TR: During your time as an advocate and liaison with the New York State Rheumatology Society, how has the awareness and perception of patient issues changed with policy makers?
Dr. Marinescu: During my first year of advocacy, many legislative staffers didn’t know what rheumatology is. We had to start by explaining what we do. Now, when we have these meetings—in 2020, we did it virtually of course—everybody knows what rheumatology is. We fostered relationships with the healthcare experts at both the state and national levels and they are aware already about the issues we advocate for. Now it’s just continuing the discussion, not starting it from zero.
TR: What are your goals for your time as ASC chair?
Dr. Marinescu: I want to continue to facilitate communication effectively between societies on the growing number of issues that we confront every day in practice. Also, we want to expose the members to more aspects of what the ACR does. We began that with our last meeting and, while the advocacy efforts will always be at the heart of the ASC, it is important for society leaders to have a broader perspective of the ACR’s work. That exposure and perspective will also continue to make the ASC an even more integral part of the ACR and its outreach efforts.
Gretchen Henkel is a health and medical journalist based in California.