology and Immunology is also a nationally approved clinical trial base, and has participated in international multi-center clinical trials on many new anti-rheumatic drugs.

The department has obtained outstanding achievements in clinical and scientific research in the past 10 years. It has won many national and provincial science funds. The quality and quantity of papers it has published are both increasing. The Department of Rheumatology and Immunology has become more and more influential on many clinical and academic platforms.