Collaboration and confidence These are among the benefits that several volunteer leaders of the Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (ARHP) said they’ve recognized during a recent interview by The Rheumatologist. The membership of the ARHP is varied—advanced practice nurses, nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, psychologists, social workers, epidemiologists, physician assistants, educators, clinicians and researchers—and six ARHP members talked to us about how their service on one or more committees has helped them achieve their professional goals.
Similarities exist in their experiences and impressions of committee service: rewarding work that is fun, plus the additional benefit of new personal and professional relationships with like-minded professionals.
Dr. Hassett thinks working with other ARHP members has improved her organizational and leadership skills. She has been impressed with the coordinated effort between the ACR and the ARHP, with 11 volunteers and two staff members, to put on the Annual Meeting. “I learned how hard it is to put [it] together.”
Her contributions have centered on promoting sessions that more effectively utilize technology (e.g., apps for patient self-management); creating RheumChat, which showcases talks inspired by TED Talks; and promoting Boot Camps for immunology and other topics that offer attendees a series of related talks over the course of the meeting.
Dr. Hassett’s research has focused on resiliency, and she brought that spirit to the 2014 meeting, where sessions highlighted patient strengths, well-being and how to help patients better self-manage their conditions.
Confidence
Greg Taylor, MSW, is a certified clinical social worker at the Mary Pack Arthritis Program at Vancouver General Hospital in British Columbia. During his two years as an ARHP member, he has found the main benefits of being a member are the publications, such as Arthritis Care & Research, access to the Annual Meeting and the expanded knowledge base he gains from both.
