The Exchange Program Offers an International, Educational Opportunity
Dr. Liebowitz attending a talk by May Ching Soh, MBChB, FRACP, head of the Department of Obstetric Medicine, Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau, University of Auckland, New Zealand, on the topic of practical tips for the rheumatologist dealing with pregnant patients.
SINGAPORE—This summer, Jason Liebowitz, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Rheumatology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, was among those selected by the ACR in its Research Exchange Program to travel to Singapore for the 2024 Congress of the Asian-Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR).
The ACR’s Research Exchange Program is designed to promote the international exchange of clinical and research skills, expertise and knowledge within rheumatology, as well as create opportunities for collaboration. It provides accepted applicants with the chance to attend EULAR and APLAR meetings, exposing them to exciting research by colleagues from around the world and creating opportunities for collaboration.
“I felt participating in the ACR/APLAR Research Exchange would be a wonderful opportunity to be exposed to leading rheumatology research and education in the Asia-Pacific region, develop relationships with medical educators in Singapore and elsewhere in Asia, and to see a part of the world that I had not been to before,” says Dr. Liebowitz. “It was a tremendous honor to be selected.”
The Exchange Program is designed for junior academic rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals who are interested or engaged in rheumatology research.
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- The beautiful skyline of Singapore lit up in the early morning hours.
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- The Gardens by the Bay house more than 1.5 million diverse plants from every continent except Antarctica.
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- A float on the water in the scenic Gardens by the Bay.
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- Raffles Garden in Fort Canning Park
The Experience
Travel, education, connection—Dr. Liebowitz regards “the Exchange Program as one of the best opportunities for rheumatologists and medical researchers/educators around the globe to get to know one another. It is a unique opportunity to be exposed to research, education and culture.”
In Singapore, Dr. Liebowitz saw the advanced healthcare system of the country and learned about the challenges and opportunities faced by rheumatologists in the Asia-Pacific region of the world.
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- The National Parliament of Singapore
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- The Old Hill Street Police Station
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- Raffles Singapore is a historic luxury hotel in Singapore that was established in 1887. The hotel was named after British statesman Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore.
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- The National Gallery of Singapore
“I learned about specific treatment algorithms for [anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA-5) positive dermatomyositis], which is more common and severe in this part of the world, gained an understanding of the degree to which osteoporosis has grown and will continue to grow as a major issue in Asia,” he says
Dr. Liebowitz also had time to make new connections. “I was able to meet and socialize with colleagues from Asia, Europe and elsewhere, and grow my professional network,” he says.
Dr. Liebowitz is also thankful to the National University Hospital and Tan Tock Seng Hospital for providing wonderful lectures and tours of the medical facilities. He was impressed by the cutting-edge research and clinical care being delivered at both institutions.
“It was incredibly thoughtful and kind of the entire rheumatology divisions at both hospitals to serve as our hosts,” he says.
From APLAR 2024: Dr. Liebowitz wrote several articles for The Rheumatologist highlighting APLAR sessions and the research presented at this year’s meeting: https://www.the-rheumatologist.org/tag/aplar-2024.
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- The Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall is a two-story colonial style villa in Balestier, Singapore. The villa now serves as a museum commemorating Sun Yat Sen (1866–1925), the founding father of the Republic of China.
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- An art installation outside the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
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- Durian is a tropical fruit with a strong odor and soft flesh that can be expensive due to its short shelf life and limited season for harvesting. Our APLAR hosts were kind enough to take us out to enjoy this local delicacy.
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- The Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Singapore
Next Year
For ACR members interested in applying, Dr. Liebowitz notes that he applied months in advance with the help of his university and department chair. “This approach allowed me to plan my time in Singapore, both in terms of the conference and with respect to sightseeing,” he says.
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- View from Pulau Ubin, an island situated in the northeast of Singapore. It is one of the last rural areas in Singapore, with a great deal of pristine flora and fauna.
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- A small ferry allows people to travel back from Pulau Ubin to Singapore.
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- The view from Pulau Ubin
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- A wild monkey on Pulau Ubin
“Be clear about what the Exchange Program will mean to you in a professional sense and why you are the right person to commit to this program,” continues Dr. Liebowitz.
The application details and deadlines for next year’s Exchange Program have yet to be announced, but APLAR 2025 will be held Sept. 3–7 in Fukuoka, Japan. Visit the ACR website for more details about the exchange program.
Natasha Yetman is an editor in California and the editorial coordinator of ACR eNewsRheum, an official publication of the ACR.
The ACR/EULAR Research Exchange
Dr. Kumar
APLAR isn’t the only organization in partnership with the ACR to provide opportunities for mutual collaboration; the ACR also partners with EULAR.
“To all the hardworking folks from ACR and EULAR, I just want to say a very heartfelt Danke schön,” says Bharat Kumar, MD, MME, FACP, FAAAAI, RhMSUS, physician editor of The Rheumatologist and rheumatology fellowship program director for the Division of Immunology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
Dr. Kumar participated in this year’s ACR/EULAR Exchange, attending the EULAR Congress in Vienna. “It was an unforgettable experience, learning about how rheumatologists work throughout the world. I was exposed to so many diverse perspectives on rheumatology, not only from our speakers in Austria, but also from my fellow participants from all around the world.”
For more information on the ACR/EULAR Research Exchange Program, visit https://rheumatology.org/meetings/acr-eular-research-exchange-program.
