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December 2018The ACR and the Rheumatology Research Foundation have a rich history of collaboration and significant achievement. In many ways, our collaboration has become the classic triple threat of medicine, as we endeavor to support research, advance clinical care and expand education in so many intertwined and inseparable ways. Although we are greatly encouraged by the enormous progress we have made over the past three decades, we recognize much remains to be done. As the Foundation launches a new fundraising campaign to continue its mission to advance research and training to improve the health of people with rheumatic diseases, we are more motivated than ever to tackle the many challenges facing our specialty.
Everything the Foundation does—supporting groundbreaking research and scholarship, providing students and residents with transformative educational experiences and enabling patients to receive the highest quality care—is about making a positive impact on our specialty. Supporting that goal together helps ensure a better future for all rheumatology professionals and millions of patients affected by rheumatic diseases.
To that end, with the support of the ACR, the Foundation has embarked on its third and most ambitious fundraising campaign, Leading Boldly: Transforming Rheumatology. With a goal of raising $75 million, this campaign will support Foundation programs that recruit the best and brightest into the field, train rheumatology professionals in all career stages and enable investigators to conduct research leading to more treatment options for people with rheumatic disease.
Transforming Research
Rheumatic diseases afflict hundreds of millions of patients and continued breakthroughs in rheumatology research are an essential component of transforming the field of rheumatology. The Foundation is investing in high-risk, high-reward, cutting-
edge research that is accelerating treatments and cures for patients with rheumatic disease. Through this support, we are building a pipeline of investigators focusing on pivotal questions across the broad spectrum of rheumatic diseases.
With a goal of raising $75 million, this campaign will support Foundation programs that recruit the best & brightest into the field … .
Transforming Training
We must cultivate future generations of rheumatology professionals to ensure people with rheumatic diseases receive the best treatment possible. The Foundation is dedicated to increasing the number of available fellowships, supporting the development of new tools and educational resources and providing robust education and training opportunities for rheumatology health professionals in all stages of their careers.
Improving Patient Care
Rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals provide life-changing care to our patients. Understanding the shortage of rheumatologists and the growing demand for care, the Foundation is striving to put more clinicians in offices treating patients and is working to increase the geographic distribution of rheumatology healthcare providers across the country.