Volunteers supporting the Collaborative Initiatives Special Committee (COIN) at ACR Convergence 2024. (Click to enlarge.)
Who is the newest ACR, ARP or Rheumatology Research Foundation volunteer? Hopefully you. Volunteers, working side by side with staff, move the ACR forward. They are the voice through which our mission is put into action, ensuring we meet our members’ goals. Developing an effective pipeline of future volunteer leaders is essential to the future of the ACR, the ARP and the Foundation. If you are passionate about creating effective change for rheumatology patients and the providers who treat them, you can help us shape the future of rheumatology by becoming a volunteer.
Opportunities Abound
Volunteer roles encompass a diverse range of activities. The ACR has 23 different, standing committees, each of which addresses a unique and important aspect of the practice and profession of rheumatology.
Many people equate involvement in ACR as serving on a committee or the Board of Directors, but these are—by no means—the only volunteer opportunities. Other examples include serving on a working group, task force or subcommittee, or a taking part in advocacy or working on a guideline development team. My own volunteer activity began with reviewing abstracts for the annual meeting, which was followed by service on different subcommittees. Volunteering can occur in many different ways, all of which provide value to the College and can be meaningful to the individual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Enhancing volunteer leadership development.
What is involved in being a volunteer? Here are a few questions I commonly hear:
I have never been involved with the ACR. Is it too late for me to be a volunteer? Definitely not. Engagement in volunteering can happen at any time that is right for you. The ACR appreciates that life’s responsibilities will wax and wane during the course of a career. If an opportune time arises, no matter when that happens, it is never too late to volunteer.
Does volunteering take a lot of time? Time requirements vary greatly and depend on the volunteer position. Although the typical participation term for committee members is three years, other volunteer activities have minimal time requirements or a short duration limited to achieving a specific goal. With electronic capabilities now in place, travel for in-person meetings has been markedly reduced and, for some activities, may not be required at all.
Are specific professional pursuits favored for volunteers? Absolutely not. The strongest team is a diverse team, with wide-ranging skills and perspectives represented. The voices around the table need to be inclusive of our membership, reflecting all who contribute to rheumatology whether it be through patient care in the community or an academic center, or as a scientist within the lab. Assuring that every discipline of rheumatology is represented within our volunteer leadership is essential to meet the goals and priorities of our entire membership.
What if I am not selected for the position I really wanted? Not getting selected for a desired position is understandably disappointing, but this does not mean your skills are not wanted or respected. Specific roles have a limited number of open positions each year. I recommend members be open to any volunteer opportunity. I have learned something in every role I have participated in, with some of the most valuable experiences coming from areas I had little to no background in. Volunteer engagement in any capacity can serve as a step toward future volunteer or professional activities, inside or outside the ACR.
I’m interested in volunteering. Where do I start? In 2025, the ACR is planning website updates that will include a complete listing of all volunteer activities for the ACR and the ARP, as well as a link to the Foundation’s opportunities, with descriptions of what is involved in a specific activity, time commitments and how one might pursue participation. This page will be an excellent place to begin your exploration of volunteer opportunities to see what interests you.
Meeting of the Committee on Registries and Health Information Technology (RHIT) held at ACR Convergence 2024.
For those who wish to pursue serving on a standing committee or the Board of Directors of the ACR, the ARP or the Foundation, the call for nominations will open on April 1. A formal process is in place to ensure the constituency of these groups represents the spectrum of rheumatology, capturing a diverse voice through differing expertise, geographic locations and professional attributes. Opportunities for subcommittee and short-term volunteer roles are also available separate from the formal volunteer nominations cycle.
On Feb. 26 from 7:30–8:30 p.m. (EST), the chairs of the Nominations Committees, Deborah Dyett Desir, MD (ACR), Aileen Ledingham, PT, MS (ARP), and V. Michael Holers, MD (Foundation), will host a webinar to provide valuable information on the nominations process. For those unable to attend, the event will be recorded and available for viewing on the volunteer webpage.
Are there learning tools that can enhance my leadership skills? This year will see the launch of Leading Rheumatology—A Volunteer Development Program for the ACR, the ARP and the Foundation. This program grew from a volunteer development initiative originally started by the Foundation, with valuable concepts extending to all three organizations. The goals, objectives and topic areas for Leading Rheumatology were developed by the ACR governance staff and a task force led by S. Louis Bridges Jr., MD, PhD. Previously recorded sessions on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Finance 101 will be included, as well as the upcoming volunteer nominations webinar, with future programs on volunteer engagement, agile leadership and avoiding leader burnout.
Leading Rheumatology is intended to enhance skills for volunteer leaders within the ACR, the ARP and the Foundation; however, the information from these sessions will have beneficial applications to leaders in community practice and academic rheumatology, too.
Reflections on Volunteering
Volunteering for the ACR has been an incredibly meaningful part of my career. Being involved in the ACR allowed me to meet people from many different backgrounds and perspectives, and gain skills that I would not have otherwise had a chance to develop. It made me a better clinician, investigator and colleague, and it helped me appreciate that although we face challenges in rheumatology, these can best be addressed by working together as a community.
If you are a current volunteer, thank you. You keep the ACR moving forward.
If you have not previously volunteered but are considering it, please do. Not only is your expertise needed, but I truly believe you will find it a personally rewarding experience.
Carol A. Langford, MD, MHS, is the director of the Center for Vasculitis Care and Research in the Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases at Cleveland Clinic, where she is professor of medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and holds the Harold C. Schott endowed chair in rheumatic and immunologic diseases.
