Awards, Appointments & Announcements in the World of Rheumatology

He graduated from the College of Medicine at the university in 1965. Following advice from a professor, Dr. Petty moved on to the University of Michigan to complete his pediatric studies. Before the semester began, he broke his leg in a skiing accident. He had to pick an elective while he healed. “I figured I’d get the most sympathy in pediatric rehab. And the first patient I saw had juvenile arthritis. I was absolutely fascinated by this and realized this was what I wanted to do. It was a fascinating whole new world.”

As one of the earliest pediatricians formally trained as a rheumatologist, Dr. Petty played a vital role in pediatric rheumatology for more than 40 years. In addition to his own work in Saskatoon, he created a formal pediatric rheumatology patient care, research and teaching program at the University of Manitoba—Canada’s first.

He has seen tremendous strides in pediatric rheumatology care since the 1970s. “There was no depth to the pharmaceutical treatments back then. We had aspirin, prednisone and gold. About the best we could do was offer strong social work, nursing and physical therapy. And some hope of remission.”

Dr. Petty is professor emeritus in pediatrics at University of British Columbia and Division of Pediatric Rheumatology at British Columbia Children’s Hospital. He co-authored the bible of pediatric rheumatology: Textbook of Pediatric Rheumatology. He is also chair of the International League of Associations of Rheumatology (ILAR). The Canadian Rheumatology Association gave him the Distinguished Rheumatologist award in 1997.

In 2008, Dr. Petty received the Order of Canada in recognition of his work in the field of pediatric rheumatology; this following closely on the heels of his being named an ACR Master. He’s so well respected in the field that when Canada’s first Pediatric Arthritis Chair was created at the British Columbia Children’s Hospital in 2013—only the second such chair in the world—it was named for Dr. Petty.

Dr. Petty played a vital role in pediatric rheumatology for more than 40 years.

New Rheumatologist at Houston Practice

Latifa Fakoya, DO, joined the medical staff at Houston Methodist Rheumatology Associates in the middle of May. She earned her doctorate in osteopathic medicine at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Dr. Fakoya completed her post-doctoral work at Medical College of Georgia and a fellowship in rheumatology at the University of Utah School of Medicine.

Dr. Fakoya didn’t plan to be a rheumatologist. During her second year in medical school, she enjoyed the course in the musculoskeletal system, but it wasn’t until her third year that she decided on rheumatology.