The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 News
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Psoriatic Arthritis Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
    • Interprofessional Perspective
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / Spring 2021’s Awards, Appointments & Announcements in Rheumatology

Spring 2021’s Awards, Appointments & Announcements in Rheumatology

March 15, 2021 • By Gretchen Henkel

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF

Leigh Callahan, PhD, Now President Elect of United States Bone & Joint Initiative

Leigh Callahan, PhD, Now President Elect of United States Bone & Joint InitiativeAfter 20 years of involvement with the U.S. Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI), Leigh F. Callahan, PhD, Mary Link Briggs Distinguished Professor of Medicine, associate director, Thurston Arthritis Research Center, and director, Osteoarthritis Action Alliance at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, became the organization’s president elect in June 2020 and will assume the reins as president in June 2021. We spoke with Dr. Callahan recently about her new responsibilities and the evolving focus of the organization as the pandemic continues.

You Might Also Like
  • Spring 2020’s Awards, Appointments & Announcements in Rheumatology
  • Winter 2021’s Awards, Appointments & Announcements in Rheumatology
  • Fall 2020’s Awards, Appointments & Announcements in Rheumatology
Explore This Issue
March 2021
Also By This Author
  • An ‘Idea Factory’ Focused on Patient Care

Dr. Callahan accepted the position of president elect for two reasons. The first was her long-time commitment and history with USBJI, having served on the USBJI’s Burden of Illness Task Force and the World Health Organization’s Burden of Musculoskeletal Disease Working Group. She has also represented the Arthritis Foundation and the Rheumatology Research Foundation on the USBJI Board of Directors at various points in the past. 

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

The second compelling reason for accepting the new role is that she enjoys working with alliances, which has been a strong suit throughout her career. For example, as director of the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance, she’s seen organizational partnerships grow to more than 130 organizations, including those with universities, faith-based entities, parks and recreation departments, YMCAs, and professional societies, such as the ACR. 

Working with alliances offers “a unique opportunity to communicate with a more comprehensive voice and to have a broader impact than if you’re speaking with just one hat on,” she says. 

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Her years with the Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology at UNC’s Thurston Arthritis Research Center have taught her that it’s possible to “move the needle forward” in terms of musculoskeletal diseases.

Moving the needle forward has become more complex due to the coronavirus pandemic, she acknowledges, but emphasizes the USBJI’s recognized ability to be nimble and fluid offers many opportunities for growth. 

The Young Investigators Initiative, like other domains of the USBJI, has gone virtual, and Dr. Callahan reports the 2020 spring and fall virtual Young Investigators meetings went well. She is also working to expand the Burden of Musculoskeletal Diseases in the United States (BMUS), which she labels one of “the crown jewels” of the USBJI, now in its fourth edition. 

ad goes here:advert-3
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

USBJI is also the U.S. national action network of the Global Alliance for Musculo­skeletal Health (GMUSC), an international collaborative movement sanctioned by the United Nations/World Health Organization. 

Dr. Callahan is dedicated to expanding national work and efforts to remain connected to global endeavors. Honored to be in the position of president elect, Dr. Callahan is hopeful and enthusiastic regarding the future expansion of the initiative. 

Pages: 1 2 3 | Single Page

Filed Under: Awards, Profiles Tagged With: Dr. Joanne Valeriano-Marcet, Dr. Leigh Callahan, Dr. Maria Dall’EraIssue: March 2021

You Might Also Like:
  • Spring 2020’s Awards, Appointments & Announcements in Rheumatology
  • Winter 2021’s Awards, Appointments & Announcements in Rheumatology
  • Fall 2020’s Awards, Appointments & Announcements in Rheumatology
  • Summer 2019’s Awards, Appointments & Announcements in Rheumatology

ACR Convergence

Don’t miss rheumatology’s premier scientific meeting for anyone involved in research or the delivery of rheumatologic care or services.

Visit the ACR Convergence site »

Rheumatology Research Foundation

The Foundation is the largest private funding source for rheumatology research and training in the U.S.

Learn more »

Simple Tasks

Learn more about the ACR’s public awareness campaign and how you can get involved. Help increase visibility of rheumatic diseases and decrease the number of people left untreated.

Visit the Simple Tasks site »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2022 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.