The opportunity to pay it forward was both professional and personal for Gail Kershner Riggs, MA, CHES (ARHP president, 1980–1981). Ms. Kershner Riggs was the first ARHP president with a rheumatic disease. As a volunteer, Ms. Kershner Riggs aimed to provide positive representation of someone with rheumatic disease while focusing on the work of the organization, such as introducing continuing education credits to the organization during her presidency. “There was so much that we were learning about rheumatic diseases at that time. It was an era when there was belief in an ‘RA personality,’ and use of terms like ‘grotesque crippling,’ and we had to do a lot of changing of our attitude,” she says.
The Next 50 Years
In 50 years, the ARHP has built a culture that welcomes newcomers and encourages those looking for education, growth and an opportunity to impact their profession. With this culture comes lifelong friendships and professional collaborations that ultimately shape patient care and research in rheumatology.
What will today’s members reflect on 50 years from now? How will the ARHP further shape the careers of its members and the care of their patients? And what will collaboration and integration look like in the future? Just as the work of yesterday set the stage for the achievements of today, the work of today will define the ARHP of tomorrow. And by all measures, the future looks bright.
Erin Latimer Meadows is a communications consultant and writer based in Atlanta. She is the principal consultant of Cause Collaboration LLC and works with organizations to help build their brands and meet their missions.
