The 2025 ARP President’s & Merit Awards

CHICAGO—During ACR Convergence 2025 in October, the ACR and ARP honored a group of distinguished individuals who have made significant contributions to rheumatology research, education and patient care. Here The Rheumatologist profiles the recipients of the ARP President’s and Merit Awards. The ACR Awards of Distinction, Distinguished Fellows and Masters are also featured in this issue.

ARP President’s Award

The President’s Award is given to the ACR/ARP member or team performing outstanding service within the present year to advance the goals, standards and ideals of the ARP. ARP President Adam Goode, PhD, PT, DPT, announced the recipient of the 2025 President’s Award: Christine A. Stamatos, DNP, ANP-C, director of the Fibromyalgia Long COVID Wellness Clinic, Katz Women’s Health Center and the Division of Rheumatology, Northwell Health, Huntington, N.Y.

“We have so many outstanding volunteers in the ARP,” says Dr. Goode, that “selecting the ARP President’s Award is not an easy task. I chose Christine Stamatos for her outstanding history of leadership and service to the ARP and ACR as well as her work to ensure the future of rheumatology through the mentorship of rheumatology professionals and ARP volunteers.

“She truly has a passion for advancing rheumatology healthcare and a strong dedication to interdisciplinary collaboration. She embodies these qualities through her tireless advocacy for patient-centered care. Christine has made significant and lasting contributions to improving the lives of individuals with rheumatic disease and to the advancement of the rheumatology profession, and to ARP.”

In accepting the award, Dr. Stamatos says, “It is truly an honor to be recognized by a group of such respectable peers in this very important organization. Although I am grateful for the recognition, I want to note that any success is on the shoulders of those in our ARP team who make progress and change happen. Thank you very much!”

Dr. Stamatos has been a rheumatology nurse practitioner (NP) since 2002, when she graduated from State University of New York at Stony Brook, completing a post master’s certificate as an adult NP. Since then, she completed a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, with research focused on non-pharmacologic self-management strategies for chronic pain. She received her Bachelor of Nursing from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., and a Master of Science in nursing in trauma/critical care from the University of Maryland at Baltimore.

The Fibromyalgia Long COVID Wellness Clinic program that Dr. Stamatos directs is based on an integrative health delivery model with patients and their families at the center to address the biopsychosocial needs of living with chronic pain and fatigue through evaluation, education, treatment and social support.