The 2022 ACR Masters

“I’ve had the privilege of contributing to the greater mission of the ACR for many years, which has been enormously gratifying on a professional and a personal level. I sincerely thank the College for according me this distinction, which I accept with the deepest appreciation,” says Dr. Bucala.

David A. Cabral, MBBS, FRCPC

Clinical Professor, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, British Columbia Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, and Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver

“For the last 35 years the ACR congress has been an annual academic touchstone for me. At these meetings I have connected with many international colleagues and been inspired by many, some of whom have been acknowledged as ACR Masters. I am humbled to be recognized among these, and also honored that my peers in this amazing organization have felt that my career achievements have been worthy. Thank you,” says Dr. Cabral.

Deh-Ming Chang, MD, MS, PhD, FACR

Professor Emeritus, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; and Medical Advisor, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan

“This award, the Master of ACR, gives a perfect footnote for my rheumatology career, brightens my life, and will promote me to contribute further in rheumatology,” says Dr. Chang.

Arvind Chopra, MD, DNB, FRCP (London)

Director and Chief Rheumatologist, Center for Rheumatic Diseases, Pune, India 

“This is a unique global honor. And I look upon it as an endorsement of my work in the community on projects, such as the WHO [World Health Organization], ILAR [International League of Associations for Rheumatology] Community Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Disorders (COPCORD) and validation of Ayurvedic (India traditional system) arthritis drugs. Rheumatologists need to step into the community. There is a huge, neglected burden of musculoskeletal pain and arthritis. The predominant problems are undiagnosed aches and pains, soft tissue rheumatism and degenerative arthritis,” says Dr. Chopra.

Maria C. Cid, MD

Senior Consultant, Department of Autoimmune Diseases, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona; Professor, University of Barcelona Medical School; and Senior Group Leader at the August Pi I Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona

“The Master recognition is something that I had never dreamed of. It came as a big surprise. I welcome it as a recognition of a sustained motivation, enthusiasm and effort over the years through a long and winding road. I often have thought about Marie S. Curie’s words, ‘I was never taught that the way to progress was swift or easy.’ I welcome it as a role model for women, scientists not working in pioneer countries and those entering a clinician-scientist career,” says Dr. Cid.