If you speak to any advocate for rheumatology, each of us has an “Aha! moment,” when we learned the importance of advocacy. My own came a dozen years ago. I was meeting with a legislative aide to a local congressman who was a senior member of the committee overseeing Medicare. He introduced himself as the…
The second annual ACR Division Directors’ Conference took place in Chicago on March 10–11. The conference opened with a presentation on the use of the ACR’s Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness (RISE) Registry in academic medical centers by Salahuddin “Dino” Kazi, MD, from UT Southwestern Medical Center, and Jinoos Yazdany, MD, MPH, from the University of California…
We can’t change the direction of the wind, but we can adjust our sails. The origin of this proverb is unclear. Some citations link it to ancient Hindu philosophers, and others suggest the origin may be closer to home (i.e., Jimmy Dean or Dolly Parton). Nonetheless, the sentiment is apt: We are living in an…
May is National Arthritis Awareness Month. The ACR is committed to ensuring that arthritis and rheumatologic diseases are at the forefront of public awareness—and that better, safer treatments reach Americans in need. Fortunately, the federal government is also doing its part and has just released a major report on the national impact of arthritis. A…
Introduction Interest in rheumatology continues to grow, with more than 240 new adult and pediatric fellows to begin their training in the coming academic year. Given the broad and diverse career opportunities, it is an ACR goal to help guide trainees in their career decisions and professional development. Rheumatology fellowship often marks the transition from…
In 1974, President Nixon established a week in April to recognize the importance of volunteering. National Volunteer Week is scheduled for April 23–29 this year. At the College, we like to acknowledge and thank our volunteers year round. The mission of the College cannot be achieved without the time, effort, talent and dedication of our…
On May 11, ACR leadership representatives from the Board of Directors, the Affiliate Societies Council and the Committee on Government Affairs and RheumPAC will take the ACR’s policy messages to Capitol Hill for the Advocacy Leadership Conference. There is power in numbers, so we hope you will participate in our Virtual Hill Day by visiting…
The Rheumatology Research Foundation’s largest fundraising campaign, Journey to Cure, has surpassed its $60 million fundraising, raising a grand total of $61,430,466. With the support of 3,869 donors, the campaign has funded awards for more than 900 rheumatology professionals. “The success of Journey to Cure demonstrates the commitment rheumatologists and health professionals have to impacting…
The ACR has partnered with the American Medical Association (AMA) and over a dozen stakeholder groups to create a set of 21 principles to reform prior authorization protocols. This coalition represents hospitals, medical groups, patients, pharmacists and physicians with a unified goal of creating a more patient-centered, streamlined and transparent process for prior authorization. According…
There is a saying that if the American Medical Association (AMA) did not exist, we would have to invent it. That is just what Dr. Nathan S. Davis did back in 1845 when he called for a national medical convention and laid the foundation for the establishment of the AMA in 1847. This new group would…