Crista Prates
DNP, APRN
Autoimmune & Rheumatology Specialist
Most people with autoimmune conditions have a story that sounds remarkably similar. Years of symptoms. Tests that came back inconclusive. Providers who acknowledged something was wrong but couldn't explain it. A growing sense of being passed from specialist to specialist without anyone putting the full picture together.
Crista Prates has spent her career being the provider who finally puts the picture together.
With 25+ years in clinical nursing and over 7 years of specialized rheumatology practice, Crista brings a depth of expertise that's rare anywhere — let alone in telehealth. She trained at Quinnipiac University, spent years as an emergency medicine leader at Yale-New Haven Hospital, and served as a rheumatology diagnostics consultant for Thermofisher Scientific. She has seen autoimmune conditions from every possible angle.
But what patients consistently describe about Crista isn't her resume. It's how it feels to be her patient.
Living with an autoimmune condition can feel overwhelming and isolating. My approach is to really listen to what you're experiencing, work together to optimize your treatment plan, and provide the ongoing support you need to live your best life. Every patient's journey is different, and your care should reflect that.
— Crista Prates, Autoimmune & Rheumatology Specialist
Crista specializes in complex autoimmune and rheumatologic conditions that are frequently underdiagnosed in women — conditions that require a provider with the patience to investigate, the expertise to diagnose accurately, and the commitment to stay alongside you through treatment:
What Crista Focuses On
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Lupus (SLE)
Sjögren's syndrome
Psoriatic Arthritis
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)
Vasculitis
Complex autoimmune medication management
Undifferentiated autoimmune conditions and complex diagnostic workups
DNP, Adult-Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, Quinnipiac University
7+ years of specialized rheumatology experience
25+ years in clinical nursing
Former emergency medicine leader, Yale-New Haven Hospital
Consultant for Thermofisher Scientific (rheumatology diagnostics)
Licensed in Connecticut Serving patients via telehealth with limited in-person availability
Training & Credentials
The Harmony Difference
Crista works directly alongside Kristen and Ally at Harmony Health Partners — and that collaboration matters more for autoimmune patients than almost any other group.
Autoimmune conditions frequently intersect with hormonal shifts. Estrogen affects inflammation. Inflammation affects hormones. Metabolic dysfunction can drive autoimmune flares. These connections exist whether or not your providers are talking to each other — the difference is whether anyone is actually connecting the dots for you.
At Harmony Health Partners they are.
You don't need to manage your own care between specialists who have never spoken. That coordination happens here automatically — so you can focus entirely on feeling better.
You've Been Searching Long Enough for Someone Who Actually Follows Through.
Your first visit is 60 minutes, all yours. No rushing. No generic answers. Just the thorough, collaborative evaluation you've been looking for.