Getting to Know Natasha Ruth, MD, MS: New Division Directors Committee Chair

As the first academic pediatric rheumatologist in South Carolina, Natasha M. Ruth, MD, MS, started the first pediatric rheumatology program in the state back in 2006. Today she holds several leadership roles in her pediatric practice at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston, including professor of pediatrics, division chief and program director of pediatric rheumatology and co-director of the Program on Physician Well-Being in the Department of Pediatrics.

Dr. Ruth

Dr. Ruth is proud of her role in growing pediatric rheumatology care throughout South Carolina. Her state now includes eight pediatric rheumatologists and two professor emeritus pediatric rheumatologists who teach fellows. 

“I would never have been able to build our program at MUSC or help build my state’s pediatric rheumatology care without the support of so many mentors,” Dr. Ruth shares with The Rheumatologist. The mentors who helped her build her career have inspired her to do the same in her latest volunteer role as chair of the ACR Division Directors Committee. She sees this role as a continuation of her ongoing work with related committees for the ACR. Here’s more about Dr. Ruth and her plans for leading the Division Directors Committee in the year ahead.

The Rheumatologist (TR): Why were you interested in becoming chair of the Division Directors Committee?

Dr. Ruth: Early in my career, I had significant support from the division director of adult rheumatology at my institution. In the development of the program, I enticed one of my mentors—who was my fellowship director at a large children’s hospital—to join me in Charleston. With his expertise, our division grew, and we were able to start a pediatric rheumatology training program.

I also had support from other pediatric rheumatology division directors in other states with more established programs. I would like to share the knowledge I have gained over the years with other division directors, especially new division directors. I want to give back. I would like to share strategies that have been successful in helping me grow my division in the areas of clinical care, research, education and advocacy.

TR: What is the purpose of the Division Directors Committee?

Dr. Ruth: The Division Directors Committee serves as a resource to the ACR on matters related to academic rheumatology. We also identify best practices for structuring academic adult and pediatric rheumatology divisions. Updating, analyzing and disseminating data related to divisions is an important part of the committee’s work, including metrics such as the state of faculty, trainees and leadership in academic divisions of rheumatology on an annual basis. Further, the committee develops rheumatology mentoring programs and resources, provides a community for division directors within the ACR with an annual communications plan, and proposes and organizes subcommittees and taskforces to carry out its objectives.

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.