Answering the Call: Anisha Dua, MD, MPH, Looks Ahead to New Role as Committee on Training Chair

Enhancing the field of rheumatology and care of patients by helping to continuously improve the education and training of adult and pediatric rheumatology trainees is central to the work of the ACR’s Committee on Training (COT). New COT Chair Anisha Dua, MD, MPH, has made education a central focus in her career, taking time to build her skills as an educator and lead multiple education initiatives. She’s also created several major training resources for the College.

Dr. Dua

In her practice, Dr. Dua is a professor of medicine, fellowship program director and director of the Vasculitis Center within the Division of Rheumatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago. As new chair of COT, she says, “I hope to use this position to make tangible changes and advances that will benefit trainees broadly in rheumatology.” Among other committee goals, she’s eager to move forward to streamline current content, develop targeted, valuable learning opportunities and collaborate with other branches of the College.

Dr. Dua recently shared with The Rheumatologist how she will bring her skills and experience to advance the collaborative work of the COT.

The Rheumatologist (TR): Why were you interested in becoming chair of the Committee on Training?

Dr. Dua: I am passionate about training our workforce, including medical students, residents, advanced practice providers, fellows and peers. I’ve worked with the ACR, the Rheumatology Research Foundation (RRF) and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) in various capacities to introduce innovations in these areas. I had the honor of contributing to the COT as a volunteer member from 2016–2019 and have been motivated by the impactful work of this committee. Since my time as a volunteer, I’ve gained valuable experiences leading initiatives in the training space that have inspired and equipped me to chair this incredibly collaborative group.

TR: What skills and experience do you bring to your latest volunteer role within the ACR?

Dr. Dua: I have been highly involved in educational leadership roles within the ACR. I served as chair of the In-Training Exam Task Force and the E-Learning Subcommittee to advance and streamline virtual educational content. I’ve also co-chaired the Workforce Solutions Education and Training Team to develop rheumatology education supporting primary care providers, fellows, medical and pediatric trainees and advanced practice providers.

I completed a fellowship in medical education at The University of Chicago and launched and chaired the Virtual Rheumatology Program for Fellows in Training (V-FIT) during the COVID pandemic to create a virtual, accessible forum for continued didactic education nationally. I am currently a Clinician Scholar Educator Awardee, working to develop a curriculum to teach rheumatology fellows introductory skills on becoming effective teachers through Rheum2Teach. I participated in the AGCME taskforce to develop the rheumatology subspecialty milestones that serve as an assessment tool for all fellows in training.

I also served on the ACR study section for educational grants, co-chaired the Professional Development/Medical Education Abstract Review Committee, have given multiple presentations at ACR Convergence and the Educators Conferences and have published articles on various topics in the training and education space.

TR: What goals and specific priorities do you have for the COT in the year ahead?

Dr. Dua: My goal as chair of the COT is to listen to the needs of our trainees and educators and to work with COT members to develop and implement initiatives that will support them throughout their training in rheumatology. The dramatic shifts in training that were forced by the COVID pandemic have truly altered the ways in which we communicate, teach and learn rheumatology. As a program director, understanding and adapting to the evolving needs of learners is requisite to the position.

I’m also excited for the opportunity to create innovations that enhance and broaden access to learning in rheumatology. My ultimate goal as chair is to inspire growth and interest in our field, to support those who are shaping our future colleagues and the future of our amazing subspecialty—and to do this with a passionate and thoughtful team supported by the ACR. This work truly feels like an opportunity of a lifetime.

Our specific COT priorities will be to enhance the voice of trainees and to help educators respond to their evolving needs. This includes creating additional content to supplement training program curriculum to help ensure that all trainees are well prepared for the breadth of rheumatology practice. Along that same line, the committee plans to create a reference library of teaching materials that are available from both the ACR and other external sources for program directors and faculty to use to strengthen their trainees’ education. Additionally, with the recent creation of the committee’s Pediatric Training Subcommittee, the committee plans to better support the unique needs of pediatric trainees and their educators.

TR: What do you do for fun outside of the ACR and rheumatology?

Dr. Dua: I have loved doing pottery since high school and continue to go to the pottery studio every week to unwind and play with clay. I have always been into sports (playing and watching), but my main form of exercise now is going for runs. I love to travel and take advantage of any opportunity to immerse myself in different cultures and scenery.

I am also (possibly pathologically) obsessed with family and love spending time exploring the city or lazing around the house with my husband, my sister and her family. I try to spend time with my niece and nephew every day if possible and also visit Pittsburgh as much as possible to see my brother, his family and my parents.

Other than that, reading books, going out with friends, drinking wine and eating pizza are all fun things that bring me joy—outside of the ACR and rheumatology, which also bring me a lot of joy.

Carina Stanton is a freelance science journalist based in Denver.