Appreciative Rheumatology: Positivity Beyond Serologies

Positive thinking has intense power and identifying positive outliers has value, but I am less optimistic that positive thinking by itself can help resolve the long-standing social injustices present in our nation and our world today. Moreover, I fear that by emphasizing positive thinking and upliftment, we enter a zone in which we unintentionally neglect systemic disenfranchisement and inaccessibility to opportunity.

We cannot pat ourselves on the back with the degree of progress we have made because, in many ways, our initiatives continue to be fragile and lack sustainability. Certainly, those of us with privilege have to move away from self-contented allyship, but what, exactly, is the shape of that positive goal? Perhaps we should highlight the doers who continue to fight endlessly for the ideals they embody. Maybe it makes sense to review Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream in the context of today’s era and to brainstorm creative, equitable and inclusive solutions to effectively put into action those cherished ideals and values, instead of treating Dr. King’s words as a historical artifact.

I wonder if we should all take inspiration and imbibe the sense of pride that our friends and colleagues from the LGBTQIA+ community are boldly exhibiting. These are rheuminations for another day—a day I hope will come soon.

We Have the Power

The best thing about Appreciative Rheumatology is that we have the power to institute it here and now. As human beings, we have a nearly infinite ability to dream and an unrivaled capacity to communicate and collaborate. The tools of Appreciative Rheumatology are largely free and easy to use. However, they do require training, vigilant mindfulness and deliberate practice.

Translating Appreciative Rheumatology from the pages of The Rheumatologist into a flesh-and-bone reality in our clinics, labs, classrooms and beyond requires bold leadership, visionary thinking, empathic dispositions, collaborative mindsets and the willingness to embrace uncertainty. I am so grateful to participate in a vibrant community that does not lack any of these qualities. You empower me to dream boldly—and for that, I am a deeply appreciative rheumatologist.

Bharat Kumar, MD, MME, FACP, FAAAAI, RhMSUS, is the associate program director of the rheumatology fellowship training program at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, and the physician editor of The Rheumatologist. Follow him on Twitter @BharatKumarMD.

References

1. Merriel A, Wilson A, Decker E, et al. Systematic review and narrative synthesis of the impact of Appreciative Inquiry in healthcare. BMJ Open Quality. 2022;11:e001911.
2. Cooperrider DL, Srivastva S. Appreciative inquiry in organizational life. In Woodman RW, Pasmore WA (eds.). Research in Organizational Change and Development. Vol. 1. Stamford, Conn.: JAI Press; 1987.
3. Hung L, Phinney A, Chaudhury H, et al. Appreciative Inquiry: Bridging research and practice in a hospital setting. Int J Qual Methods. 2018 Apr 18;17(1).