Rheumatology Advocacy Starts at Home

Dr. Blanca Molina, Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), and Dr. Rodolfo Molina (ACR Board of Directors).

This new outreach has many components. The Affiliate Society Council (ASC) is growing and now includes 30 members representing local and state rheumatology societies from all over the country. It serves as a valuable resource by providing tangible information and advocacy bridges between local rheumatologists and the ACR. It has been a powerful voice for local rheumatology organizations and will serve as a catalyst to develop more of these important grassroots organizations.

This initiative also includes increased two-way communication about regional issues and focuses on heightened collaboration and engagement among our members and stakeholders. Our staff has attended and supported state society meetings this year in Ohio, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and New York. They are scheduled to participate in other meetings in the coming months. During these meetings, members received legislative updates and state-specific advocacy information.

This year, I was proud to join the Ohio Association of Rheumatology for the successful launch of its first Legislative Advocacy Day, co-sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation, Great Lakes Region. I was invited to highlight issues involving specialty tiers and the importance of local advocacy. Participants also heard from legislative leadership during the program and met with elected officials. I was proud to see my state rheumatology association take on important local issues and work effectively with our natural partners in advocacy at the Arthritis Foundation.

Back row from left: Starla Tanner, ACR staff; Kelly Donahue, Great Lakes Region Arthritis Foundation advocate; Sen. Tom Patton (R), Ohio, majority floor leader; Joseph Flood, MD, ACR president. Front row from left: Darby Schwartz, Great Lakes Region Arthritis Foundation advocate; Matthew Sullivan, Ohio State medical student; Rebecca Sundling, DPM; and Peng Wang, DO.

Relationships Are the Key

Our advocacy initiatives have come far, and we have accomplished a good deal, but there is more we must do. How many of us have a personal relationship with our lawmakers, either our members of Congress or elected officials in our state capitals? These personal relationships are powerful in complementing our lobbying in Washington, D.C., our fly-ins and other meetings on Capitol Hill, and our outreach to state legislators when important bills are being developed.

I have to tell you—and please forgive my redundancy: There is nothing more powerful that can have greater impact for rheumatology than rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals (you and I) who have personal relationships with their lawmakers. By relationship, I mean that they remember and recognize you, and you have opportunities to educate them about issues facing the rheumatology community.