PHILADELPHIA—Abraham Verghese, MD, best-selling author and infectious disease specialist, told a packed hall at the opening ceremony of ACR Convergence that he didn’t need to look far to find heroes not much different from the protagonists he has written about in his novels, which blend medical mystery with the passions and tragedies of human existence….
The mission of the Rheumatology Research Foundation, a division of the ACR, is to advance research and training to improve the health of patients living with rheumatic disease. It supports career advancement, mentorship, professional development and education of professionals working in the disciplines essential to these patients.1 “The Foundation understands that the support of Association…
William Osler, MD, had an idea. Many institutions lay claim to the legacy of Osler, and by the time he arrived at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1889 to become the first physician in chief of the institution, he was already widely acknowledged for his clinical acumen. He now wanted to spread that clinical acumen around.1…
ACR Convergence 2022 will offer several opportunities to learn to leverage your expertise to support the rheumatology community, keep practices solvent and improve care of patients with rheumatic diseases. Look for sessions that explore why and how to pursue effective rheumatology advocacy and how to turn challenges into actionable results.
Many members of Congress return to their home states and districts in August, making it a great time to engage them in local conversations about healthcare policies and how they affect rheumatology practices and patients.
Teaching junior learners, such as medical students and residents, is increasingly important in rheumatology. Given the anticiÂpated shortage of rheumatologists, attracting more trainees to our field and enhancing knowledge of the rheumatic diseases among physicians in other fields are critical to meeting the needs of our patients.1,2 In addition, clinical reasoning is a vital skill…
ACR and ARP members converged on Capitol Hill in May to urge lawmakers to support legislation related to workforce expansion and patient access to care following training sessions presented by ACR staff dedicated to legislative affairs.
At my first Advocacy Leadership Conference as a member of the ACR’s Insurance Subcommittee, I discovered the power of stories from the clinic and how lawmakers value clinicians’ input on healthcare legislation.
The meetings will focus on legislation affecting rheumatology, including bills on graduate medical education and use of copay assistance funds.
In 1916, a handful of conservation advocates successfully lobbied Congress to create the National Park Service, which now protects more than 85 million acres of U.S. land. Dedicated rheumatology advocacy has lasting effects, too, as evidenced by several policy wins in 2021 and efforts underway for 2022.