Melissa Anne Cunningham, MD, PhD, MA

Melissa Anne Cunningham, MD, PhD, MA is a rheumatologist in Charleston, SC. She provides specialized care for patients with complex autoimmune conditions, including high‑risk systemic lupus erythematosus, lupus nephritis, central nervous system lupus, and IgG4‑related disease. Practicing at MUSC Health Rheumatology in the West Ashley Medical Pavilion, she serves the West Ashley area and the broader Charleston community, and her practice holds a perfect 5.00 rating based on two patient reviews.

Dr. Cunningham was raised in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and earned her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College before completing a master’s in molecular medicine at Boston University. She received both her M.D. and Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University, then entered the clinician‑scientist track at the Medical University of SC, where she finished residency and fellowship training in June 2012 and joined the faculty as an assistant professor in rheumatology and immunology. Her research group focuses on inflammation, autoimmunity, and sex bias, with particular emphasis on systemic lupus erythematosus and the role of estrogen receptor α in modulating disease activity. Funding for her work includes support from MUSC’s Center for Sex and Gender Factors in Women’s Health, the Center for Genomic Medicine, a three‑year CTSA KL2 award, and a five‑year NIH K08 career development award.

Located on Sam Rittenberg Boulevard, the clinic is a short walk from the main road itself and about 0.2 miles from both Savannah Highway and the NOAA Fisheries police station. The MUSC West Campus clinic and Citadel Mall are each roughly 0.4 miles away, providing convenient access for patients traveling from surrounding neighborhoods.

With deep expertise in high‑risk lupus and a strong research foundation, Dr. Cunningham delivers focused rheumatology care to patients throughout Charleston, reinforcing the city’s access to advanced autoimmune treatment.

Services:

• Adult Rheumatology
• CNS lupus
• Connective Tissue Diseases
• High risk SLE/lupus
• IgG4-RD
• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
• Lupus nephritis
• Pediatric Rheumatology