About Our Doctors

Our Physicians

Our physicians are technically proficient in diagnosing, and  compassionate in treating a broad range of rheumatological and musculoskeletal disorders. Each doctor’s extensive individual training, along with the collaboration and consultation with their RALI colleagues, contributes to the ultimate environment that assures patients receive the highest quality and most comprehensive care. 

Our practice wants to welcome our newest and 10th physician, Dr. Kristin MacDougall.
She will be in the Port Jefferson office on Monday. The Melville office Tuesday and Wednesday. The Smithtown office on Thursday and Friday.

Howard Blumstein, M.D. 

BlumsteinDr. Howard Blumstein joined Rheumatology Associates of Long Island in 2005. Dr. Blumstein graduated summa cum laude from Binghamton University with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. He attended SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. His internal medicine residency was completed at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in 2003. He completed his rheumatology fellowship at Mount Sinai Medical Center in NY in 2005.

Dr. Blumstein is in full-time clinical practice at RALI. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Stony Brook University Hospital and participates in the Rheumatology Fellowship Program. Dr. Blumstein has authored scientific papers published in peer-reviewed journals on topics, including geriatric rheumatology and temporal arteritis. He has a wide range of clinical interests and cares for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma and other collagen vascular diseases. Dr. Blumstein has been recognized by Vitals.com and has received both Compassionate Doctor Recognition and a Patients’ Choice Award since 2008.

Dr. Blumstein is actively involved in the clinical research program at RALI and is currently a principal investigator on several research projects. Dr. Blumstein is very involved in political advocacy for patients with rheumatic diseases and regularly represents NY State rheumatology patients for the American College of Rheumatology as well as the NY State Rheumatology Society.

Dr. Blumstein currently sees patients in  Smithtown, Port Jefferson and Riverhead locations.

Max I. Hamburger, M.D. F.A.C.P.

Dr Max

Dr. Max Hamburger is Managing Partner of Rheumatology Associates of Long Island (RALI). He is President of the New York Rheumatology Society, and the American Society of Clinical Rheumatologists. He served as Chief of Rheumatology at St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center from 1988 until 2006, and has been Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at SUNY Stony Brook since 1980. He is a Founding Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology, where he represents New York State on the Affiliated Societies Council. He also serves the Honorary Board of Directors of the Long Island Arthritis Foundation. He is a member of the National Osteoporosis Foundation, and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. He has been named “Top Doctor” for the last seven years by Castle Connolly, and by Stratford, and one of Long Island’s Top Doctors by Newsday every year and most recently in 2018.

Dr. Hamburger earned his undergraduate degree at Rutgers University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude in 1969. He earned his medical degree at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, in 1973. He served as an intern and resident at the NYU Bellevue Hospital Center from 1973-76. He served as a Clinical Associate in the Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and also on the Arthritis Branch, National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism and Digestive Diseases, from 1976-79. He served in the Public Health Service, retiring at the grade of Lieutenant Commander. He joined the full-time teaching faculty at SUNY Stony Brook in 1979, and then entered full-time private practice in 1981. He is board certified in rheumatology and internal medicine. He has been the lead author or author of over 50 publications. He has been honored by the Arthritis Foundation for his service to the Long Island community, receiving the Regina Quick Award for Medical Excellence.

Dr Hamburger only sees patients in the Melville location

Sara Jane Johnson, M.D. 

doctor johnson picture

Dr. Sara Jane Johnson is a native of Long Island. She completed her medical education at Columbia University College of Physicians. Dr. Johnson is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology. She completed her rheumatology fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital located in New York City.

Prior to practicing at Rheumatology Associates of Long Island, she was an associate of Dr. Harry Spiera and served as a clinical instructor in the division of rheumatology at Mont Sinai for 10 years. Dr. Johnson has been a member of Rheumatology Associates since 1995.

Dr Johnson currently sees patients in all locations.

L. Manuela Marinescu, M.D. 

Marinescu

Dr. Luiziana Manuela Marinescu joined Rheumatology Associates of Long Island in 2009. She is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University where she participates in the Rheumatology Fellowship Program. Dr. Marinescu is board certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. 
Dr. Marinescu graduated with a degree in medicine from Carol Davila University of Medicine in Bucharest, Romania. She completed her residency at North Shore - LIJ System, where she was also chief resident. Dr. Marinescu finished her rheumatology fellowship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York. 
Dr. Marinescu has authored multiple papers published in peer-reviewed journals. She is currently involved in clinical research trials at Rheumatology Associates of Long Island. 
Dr. Marinescu is a recipient of Castle Connolly and Newsday Top Doctors. She is actively involved in patients’ advocacy and serves as the New York State Rheumatology Affiliate Society Council Representative.
Dr Marinescu currently sees patients in the Smithtown, Port Jefferson and Riverhead locations.

Peter M. Rumore, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.R.

Dr Ruemore

After completing his training in internal medicine and rheumatology at SUNY-Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn NY in 1986, Dr. Rumore served as Instructor of Medicine at SUNY-Downstate. His work included patient care, medical student, resident and fellow teaching. He participated in NIH- and Arthritis Foundation– funded research projects focused on the etiology and pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus. In 1989 he served as attending physician and Chief of the Division of Rheumatology at Nassau County Medical Center, during which time he continued his teaching, patient care, basic and clinical research. His research work culminated in publications in such prestigious journals as Journal of Clinical Investigation and Arthritis and Rheumatism. He co-founded the fellowship in rheumatology as a joint program with Winthrop University Hospital, and served as co-director of the fellowship program from its inception in 1992 to 1997.

Dr. Rumore entered full-time private practice in 1997 and is a partner of Rheumatology Associates of Long Island. He is the principal or co-investigator on several clinical research projects investigating novel therapies for rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, gout and osteoarthritis. He is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at SUNY-Stony Brook, where he teaches medical students, residents, fellows, and physician assistants. From 2007 through 2011 he served as the director of the training program in rheumatology at SUNY Stony Brook. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Lupus Alliance, Long Island/Queens Chapter. He has been listed in “Best Doctors in America,” Northeast Edition, awarded Compassionate Doctor recognition, and has been honored by the Lupus Alliance. He is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Rheumatology.

Dr Rumore currently sees patients in the Melville, Smithtown and Riverhead locations.

Paul E. Schulman, M.D. 

shulmanDr. Schulman has been a physician with Rheumatology Associates of Long Island since 1988. He serves on the voluntary faculty of University Hospital, SUNY Stony Brook, from which he recently received recognition for 20 years of service. He regularly participates in the training program for rheumatology fellows, residents and medical students.

Dr. Schulman came to RALI from origins in Queens, New York, attended NYC’s Stuyvesant High School and the accelerated six-year program in liberal arts and medicine at Boston University, graduating in 1983. He completed an internship and medical residency at Beth Israel Medical Center, NYC and fellowship in Rheumatology under Dr. Harry Spiera at Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York until 1988. This training resulted in board certification in both internal medicine and rheumatology. His clinical and research interests at RALI include rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus and immune disorders, spondlyoarthritides, soft tissue problems, fibromyalgia and other muscle disorders, and osteoporosis; some of this research has led to publication. He is available to see patients at all of our office locations.

Dr Schulman currently sees patients in all locations.

Hong Xu, M.D., 

doctor Xu's photoDr. Xu has been a full time physician with Rheumatology Associates of Long Island (RALI) since 2006. Before she joined RALI, she worked as Director of Rheumatology at Jacobi Medical Center, a teaching hospital of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York. She is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Stony Brook University Hospital, where she regularly teaches rheumatology fellows, residents and medical students.

Dr. Xu accomplished her clinical and research fellowship in the subspecialty of rheumatology at National Institute of Health (NIH) at Bethesda, MD. She participated in various clinical trials and studies for systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, periodic fever syndrome, myositis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. She has multiple scientific papers published in peer-reviewed journals as the lead author. She is actively involved in the clinical research programs at RALI.

Dr. Xu is a fellow member of the American College of Rheumatology. She is board certified in both internal medicine and rheumatology. She takes special interest in the diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, gout, scleroderma, myositis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, spondyloarthropathies and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Dr Xu currently sees patients in the Smithtown, Port Jefferson and Riverhead locations.

Daniel Torres Leyva, M.D.

D_Torres_LeyvaDr. Daniel Torres Leyva was born and raised in Puerto Rico. He is fluent in both Spanish and English.

After completing his residency at NYU, he went on to Yale School of Medicine for his fellowship training. He has special interest on spondyloarthritis. Currently he is working on a literature review on inflammatory back pain, as well as a quality improvement project, and shared decision making between physicians and the patients. He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine,as well as board certified in Rheumatology, and is a member of the College of Physicians, ACR and Spartan

Dr Torres recently as of July 2019 joined Rali in full time practice. He currently sees patients in our Melville, Smithtown and Port Jefferson Station offices.

Kristin MacDougall M.D.

Dr MacDoughallDr. Kristin MacDougall is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at SUNY Stony Brook. Prior to her joining RALI, she practiced Rheumatology in Rhode Island where she was involved in the clinical education of medical students and residents from the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. While practicing in Rhode Island she received a Lifespan C.A.R.E. award as recognition for excellence in patient care.

Dr. MacDougall received her internal medicine residency training from SUNY Downstate and her rheumatology fellowship training from Columbia University at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital. While training at Columbia she performed basic science research in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

She is a contributing author in the textbook Hochberg Rheumatology 7th Edition in the section on managing chronic rheumatoid arthritis.

Dr. MacDougall practices general rheumatology and has a special interest in inflammatory arthritis conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout.

Rheumatology Associates of Long Island

  • Rheumatology Associates of Long Island - 315 Middle Country Rd., Smithtown, NY 11787 Phone: 631-360-7778
  • Port Jefferson Station - 7 Medical Dr., Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776 Phone: 631-928-4885
  • Melville - 1895 Walt Whitman Rd., Melville, NY 11747 Phone: 631-249-9525
  • Staten Island - 1200 South Ave., Suite 307, Staten Island, NY 10314 Phone:

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