TR: What skills and experience do you bring to this latest volunteer role with the ACR, and what roles have you previously served in?
Dr. Ruth: I have previously served on the Pediatric Rheumatology Committee and on the Workforce and Education Committee. I am currently the division director for pediatric rheumatology and program director of the Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program at MUSC. I am also one of the co-directors of Physician Wellbeing for the Department of Pediatrics, all of which I believe makes me well suited for this role. I currently am working on a multimillion-dollar Duke Endowment Grant aimed at supporting a thriving workforce. My role on this grant is to leverage automated software to support the development of a comprehensive mentorship program at my institution.
TR: What are your plans and priorities for the Division Directors Committee in the coming year?
Dr. Ruth: I want to improve mentorship and coaching for new division directors and support education of division directors through the annual Division Directors Forum and town hall meetings. I am also eager to encourage pediatric and adult division directors to become more involved in the ACR and make them aware of ACR resources. Together with members of the committee, I’m looking forward to developing and sharing best practices with both our pediatric and adult rheumatology communities.
TR: What do you do for fun outside of the ACR and rheumatology?
Dr. Ruth: I live in Charleston and am married to a true angler. Thus we spend a lot of time on the beautiful Lowcountry waterways. I consider myself an amateur nature photographer—I feel every sunrise and every sunset is uniquely beautiful and worth photographing. I also enjoy spending time with our kids and our two Labradors, Lewis and Gus.
Carina Stanton is a freelance science journalist based in Denver.
