How can we address the many needs for our rheumatology profession, for each other and for our patients? We have to protect, unite and expand our workforce through various initiatives somehow. Only rheumatologists can save the future of rheumatology and optimize care in urban, suburban and rural settings; no one else can, or will, do this for us. How do we train and sustain a healthy rheumatology workforce? Is there a natural and valued opportunity for you to share essential strategies locally, regionally or nationally? If only we could cut and paste successful underserved rheumatology programs in the U.S. to other underserved areas, then all will be better.
As the volunteer chair of the ACR Workforce Solutions Committee, I can say that we are trying to:
- Enhance the ability of individual patients to receive optimal rheumatology care, regardless of their background;
- Facilitate rheumatology care with a multidisciplinary network;
- Support individual rheumatologists with success and well-being; and
- Assist the ACR with multipronged tools and advocacy for rheumatology.
And certainly, communities will benefit from ongoing rheumatologist(s) input.
Volunteer intentions and solutions are never perfect, but they provide us with professional opportunities, experiences and personal growth far greater than self. Ultimately, my volunteer service has allowed me to get past self and resulted in good outcomes for others. I encourage others to volunteer as well.
Daniel F. Battafarano, DO, MACP, MACR, is an adjoint professor of medicine at the University of Texas Health and the University of the Incarnate Word College of Osteopathic Medicine, both in San Antonio and a professor of medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md. He retired from the U.S. Army Medical Corps as a colonel.
References
- The health benefits of volunteering. University of Maryland Medical System. (n.d.) https://health.umms.org/2022/03/14/benefits-of-volunteering.
- Thoits PA, Hewitt LN. Volunteer work and well-being. J Health Soc Behav. 2001 Jun;42(2):115–131.
- Borgonovi F. Doing well by doing good. The relationship between formal volunteering and self-reported health and happiness. Soc Sci Med. 2008 Jun;66(11):2321–2334.
- Lawton RN, Gramatki I, Watt W, et al. Does volunteering make us happier, or are happier people more likely to volunteer? Addressing the problems of reverse causality when estimating the wellbeing impacts of volunteering. J Happiness Stud. 2020 Mar 17;22:599–624.
- 10 benefits of helping others. University College London. 2020 Apr 28. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/students/news/2020/apr/10-benefits-helping-others.
