- ACR Convergence 2020 was a great success, and the meeting content remains available through June 1, 2021. This year we had more than 16,000 attendees from 111 countries. If you missed the live event, you can still earn more than 200 continuing medical education credits from the comfort of your home or convenience of your office: https://www.rheumatology.org/Annual-Meeting.
- Another tool that is here to stay is the Virtual Rheumatology Learning Collaborative (ViRL). Initially created to address the needs of physician fellowship training in the middle of a pandemic, the ViRL lecture series brings together thought leaders from across the rheumatology spectrum. These lectures are fantastic for all clinicians and researchers seeking to understand rheumatology better and are available to members of the College at no additional cost: https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Fellow-in-Training/Virtual-Rheumatology-Program/Learning-Collaborative.
To improve your learning experience, the ARP is working to enhance its online educational activities. The Fundamentals of Rheumatology Course will soon be available to train all your staff on different disease states, how to assess your patients’ pain and function, and the basics of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments for your patients. The new platform is interactive and flexible.
The Advanced Rheumatology Course is under revision and will use a similar interactive platform to enhance the learning experience. It will include a comprehensive set of activities to provide a broad overview of rheumatology.
The Training Rheum is a unique program that provides an immersive rheumatology curriculum for nurse practitioners and physician assistants not found elsewhere. It will also prove helpful to pharmacists entering rheumatology or transitioning in from another specialty. This virtual program will provide a bootcamp lecture series (launching this summer).
Beyond creating educational tools, the ACR and the ARP have worked to advocate for you and your patients aggressively over the years. In 2021, these efforts will continue, with a focus on patient access to timely and effective therapies.
Check out the ACR on Air podcast. While you’re at it, listen to each of the 20 episodes to date covering more important topics relevant across the field of rheumatology. This is a tremendous resource for on-the-go learning.
Over the past year and into 2021, several non-COVID-related task forces were working to seek a more diverse, equitable, inclusive and global response to patients with rheumatic diseases. Results of their work will inform the structure and practice of our organization and the innovative solutions we aim to provide as we respond to our changing environment.
The Rheumatology Research Foundation has also been busy this past year. View the award recipients for 2020. Many awards were granted to ARP members, and in an exciting development, the Innovative Research Award is now available for ARP members. Applications are due July 1.
Don’t miss the scholarships available to assist members with the Fundamentals and Advanced Rheumatology Courses. Find out what funding opportunities are available.
