TR: What’s on the College’s agenda for the coming year?
Dr. White: I think the job of the leadership is not to chase our own pet projects or interests, but to understand where the organization’s needs are and help decide where we should focus and spend our resources. With that framework, a couple of things come to mind as priorities:
One is our diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. I’m proud that the ACR is taking a serious and long-game approach to DEI, and I think that will continue to mature in the coming year. We need to make sure we integrate DEI into the fabric of the organization. I anticipate some important developments along those lines in 2023.
Another is modernization. We have been trying to figure out how to modernize for younger members and deliver content in a way that is expected by the next generation. That means making sure the information, products and opportunities created by the ACR are on your phone, on demand.
There was already an effort to make that a reality at the ACR long before COVID, but the pandemic accelerated those efforts—for example, figuring out in very short order how to put our annual meeting online. I think we’ll continue to see the fruits of that acceleration in the year to come. Our approach to ACR Convergence will be an important part of that.
TR: What do you envision for ACR Convergence?
Dr. White: We have this brand promise that says, “We are here for you, so you can be there for your patients.” And that really resonates with everybody: The staff, the volunteers and the members all love it. It explains what we’re doing and why we’re here.
And during COVID, the ACR continued to deliver for its members. We continued to have excellent educational opportunities. We had more successful advocacy work than we ever had before. The ACR’s Rheumatology Research Foundation provided more and more research support. We produced guidelines at an increased pace. The workforce effort got more traction and so on.
But we lost some of the fun. We lost some of the joy of meeting with our friends and interacting with leaders in the field and with the outstanding and talented staff in Atlanta. These interactions are vastly important to the long-term success of the ACR.
WHAT THE COLLEGE DOES
- Develops & hosts educational meetings
- Delivers continuing medical education
- Advocates on behalf of rheumatologists, rheumatology professionals & patients
- Publishes three peer-reviewed journals, a news magazine and varied e-newsletters for members of the specialty
- Creates clinical practice guidelines, recommendations, guidance & classification criteria
- Provides practice management resources and member support on payer, practice issues
- Works with the global rheumatology community on issues important to all of us
- Serves as a repository of patient information
- Maintains a patient registry
- Hosts two rheumatology podcasts
