The 2023 ARP Merit Awards

Ms. Curry switched gears to pediatrics and research in the Clinical Research Center at Texas Children’s Hospital. In addition to participating in a vast array of pediatric research, she had the privilege to care for David—the boy in the bubble. During this time, Ms. Curry had the good fortune to become friends with rheumatologist Karyl Barron, MD, who provided rheumatology mentoring on nightly dog walks with baby buggies. No coincidence: In 1987, Ms. Curry joined Baylor College of Medicine Pediatric Rheumatology Service as the rheumatology nurse educator.

Ms. Curry’s participation in a large grant aimed at maximizing school attendance and participation of students with special healthcare needs revealed a need for the education of school nurses. She initiated a yearly school nurse symposium focusing on clinical updates and providing a local venue for school nurses to obtain pertinent continuing education units. Academically, Ms. Curry contributed rheumatology content for two pediatric nursing texts for six editions.

Arthritis and lupus weekend camps, directed by Ms. Curry, have provided a much-anticipated annual sojourn for patients, families and volunteer staff.

Ms. Curry advocated on the state and national level with trips to Austin to testify for children with chronic healthcare needs and, later with the ACR on trips to Washington, D.C., to inform Texas legislators of bills affecting children of their constituents. Participation in the ACR Annual Meeting Planning Committee was fun work and an avenue for networking friendships.

In 1998, Ms. Curry switched gears and, with the encouragement of Robert Warren, MD, PhD, MPH, completed her nurse practitioner certification. She then began to see patients independently, maintaining a practice bent toward patient/family education. Working with the collaborative support of Mareitta deGuzman, MD, and Eyal Muscal, MD, MS, she has had the joy and privilege of providing care to children and families in need and has benefited from all their lessons of health, life and love they shared with her.

Distinguished Educator Award

This year’s Distinguished Educator Award was presented to Jessica F. Farrell, PharmD, clinical pharmacist at Albany Medical Center Division of Rheumatology, N.Y., and professor at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, for demonstrating excellence in teaching patients and trainees.

“I am honored and humbled to receive this award,” says Dr. Farrell. “In my position, I am lucky to have the opportunities to combine my two passions, patient care and teaching the next generation of healthcare professionals as part of an interdisciplinary team. When I was first starting in rheumatology there were few pharmacists practicing in this specialty, but my early involvement with ARP helped me pave the way for pharmacists in rheumatology. This award is shared with my amazing team of providers who have helped support me during my career, and who have welcomed my trainees into their practices. Lastly, I am so proud to see the accomplishments of my students and trainees, and it’s even more fun to see them join the rheumatology community.”