Rheumatology Celebrates Key Milestones

The ARP Celebrates 60 Years of Excellence in Rheumatology Care

For six decades, the Association for Rheumatology Professionals (ARP) has stood at the forefront of advancing rheumatology care, education and collaboration among the interprofessional team. What began as a visionary effort in 1965 has grown into a vibrant community of dedicated rheumatology professionals committed to improving the lives of people with rheumatic diseases.

The ARP has championed interdisciplinary teamwork, fostered innovation in patient care and empowered generations of professionals through education, advocacy and leadership. From groundbreaking research to transformative clinical practices, our members have shaped the future of rheumatology with compassion and expertise.

Throughout its history, the ARP has maintained its core strengths: interprofessional communication and collaboration. This consistent commitment to interprofessional collaboration is demonstrated in the ARP’s membership—a blend of professionals from 24 different disciplines engaged in rheumatology practice, research, education and administration. It is evident in the broad diversity of educational sessions at ACR Convergence each year and the ARP’s educational products, such as the online Fundamentals of Rheumatology Course. The medical journal Arthritis Care & Research, the ARP’s signature product, exemplifies this commitment to interprofessional collaboration. For the past 60 years, the ARP has focused on activities to advance rheumatology research and practice, leading to improved patient outcomes.

As we celebrate this milestone, we honor the legacy of those who paved the way and look ahead with excitement to the next chapter. Together, we will continue to elevate the standard of care, embrace new challenges and inspire the next generation of rheumatology leaders.

Here’s to 60 years of impact—and many more to come.

The Foundation Celebrates 40 Years of Improving Lives

The Rheumatology Research Foundation’s story is one of lasting impact—shaping patient care, fueling scientific discovery and strengthening the future of rheumatology. For 40 years, this progress has been made possible through the vision and generosity of its community.

Established by the ACR in 1985, the Foundation has committed more than $243 million through 4,982 awards to strengthen the rheumatology community. Today, it stands as one of the largest private funding sources for rheumatology research and training in the U.S.

Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future

From the Foundation’s earliest days, generous donors recognized the urgent need to grow the rheumatology workforce and accelerate scientific breakthroughs. Their vision fueled a generation of progress—advancing new insights into disease mechanisms, driving therapies that transform lives and ensuring patients have access to specially trained rheumatology professionals.