Rheumatology Research Foundation Names New Executive Director

Mary Wheatley

A familiar face will be the new leader of the Rheumatology Research Foundation. Mary Wheatley has been named the Foundation’s new executive director. Mary has been with the Foundation for more than six years and has helped it grow tremendously during that time. Many volunteers and leaders with the ACR and the Foundation say they know Mary will bring energy and dedication to her new role.

Mary brings extensive experience from both the grant-receiving and grant-making sides of research to her new role. Before joining the Foundation, she studied psychology and biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she also gained invaluable experience working in a research lab. Mary started as a research assistant, eventually moving up to program manager. She managed several grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and worked on projects that led to publications and additional funding from the NIH. In 2008, Mary decided to make the switch from research to grants administration and started working at the Foundation as director of awards and grants. She was promoted to senior director of research and training in 2010, working for both the Foundation and the ACR.

During her time with the organization, Mary has overseen significant changes, such as implementation of the targeted research initiative and a redesign of the awards and grants program. She also managed the ACR’s Blue Ribbon panel on academic rheumatology. The panel developed a list of recommendations to strengthen academic rheumatology that is still being referenced today as a guide for building and expanding successful programs. Mary says that while working at the Foundation, she has greatly appreciated taking part in developing a strategic plan for the organization’s future.

“I really enjoy dreaming big about what the Foundation can become,” Mary says. “Strategic planning also presents a wonderful opportunity to engage the members of our board and learn more about their hopes and goals for our organization.”

Leaders on the Foundation’s Board of Directors and with the ACR say Mary’s vision and dedication played a big role in her latest promotion. David Karp, MD, PhD, president of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, has been working closely with Mary for years. Shortly after Mary started, Dr. Karp took over as chair of the Scientific Advisory Council, which meant he interacted with Mary on a regular basis. They have been working together ever since. He says, Mary has proven herself over the years as a forward-thinking leader.

“With her help, the Foundation has streamlined its awards portfolio, significantly increased the amount of funding it offers and built a reputation as an efficient research foundation,” Dr. Karp explains. “It is clear that she is committed to building the Foundation into an internationally recognized organization.”

Mary Wheatley with Foundation colleagues at the 2008 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting: From left: Steve Echard (former executive director), Nat Cabrera (currently specialist, corporate relations and expositions), Wheatley, Damian Smalls (currently senior specialist, awards and grants) and Amy Kane (currently director, core programs).

In her most recent role, Mary also worked closely with Mark Andrejeski, executive vice president of the ACR. He believes the Foundation will continue to thrive under Mary’s leadership. “Mary is an extremely capable leader with a deep understanding of the Foundation and its role in the field of rheumatology,” he says. “I know she will guide the organization toward even more growth and success.”

As Mary settles into her new role, she is already developing plans for the future of the Foundation. She says she wants to continue growing the organization as a leader in the field.

“We’re currently working on increasing the visibility of the Foundation,” she explains. “As we do that, I want to ensure our expansion is sustainable and manageable. I believe part of achieving that is making our awards and grants program flexible so that it’s always ready to meet the changing needs of the field, which will enable us to serve the rheumatology community, including patients, for many years.”

Mary also says an important aspect of expanding the Foundation is increasing its support. “We are fortunate to have successful partnerships with industry members, as well as members of the ACR and ARHP who serve as our champions. We will continue to build on those relationships. On top of that, we want people with rheumatic diseases to know they have our ear and encourage them to become more involved with the Foundation.”

As the Foundation moves forward, Mary is proud to take the lead. “I’m so honored to have the opportunity to serve the Foundation. I truly believe it is a wonderful organization that is making a huge difference in the lives of rheumatology professionals and their patients. We plan to fund even more essential research and training for years to come with the goal of advancing patient care and finding cures.”