Looking ahead, the ARP is assisting in evaluating the Foundation’s portfolio to identify any gaps in support, as well as looking at potential new opportunities for grant support of health professionals.
“We are excited that we have three ARP members on the Portfolio Review Panel this year, which is an increase over the previous panel,” says Ms. Marchiolo. “It is a process that we go through every five years; we conduct a thorough review of the efficacy of the Foundation’s awards programs and identify gaps and future needs.” The panel will make recommendations for necessary program changes to better meet the needs of the rheumatology community to the Foundation’s board in February 2023.
The “ARP is grateful for the ongoing efforts by the Foundation in support of our varied membership. We believe that, together, we are a powerful force to invite, recruit, develop, educate and ultimately retain health professionals dedicated to a career in rheumatology,” Ms. Slusher notes.
Dr. Benham says that some ARP members may be unaware of what the Foundation has to offer. “As an ARP member, I look to the Foundation as a resource for research and educational support. I think an important aspect moving forward is to connect ARP awardees with other ARP members to provide mentorship and guidance.”
Dr. Ehrlich-Jones suggests that, along with looking for mechanisms to support clinical and research efforts, “I believe that ARP members look to the Foundation as a source of help for their patients. Through the support from the Foundation, patients will reap the benefits of the research that can help improve the quality of their lives.”
Katie Robinson is a medical writer based in New York.
References
- Rheumatology Research Foundation website. https://www.rheumresearch.org/the-foundation.
- Rheumatology Research Foundation Announces more than 120 awards for education, training, career development and research. News Release. 2022 Jul 1. https://www.rheumresearch.org/the-foundation/press-releases/rheumatology-research-foundation-announces-more-than-120-awards-for-education-training-career-development-and-research.
- Rheumatology Research Foundation. Mentored Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant Award for Workforce Expansion. https://www.rheumresearch.org/file/awards/04-education-and-training/FY23-Mentored-NPPA-Award-for-Workforce-Expansion_Dec-2022-Deadline.pdf.
- Rheumatology Research Foundation. Innovative Research Award (IRA). https://www.rheumresearch.org/file/awards/02-innovative-research/FY24-Innovative-Research-Award—FINAL_6.6.22.pdf.
- Rheumatology Research Foundation. Student and Resident ACR Convergence Scholarship. https://www.rheumresearch.org/file/awards/06-annual-meeting-awards/FY23-ACR-Convergence-Annual-Meeting-Scholarship—FINAL.pdf. Accesses July 25, 2022.
- American College of Rheumatology. ACR Convergence 2022. https://www.rheumatology.org/Annual-Meeting.
