Exclusive: ACR Convergence 2024| Focus Rheums

An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

Professional Topics

Subcategories:AwardsCareer DevelopmentEthicsInterprofessional PerspectiveLegislation & AdvocacyPresident's PerspectiveProfilesRheuminations

Clinical Opportunities at the Annual Meeting: A Fellow’s Perspective

Zsuzsanna McMahan, MD  |  

Over the years, the ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting has provided exceptional opportunities for all attendees, but it can be especially beneficial for rheumatology fellows, and this year’s annual meeting in Atlanta is no exception. The ACR Annual Meeting Planning Committee and the Fellows Subcommittee will facilitate several educational, mentoring, social, and networking programs specifically for the benefit of fellows.

Annual Scientific Meeting: Health Professionals’ Perspective

  |  

Rheumatology health professionals seeking continuing education should include the ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting on their list of must-attend meetings. No other conference offers more in rheumatic disease education and research, and this meeting provides a forum to network with over 11,000 physicians, scientists, and health professionals.

Congress Approves Six-Month “Doc Fix”—Now What?

  |  

Congress’ May 24 vote to rescind the 21% Medicare pay cut for six months illustrates how important it is for rheumatology professionals and patients to be involved in the legislative process. It was the thousands of calls, e-mails, and letters from medical professionals and patients that spurred Congress to take action. However, the battle is not yet over. Medicare physician payments face the same 21% cut beginning December 1.

French Scientist Honored with International Award

Sarah Gelotte  |  

Pierre Miossec, MD, of the department of immunology and rheumatology at the Hospital Eduoard Herriot and professor of clinical immunology of Claude Bernard University, both in Lyon, France, was awarded the Carol Nachman Prize for Rheumatology this May in Wiesbaden, Germany. The award promotes clinical, therapeutic, and experimental studies in rheumatology and is the highest international honor for rheumatology research. Dr. Miossec, a long-time researcher of the role of cytokines in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), was honored for his discoveries of the functions of the T cell–derived cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17) in this inflammatory disease.

Networking Opportunities at Annual Meeting

  |  

As the 2010 ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting continues to draw an increasing number of rheumatology physicians and health professionals, it has become vital to create forums that encourage a sense of community and bring value to the networking aspects of the meeting. The ACR and ARHP Annual Meeting Planning Committees continue to strive to provide more venues for meet-and-greets and improved opportunities for both professional and casual interaction among attendees.

Support for Friends of Rheumatology

  |  

RheumPAC—the voluntary, nonpartisan political action committee of the ACR—works to support and elect pro-rheumatology candidates. RheumPAC representatives were busy in May meeting with supporters of the rheumatology community.