If you thought the presidential election was a tough choice, imagine selecting this year’s slate of ACR/ARHP award winners.
At the 2016 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting in Washington this November, the ACR and the ARHP honored a group of distinguished individuals who have made significant contributions to rheumatology research, education and patient care. In this issue, The Rheumatologist reports on the ARHP awards. Honorees offered their thoughts via email and phone interviews. Next month, we speak with the ACR winners about their individual contributions to Advancing Rheumatology!, as well as to the new class of fellows.
Without further ado …
ARHP Distinguished Scholar Award
Kelli Allen, PhD
Research Professor of Medicine, Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Research Scientist, Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, N.C.
Background: Dr. Allen studied exercise science at Penn State University, earned her master’s in health and sport science at Wake Forest University and, after working as a research-based exercise physiologist, obtained her doctoral degree in behavioral health at Penn State. She then completed a fellowship at the Durham VA Medical Center.
She says the most fulfilling part of working in the field is “helping people with rheumatic conditions” and adding to the evidence “about what works best to improve outcomes.”
A past recipient of a Rheumatology Research Foundation new investigator award, her work centers on improving outcomes in patients with osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions. She has chaired the ARHP Research Subcommittee, and served on the ARHP Executive Committee, the ACR Committee on Research and the ACR Committee on Journal Publications.
The most fulfilling part of working in the field is ‘helping people with rheumatic conditions’ & adding to the evidence ‘about what works best to improve outcomes.’ —Dr. Allen
Q: In summing up your work, what is the elevator speech you would give to a group of peers at a scientific meeting?
A: My work aims to identify effective behavioral and health services interventions for people with osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal and rheumatologic conditions, and to develop methods for implementing and disseminating these interventions in real-world clinical and community settings.
Q: What advice do you have for the next generation of rheumatology health professionals?
A: It takes a village, and a good one, to succeed in this profession and make an impact. Seek out excellent mentors, and collaborate as much as you can with people you see being successful in the types of things you are looking to do.