Rheumatologists on the Move, October 2016

One of Dr. McCain’s photos: A painted bunting is shown.

She says, “Being a photographer is like being a doctor: What kind of photographer are you? You can’t do landscapes or architectural photography without traveling. If you decide on wildlife, you can’t do mammals if your dog and cat are the only mammals you have contact with. [I had] already eliminated people—due to the ‘want to be alone’ aspect. [That] pretty much left [me] with birds. There’s always a bird around. No need to travel or be gone for long periods of time.”

Earlier this year, the George Memorial Library in Richmond displayed an exhibit of her bird and other nature photographs taken locally and on photo trips to Arizona, Alaska and South Africa.

Dr. McCain says that on photo field trips, there is almost always at least one other physician in the group. “Nature photography is the perfect foil to being a doctor—absolute opposite to dealing with people.”

First Rheumatologist as President of National Osteoporosis Foundation Board of Directors

Dr. Kenneth Saag, MD, MSc

Dr. Kenneth Saag, MD, MSc, is the new president of the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) Board of Directors. He is the first rheumatologist to hold that position. He has been involved with NOF for eight years, serving as vice president for the past two years.

As president of NOF, Dr. Saag says he “hopes to partner with patients, physicians and groups responsible for directing policy and treatment of osteoporosis to increase testing and treatment. These are tumultuous times. There has been lots of progress in the past 20 years, but there has been a recent national decline in testing and treatment.”

He postulates that “reasons for the decline in testing and treatment could include increased awareness of the rare, but possible, side effects of treatment.” Dr. Saag has concerns that the decline in fractures from osteoporosis may be reversed in the future. “People don’t recognize the gravity of osteoporosis.” For example, he says, “Twenty-five percent of people who suffer a hip fracture die within the next year or two.”

Dr. Saag is vice chair of the Department of Medicine at the Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine and a member of the American College of Rheumatology board of directors. Much of his career has focused on innovative clinical research and clinical care, and physician education in osteoporosis.

Ann-Marie Lindstrom is an independent writer and editor based in the Tucson, Ariz., area.