Outstanding ARHP Program Planned for the ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

ARHP members networking at the 2011 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting.

The ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting offers unparalleled learning and networking opportunities for specialists in the field of rheumatology. In addition to the outstanding program that the ACR has prepared this year, the ARHP has developed diverse and timely offerings for attendees.

Setting the tone for the meeting, the keynote address will be delivered by Logan Graham—a remarkable young man diagnosed with idiopathic juvenile arthritis at age four. He has cofounded the Children’s Arthritis Foundation, raised over $150,000 through student-driven “kids-for-kids” initiatives, and contributed to a research chair in pediatric rheumatology at the University of British Columbia.

The 2012 Distinguished Lecturer will be Basia Belza, PhD, RN. Her research has focused on improving the health of seniors and translating these findings into clinical practice. She will talk about the “go-gene,” examining the facilitators and barriers to get people with rheumatic disease up and moving. Both speakers are truly inspiring individuals.

Other popular sessions include four Rheumatic Disease Updates that will cover systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, gout, and inflammatory eye disease. The meeting will address hot topics such as the management and prevention of infusion reactions, infections in patients with rheumatologic disease, the epidemic of obesity, and targeting common symptoms such as chronic pain, fatigue, and depression. In addition, sessions like “Introduction to Immunology” and “Clinical and Epidemiologic Study Designs” will get you up to speed on challenging topics in a friendly and accessible environment. As always, there will be poster sessions and the very popular poster tours, as well as oral abstract presentations that help bring research in rheumatology to life.

To help organize the rich and diverse ARHP offerings in 2012, four primary tracks and four subtracks have been established. Each track will identify sessions within the program to help you navigate from one related session to the next. The primary tracks will focus on clinical practice, clinical science, basic science, and business/administration. The four subtracks will include sessions relevant for educators, those interested in pediatrics, practice managers, and rheumatology trainees. The ARHP hopes that these tracks will not only help you maximize your time at the meeting, but also bring you into contact with others who have related interests.

Lastly, the annual meeting provides an excellent opportunity to meet new people and spend time with former colleagues. To facilitate such interaction, the ARHP will host three networking events, each around midday. Check your program for more details.