ARHP Angle: We Need a Few Good Leaders!

Flying back from Cincinnati, where I’d been attending a meeting of the ARHP Committee on Nominations, it occurred to me that some members might be intrigued by the process of how ARHP officers and committee and subcommittee chairs are selected. While I do realize that some members aren’t interested in the structural organization of ARHP, I know some may ask, “Why was she selected and not me?”

The best way to answer those types of questions is to tell you about the selection process and share some insider tips on exactly what the ARHP is searching for in terms of leadership traits. Some leadership traits are obviously desirable: possessing excellent communication and negotiation skills, working as a team player on an existing committee or subcommittee, and being diplomatic while encouraging and motivating others to excel. However, in addition to those basic traits, an ARHP leader needs to be able to envision the large picture of issues within the organization and be able to prioritize and execute plans and strategies without micromanaging other volunteers or staff.

From my experience serving as ARHP president over the past ten months, I can also share that family, professional, and work support are crucial to being a successful volunteer for this organization. It’s also essential to have the physical and emotional stamina to cope with the extensive travel for meetings and the late nights of e-mailing. As a psychologist, I’m a people person, and I have an understanding of interpersonal and group dynamics, which is helpful; however, before I agreed to accept the presidency I knew that I needed to compensate for my obvious weakness of not being solidly connected with the nursing issues that affect the majority of our membership. Hence, our current president-elect, Linda Ehrlich-Jones, PhD, RN, is a nurse, and we work as a team to serve all the rheumatology health professionals who make up our organization. Being able to play off of strong points and recognize and combat those areas where you may have a weakness is a vital part of volunteerism.

Ideally, we’d like our officers to have varied leadership experience within the organization. The ARHP’s bylaws require that officers must have previously served as a chair of a committee, subcommittee, or task force, in addition to having served at least one year as a member of the executive committee. Serving on a range of ARHP committees is preferred, because this provides a broader picture of the needs of our members and the services we currently offer. I confess that I am a “one-track” president, having worked in the area of education. I served first as a member of the Annual Meeting Program Subcommittee for two years, then as its chair for one year. Next, I served two years as chair of the Education Committee, and then one year each as secretary-treasurer, president-elect, and now as your president. I wasn’t the typical candidate, but I participated as an invited guest on other ARHP committees during my year as president-elect to broaden my perspective on ARHP issues. That provided me a great overview of the ARHP and the benefits we provide our members.

As you can see, you don’t need to be “ideal” or “perfect” or possess all the desired leadership characteristics to become a leader within the ARHP. But you do have to have passion and willingness to devote time and energy to the organization and the ability to work with your strengths and around your weaknesses. If this sounds like it could be you, then step right up! We’d be delighted if you’d self-identify your interest in working towards higher leadership within the ARHP. You can do this by completing an ARHP volunteer form on the ACR Web site at www.rheumatology.org/arhp, or by contacting me directly at [email protected].

If you are chosen for a volunteer position, you will be assigned to a committee, subcommittee, or task force, and—while serving as a member—the ARHP will provide mentorship and opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate leadership skills. This may include serving as a member over time on one or two different committees before moving on to next step of chairing an ARHP task force, subcommittee, or committee. Next, you would hone your leadership skills while serving as a member of the ARHP executive committee while developing a thorough knowledge of the organization and understanding of how the ACR, REF, and ARHP interact. From there it’s a short but somewhat scary leap to becoming an ARHP officer.

I can hear some folks asking, “So, what’s the time frame we’re talking about?” For me, I served on my first committee in 2002, so it’s been a seven-year odyssey of learning the ropes, serving on committees, and networking with fabulous colleagues before I was ready to take on the presidency. For others, the path to leadership has been shorter (or longer), but for all, it is usually an inspiring and challenging journey—and one that I urge you to consider.

To assist you with strengthening your leadership abilities, every year we offer a session at the ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting to help you explore and develop new skills. At this year’s meeting in Philadelphia, you can attend “The Art of Effective Negotiation: A Master Class in Leadership.” This session will be held at 7:45 AM on Tuesday, October 20. I hope to see you there and that you will come over and introduce yourself to me.

Dr. Degotardi is president of the ARHP.

2009 REF Rodnan Commemorative Gout Print Released: Palatable Physic

The 2009 REF Rodnan Commemorative Gout Print has been selected. Palatable Physic will mark the 73rd ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting and was chosen by David G. Borenstein, MD.

Dr. Borenstein selected the 2009 REF Rodnan Commemorative Gout Print, Palatable Physic.

While attending the ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting in San Francisco, Dr. Borenstein visited the REF booth to purchase the 2008 print, Question and Answer. By making his purchase on site, Dr. Borenstein was entered into—and subsequently won—a drawing that gave him the privilege of selecting this year’s print.

Dr. Borenstein, a rheumatologist with Arthritis and Rheumatism Associates P.C., in Washington D.C., the current treasurer of the ACR board of directors, and a TR editorial board member, was pleased to have the opportunity to select the 2009 print, saying, “I chose this print because of the theme of drug therapy for gout. We like our therapies to have multiple benefits in addition to those that improve the underlying disorder. The Palatable Physic seems to help appetite in addition to getting rid of gout pain.”

Dr. Borenstein has purchased nine Rodnan prints over the years, creating quite the collection. “I buy the prints because I like history. These prints are a looking glass that allows us to see how one of our illnesses was treated before our modern therapies,” he says. “I have the majority of the prints in my office so that I can enjoy them when I look up from my electronic medical record.”