Collaborative treatment in rheumatology care excites Richardson. “We all bring to the table our skills to form a comprehensive treatment plan, and that’s essential for meeting the patient’s total needs,” he says. “It’s an excellent model to deliver quality care. And that’s what keeps me interested in attending the meetings and following the science.”
The Importance of Service
Asked what the recognition for lifetime achievement from the ARHP means to him, Richardson mentions his commitment to service and its early roots. “I was born and raised on a dairy farm in western Pennsylvania—the culture was one of giving to your neighbors and giving back to the community,” he says. “I believe we must serve not only for ourselves, but for the next generation.”
Richardson is committed to passing on his enthusiasm for service to the therapists he trains. “When I teach, I teach that service is essential, and that it is a mark of your professionalism. That’s a core belief,” he says.
“When the light comes on for young therapists and physicians,” he continues, “and they see themselves going beyond the technical or scientific part of what they do, whether it’s a cure or better service or passing the education on to others, that is inspiring. When I see other people who ‘get it’ and demonstrate it in their lifetime, that’s what’s rewarding to me. Watching them grow, develop, and evolve is even more important than teaching.”
