The ARHP is the premier professional organization for rheumatology health professionals primarily because of the talent and energy of its volunteers and staff. The ARHP needs both new and experienced volunteers to continue its mission, meet new challenges, and grow as an organization. Each and every ARHP member brings unique talents, abilities, and expertise to our organization, and we need your participation. Volunteer opportunities are available to all ARHP members, including international and associate members.
Jan K. Richardson, PT, PhD, OCS, chief clinical officer of Universal SmartComp in Durham, N.C., and 2012 ARHP president-elect, says, “I was asked by another physical therapist to participate on the ARHP Practice and Membership Committee in 2007. The opportunity to meet new people in both my profession and other medical-care professions was invaluable to me as a new member of ARHP. Serving on this committee allowed me to share my career experience within my field of physical therapy with others while gaining greater insight into related professions and the value that these practitioners brought to the care of our patients.”
Volunteering with the ARHP can broaden your horizons and help you develop new skills that could be beneficial to your career. You may discover new paths of rheumatology that you were unaware of, and meet new people who could become lifelong friends!
There are many ways to get involved in ARHP. Consider serving on one of the following committees or task forces:
The Executive Committee is the governing body of the ARHP and determines appropriate plans, policies, and programs for the division, consistent with the policies and procedures of the ACR. The ARHP Executive Committee supervises, controls, and directs the business, budget, and affairs of the ARHP, its committees, products, education, and publications. The ARHP Executive Committee comprises the ARHP president, president-elect, member-at-large finance, member-at-large, immediate past-president, ACR Board liaison (appointed by the ACR president), chair of the ARHP Committee on Practice, chair of the Research Subcommittee, and representatives to the ACR Education and Government Affairs committees. The Executive Committee meets three times a year and holds eight or nine conference calls annually.
The Membership and Nominations Committee is responsible for overseeing the nominations process to ensure election and appointment of qualified leaders, representative of the diversity of the membership. The committee is responsible for reviewing nominations and presenting a slate of qualified candidates for ARHP elected and appointed volunteer positions and for reviewing nominations and selecting recipients for the Graduate Student Awards, Merit, and Lifetime Achievement Awards. In addition, the committee handles all membership marketing responsibilities. The committee meets twice a year, plus conference calls.
The Practice Committee includes representatives from each of the major disciplines in the association. The committee oversees the health professional practice papers and ensures all ARHP educational products, programs, and online content meet the practice needs of membership. The committee explores member needs regarding clinical practice issues and promotes the interdisciplinary model of care. It is the oversight committee for all ARHP practice issues. The committee meets two times a year, plus conference calls.
The Research Subcommittee is recognized for its research presentations and publications. It presents research education and mentoring programs at the annual scientific meeting. This subcommittee reports to the ACR Research Committee and meets once at the ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific meeting and holds conference calls.
The Annual Meeting Program Subcommittee designs and implements the ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting and oversees the Clinical Focus Course Task Force and reports to the ACR Annual Meeting Planning Subcommittee. This subcommittee meets two times a year (once at the ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific meeting) and holds conference calls.
The E-Learning Subcommittee designs and implements online educational sessions and products. The subcommittee meets once a year, plus conference calls.
The Clinical Focus Course Task Force is responsible for the development of the annual meeting clinical focus preconference course, which is based on a topic chosen by the Executive Committee. This task force meets once a year, plus conference calls, and disbands after its one-year assignment.
The State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium Precourse Task Force is responsible for the development of the preconference course before the April ACR State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium. The task force meets once at the annual meeting, plus conference calls, and disbands after its one-year assignment.
For more information on volunteer opportunities and to complete a volunteer application, visit www.rheumatology.org/about/leadership or e-mail [email protected].