Education
ACR Convergence
Programming of pediatric scientific sessions at Convergence is planned by a dedicated pediatric team within the Annual Meeting Planning Committee. In addition to the broad range of abstract categories, pediatric original research is the specific focus of two ACR abstract categories for basic and clinical science, and one ARP abstract category.
PRSYM
The Pediatric Rheumatology Symposium (PRSYM) provides up-to-date, practical clinical information and basic science knowledge on the diagnosis and management of pediatric patients with rheumatic diseases and immune disorders. PRYSM is a three-day conference that includes invited lecturers and presentations of original science from accepted abstracts in poster and oral concurrent sessions. PRYSM occurs every three years and will next be held March 18–21, 2026.
Advocacy
ACR advocacy encompasses a number of initiatives that support pediatric rheumatologic care. Three objectives of particular interest are:
- Increasing funding for the Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program (PSLRP). The PSLRP can encourage more pediatric residents to pursue specialty training in rheumatology. This past year, the ACR was able to secure $10 million for the PSLRP and is working to increase this amount in annual appropriations.
- Increasing Medicaid reimbursement for pediatric services at the federal and state levels. Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) cover care for uninsured children living with rheumatic disease. Close to 40% of all American children are enrolled in Medicaid. The low level of Medicaid reimbursement challenges the ability of pediatric rheumatologists to provide care that is financially feasible. The ACR is working to raise Medicaid payments that will sustain pediatric specialty medicine and children’s access to care.
- Investing in the National Institutes of Health. The ACR recognizes and is actively advocating for the critically important role that federally funded research plays in the medical and economic health of children and adults with chronic rheumatic disease.
Patient Care Tools
Care Transition Toolkits
The ACR has created transition toolkits for patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and pediatric lupus to assist in the transition of young adults phasing out of a pediatric rheumatologist’s practice to an adult rheumatologist.
Guidelines & Guidance
The ACR clinical practice guidelines cover a spectrum of rheumatic diseases of specific interest to pediatric rheumatologists, including JIA and Kawasaki disease. The ACR also has clinical guidance documents focused on autoinflammatory and hyperinflammatory diseases.
Criteria
Criteria development projects have received support from the ACR, many of which interface with pediatric rheumatology. Projects generally focus on classification, response and remission criteria.
