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Robert Michael Fairchild
Assistant Professor - University Medical Line, Medicine - Immunology & Rheumatology
Member, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Rheumatology (2017)
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine (2015)
Fellowship: Stanford University Immunology and Rheumatology Fellowship (2017) CA
Residency: Stanford University Internal Medicine Residency (2015) CA
Internship: Stanford University Internal Medicine Residency (2013) CA
Medical Education: Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (2012) NY
PhD, Georgetown University, Host-Guest and Organometallic Chemistry (2008)
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Dr. Robert Fairchild is Clinical Chief of the Division of Immunology and Rheumatology and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Stanford University. He specializes in the diagnosis and management of rheumatologic diseases with a clinical and research focus on musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSKUS), systemic autoimmune disease, and advanced imaging techniques.
Dr. Fairchild is the founding Director of Stanford’s Rheumatology Ultrasound Diagnostic and Interventional Clinic, established in 2017. Under his leadership, MSK ultrasound has become a core component of Stanford Rheumatology’s clinical practice, supporting diagnostic evaluations, procedural guidance, and disease monitoring. He also developed and directs Stanford’s comprehensive rheumatology ultrasound fellowship curriculum, which trains fellows and faculty in diagnostic and interventional ultrasound techniques. In addition, Dr. Fairchild serves as Medical Director for Stanford’s Value-Based Care Program, where he leads initiatives aimed at delivering high-quality, cost-effective care across specialties.
Dr. Fairchild’s research spans a broad range of clinical and translational topics, including lung ultrasound in interstitial lung disease (ILD), ultrasound detection of vascular disease and calcinosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc), and the use of ultrasound to assess joint and soft tissue pathology in inflammatory and connective tissue diseases. He has led observational cohort studies evaluating the clinical significance of ultrasound-detected pathology in SSc, including the association between ulnar artery occlusion and calcinosis burden, and the contribution of tendon and joint abnormalities to musculoskeletal symptoms.
He is also actively engaged in research at the intersection of imaging and artificial intelligence. His ongoing work includes the development of deep learning and explainable AI (XAI) models to support automated interpretation of MSK ultrasound images in arthritis and connective tissue disease, with the goal of improving diagnostic precision and standardization across diverse clinical settings. He is a co-investigator on multiple interdisciplinary projects applying AI to the detection and subtyping of inflammatory arthritis, calcinosis, and other rheumatologic conditions.
Dr. Fairchild performs ultrasound-guided synovial biopsies as part of Stanford’s translational rheumatology research program and has contributed to the development of ultrasound-based outcome measures for clinical trials in diseases such as IgG4-related disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, and systemic sclerosis.
He received his PhD in Immunology from Georgetown University and his MD from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. He completed internal medicine residency and rheumatology fellowship at Stanford. He trained in rheumatologic ultrasonography through the USSONAR program and holds RhMSUS certification from the American College of Rheumatology.
Dr. Fairchild is the founding Director of Stanford’s Rheumatology Ultrasound Diagnostic and Interventional Clinic, established in 2017. Under his leadership, MSK ultrasound has become a core component of Stanford Rheumatology’s clinical practice, supporting diagnostic evaluations, procedural guidance, and disease monitoring. He also developed and directs Stanford’s comprehensive rheumatology ultrasound fellowship curriculum, which trains fellows and faculty in diagnostic and interventional ultrasound techniques. In addition, Dr. Fairchild serves as Medical Director for Stanford’s Value-Based Care Program, where he leads initiatives aimed at delivering high-quality, cost-effective care across specialties.
Dr. Fairchild’s research spans a broad range of clinical and translational topics, including lung ultrasound in interstitial lung disease (ILD), ultrasound detection of vascular disease and calcinosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc), and the use of ultrasound to assess joint and soft tissue pathology in inflammatory and connective tissue diseases. He has led observational cohort studies evaluating the clinical significance of ultrasound-detected pathology in SSc, including the association between ulnar artery occlusion and calcinosis burden, and the contribution of tendon and joint abnormalities to musculoskeletal symptoms.
He is also actively engaged in research at the intersection of imaging and artificial intelligence. His ongoing work includes the development of deep learning and explainable AI (XAI) models to support automated interpretation of MSK ultrasound images in arthritis and connective tissue disease, with the goal of improving diagnostic precision and standardization across diverse clinical settings. He is a co-investigator on multiple interdisciplinary projects applying AI to the detection and subtyping of inflammatory arthritis, calcinosis, and other rheumatologic conditions.
Dr. Fairchild performs ultrasound-guided synovial biopsies as part of Stanford’s translational rheumatology research program and has contributed to the development of ultrasound-based outcome measures for clinical trials in diseases such as IgG4-related disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, and systemic sclerosis.
He received his PhD in Immunology from Georgetown University and his MD from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. He completed internal medicine residency and rheumatology fellowship at Stanford. He trained in rheumatologic ultrasonography through the USSONAR program and holds RhMSUS certification from the American College of Rheumatology.
