ACR Welcomes New Board of Directors

The College is pleased to welcome the newest members of the ACR board of directors and ARHP executive committee. These members were confirmed in October during the 2013 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting. In this issue of “From the College,” we will introduce the incoming ACR board members, who have shared goals for their term, based on the 2013–2016 ACR Strategic Plan.

Dr. Daikh

David Daikh, MD, PhD, is associate professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), chief of rheumatology at the San Francisco VA Medical Center, and co-director of the Lupus Research Center at UCSF. He received his medical degree and doctorate of philosophy from the Oregon Health Sciences University, and completed his residency training in internal medicine and fellowship training in rheumatology at UCSF. Dr. Daikh is a fellow in the American College of Physicians.

Dr. Daikh’s most recent volunteer appointment was serving as president of the Rheumatology Research Foundation. “I love rheumatology because of the intersection of science and clinical care in our field, and I love the ACR because it serves to keep the clinical, educational, and scientific components of our specialty working together under one roof,” says Dr. Daikh. He hopes to see the ACR “stay out in front of the myriad of issues that are impacting the practice of rheumatology, in both the community and academic setting, in a way that provides effective help and advocacy for practicing rheumatologists.” At the top of this list is realization of a functional patient registry that will allow providers to provide required demonstrations of value and quality improvement

Dr. Isaacs

Emily Isaacs, MD, received her medical degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in Farmington and completed her fellowship in rheumatology at the University of Texas Southwestern Health Science Center in Dallas. She is board certified in rheumatology and internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine. From 2008 to 2011, Dr. Isaacs was recognized as a Top Doctor in Fort Worth, Texas Magazine. She was also listed as a Super Doctor in 2012. Super Doctors identifies top doctors selected by their peers and the independent research of Key Professional Media. In addition to her practice at the Medical Clinic of North Texas, Dr. Isaacs has taken on several volunteer positions, including serving on the board of directors of the Rheumatology Research Foundation.

Dr. Isaacs recently completed her term as chair of the Development Advisory Council. She says that she is “honored to serve on the ACR board. Our field of medicine continues to be very rewarding as we build long-term relationships with our patients and support them as they live with chronic illness. At this time, we face many challenges that may hinder our ability to provide the best care.” Dr. Isaacs states that she is looking forward to working with an extraordinary and dedicated group of volunteers and ACR staff to find solutions to support and attract the next generation of rheumatologists, address insurance changes and regulations, ensure access to medications, and care for the patient population. “My goal is to be a voice on the board to enhance support to our members so that they can continue their careers and maintain a good quality of life.”