The Mentored Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant Award for Workforce Expansion supports the addition of nurse practitioners and physician assistants to the rheumatology workforce.
The workforce shortage in rheumatology is a critical issue the Rheumatology Research Foundation is tackling. The number of patients with rheumatic disease is growing exponentially, and that means more health professionals and innovative approaches are needed to ensure rheumatology practices are set up to offer the best care.
In 2018, the ARP released a core curriculum that affirmed the expansion of rheumatology practices to include nurse practitioners and physician assistants to better meet the needs of people with rheumatic diseases across the U.S., particularly in geographically underserved areas. The Foundation also introduced the Mentored Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant Award for Workforce Expansion, which offers support for tailored training for nurse practitioners or physician assistants new to the field of rheumatology.