Dr. Briggs described several pillars health systems can use to strengthen musculoskeletal health, including empowering, engaging and educating citizens; supporting leadership, governance and shared accountability; enhancing financial support, workforce and service delivery; supporting equitable access to medicines and technologies; monitoring of population health; and supporting research and innovation.
He stressed that work is being done on healthy aging, mobility and rehabilitation by the WHO, and it is imperative that this and other organizations seek to look beyond premature mortality. Globally, researchers and clinicians must unify around a consistent message for musculoskeletal health, build awareness and promote spread of knowledge about musculoskeletal issues, and use economic arguments to justify the cost effectiveness of integrating musculoskeletal health into broader topics.
Training the Next Generation: New Mentorship Models
Moving on to the next session, moderators Javaneh Lyons, MD, RhMSUS, MSc, rheumatologist, Alaska Native Medical Center, Anchorage, and Sarah Kellahan, AGNP, adult nurse practitioner, Division of Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo., introduced a series of speakers who spoke to the topic of mentorship in rheumatology.
Nurse Training
The first speaker was Ida Dey, FWACP, FGCP, MSc, SCE (RCP), consultant physician and rheumatologist, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana, and lecturer, University of Ghana School of Medicine and Dentistry, Accra. Dr. Dey described the story of Saudatu Issaka, RGN, RN, BSc, who under Dr. Dey’s mentorship became the first rheumatology trained nurse in the country of Ghana.
Dr. Dey described her methodology as a mentor, including use of SMART development goals: These focus on goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. Dr. Dey, in working with Ms. Issaka, quite purposefully provided protected time for her mentee to learn the information that she would need to provide rheumatologic care. Dr. Dey also employed explicit means of coaching and support, as well as role modeling, to encourage Ms. Issaka.
The goal was often to allow for open communication and provide a space for feedback. Ms. Issaka, who spoke after Dr. Dey, said this was important because she was initially unsure if she would succeed in her rheumatology training. However, through perseverance and the support of her mentor, Ms. Issaka was able to develop innovative projects, such as the Heralding Education in Autoimmune Rheumatic Disorders (HEARD) campaign and the RheumChat program, which seeks to make treatments accessible, easy and convenient for patients.
