Dr. Stephen Ruhlman joined the Russell Regional Hospital Rheumatology Department in September of 2025. He comes with more than 30 years of extensive experience in diagnosing and treating autoimmune and inflammatory conditions affecting joints, muscles, and bones. Most of Dr. Ruhlman’s experience stems from his private practice he operated in Overland Park, KS before joining the Russell team. Dr. Ruhlman specializes in managing complex rheumatic diseases and provides advanced, individualized treatment options. He is dedicated to improving patient outcomes through his approach to his patients. Dr. Ruhlman takes the time to listen to his patients and creates a plan of care with their input. He loves getting to know his patients, especially their humorous side.

Dr. Ruhlman is a Kansas native, growing up in Atchison. He attended Creighton University in Omaha, NE where he completed his degree in 1995. Dr. Ruhlman then returned to Kansas where he opened his private practice. During that time, he contributed his work to medical research and education, advancing the field of rheumatology through clinical studies and professional leadership.

In his free time, Dr. Ruhlman enjoys reading, making sausages, brewing beer, and working on construction projects. He is married to his wife and they have 4 children together. One fun fact about Dr. Ruhlman is he only received one “C” in his whole life and that was in 2nd grade for penmanship, something that some would claim is still at a 2ndgrade level.