An opportunity arose to create a clinical research program with Joan Bathon, MD, in the newly formed Hopkins Arthritis Center in 1998. Although this presented incredible opportunities, I also found it somewhat daunting to be an applied psychologist and researcher within the School of Medicine at Johns Hopkins while surrounded almost exclusively by rheumatologists and basic scientists in immunology.
Dr. Bathon encouraged me to apply for a newly created NIH trainee award—the K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Career Development Award. My project was titled The Impact of Weight Loss and Exercise on Knee Osteoarthritis, and it was one of the first K23 awards given to a non-physician. My multidisciplinary mentoring team included Dr. Bathon (rheumatology), David Levine, MD, ScD, MPH (participatory research), Scott Zeger, PhD, of the School of Public Health (biostatistics), and Cynthia Rand, PhD (psychology).
This five-year K23 award afforded me the opportunity to complete the Graduate Training Program in Clinical Investigation at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, and gain expertise and research experience in clinical epidemiology.
Together, the protected time, additional coursework and mentoring in rheumatology positioned me well for promotion to assistant professor at Hopkins Medicine in the Division of Rheumatology. This marked the start of a successful career as an independent researcher exploring how behavior change (weight loss, exercise, treatment adherence) and addressing mood can improve the lives of people with arthritis.
In gratitude for the mentoring I received, another mentee and I petitioned the Department of Medicine at Hopkins to create the David M. Levine Excellence in Mentoring Award to formally recognize the contributions of outstanding mentors. Created more than 20 years ago, this award rapidly became one of the most valued recognitions in the Hopkins community and beyond.
I remain passionate about, and actively involved with, creating opportunities for high-quality mentoring for trainees and early career professionals. Most recently, in spring 2022, I was a co-applicant, with ARP Immediate Past President Christine Stamatos, DNP, ANP-C, and current ARP President Barbara Slusher, MSW, PA-C, on an ACR/ARP proposal to expand and coordinate mentoring activities throughout the College. The hope is to expand access to mentorship bidirectionally for all members of the College.
Daniel K. White, PT, ScD, MSc, is an associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Delaware, Newark, and the director of the Delaware ACTIVE Lab. He has also been an active member of the ARP for the past 15 years.
