During an ACR webinar in August, presenters discussed multiple aspects of telehealth in rheumatology, especially related to rheumatology fellowship training. They agreed that although telehealth represents one potential avenue to improve patient access to treatment for rheumatic disease, we must keep identifying the best ways to employ telehealth to enhance care. Impact of Pandemic Telemedicine…
At ACR Convergence 2022, three women with rheumatic diseases discuss the profound life changes that the diseases wrought and ways they’ve found to cope.
PHILADELPHIA—Amy Gietzen started feeling the pain when she was 19. Her forearms, elbows, wrists and fingers were constantly swollen and sensitive. Six months later, she saw a doctor and was diagnosed with systemic diffuse scleroderma—a particularly hard-to-manage rheumatic disease with wide-ranging effects. Ms. Gietzen, who spoke at ACR Convergence 2022 and is a public speaker,…
A new disease model for lupus tackles issues with fatigue and other serious conditions that, although quite common among patients, get less attention because they fall outside classic symptoms associated with inflammation, a debilitating force behind systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The model features subtypes to categorize two main groups of symptoms into type 1, typically…
The study of rheumatology (and medicine) in art, history, literature and music is engaging and informative.1-12 In this article, we present some instances when rheumatic and autoimmune diseases in certain individuals may have affected the course of history in Western civilization. Physicians are usually concerned, appropriately, with the effects of illness on the lives of…
“I tell everyone who comes into her room now, ‘You will not disrespect my daughter again. No one will,’” recounts Sarah’s mother. “Every time a [provider] acts rude to her, Sarah tells me, ‘Ma, I’m used to it now,’ and I have to insist ‘No! Baby, you should never get used to that.’ … Dr….
We at the ACR acknowledge all ACR, ARP and Rheumatology Research Foundation volunteers whose committee terms are ending in November. Thank you for your valuable time and efforts toward advancing rheumatology during a challenging time. ACR: Board of Directors Kenneth G. Saag, MD, MSc; ACR President Barbara Slusher, MSW, PA-C; ARP President Anne R. Bass,…
High-quality mentoring is perhaps the most recognized ingredient to a successful career, one that remains little understood. Here, we present a brief overview of the elements of successful mentor-mentee relationships for clinicians and scientists in rheumatology. We discuss the importance of mentorship and characteristics of good mentoring, and offer our personal reflections as both mentees…
Featured at ACR Convergence 2022 Below, Walter P. Maksymowych, MB ChB, FACP, FRCP(C), offers his picks for the top research in psoriatic arthritis presented at ACR Convergence 2022. We report on a session in which Joseph Merola, MD, MMSc, discussed treatment strategies for patients with difficult-to-treat psoriatic arthritis. And a patient presents her story of…
The mission of the Rheumatology Research Foundation, a division of the ACR, is to advance research and training to improve the health of patients living with rheumatic disease. It supports career advancement, mentorship, professional development and education of professionals working in the disciplines essential to these patients.1 “The Foundation understands that the support of Association…