Education that Meets Members Where They Are
If the ARHP’s organizational structure is its foundation, one could say its innovative educational offerings are its walls.
No matter the educational topic or how it has been delivered, the ARHP has a history of providing learning opportunities that are based on the needs of its members. Perhaps one of the best examples of this member-centric approach to education is the creation of online educational tools at a time when new membership categories were emerging, budgets for education and travel were shrinking, and members were growing more accustomed to self-paced and self-guided learning.
Several ARHP past presidents.
“In 2008 and 2009, the economy took a major downward flux, and a lot of people no longer had the opportunity to attend in-person meetings,” says Jan K. Richardson, PT, PhD, OCS, FAPTA (ARHP president, 2012–2013). “We were very creative with our education during that time and found ways to meet the needs of our members in a less expensive way.”
From this, came an ongoing and extensive collection of online education—including the Fundamentals of Rheumatology Course and the Advanced Rheumatology Course—that not only met the needs of ARHP members at that time, but continue to meet those needs today.
Although the Annual Meeting remains an educational highlight each year, the swift creation of these online courses sent a message to members that the ARHP will meet them where they are and ensure a variety of opportunities for professional development on numerous topics, at various price points and with minimal time and travel commitments. And ARHP members (as well as others outside the organization) have responded well—making these new educational offerings among the highest revenue generators for the ARHP today. In coming years, the ARHP will be adding to this online education portfolio, providing a larger selection of offerings in new formats and at different educational levels.
Lessons in Leadership
A key element to an invaluable ARHP member experience is volunteerism. No matter who you talk to—past presidents, committee chairs, advocates, etc.—they will almost assuredly note the return on investment in ARHP membership significantly increases the more involved a person becomes. This was true in the early days, and it remains true today.
