My first-ever medical mission trip, after 37 years of medical practice, was to Teleman, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. Prior to the trip, my excitement as an adult-trained rheumatologist was balanced against my apprehension about witnessing new diseases, caring for children and practicing in an austere environment with limited medical resources. As directed by the travel clinic,…
The ACR’s Volunteers to Expand Rheumatology Access (VERA) initiative recently launched a new webpage to provide helpful information to rheumatology healthcare providers interested in volunteering to care for uninsured and underinsured patients with rheumatic disease. This resource, VolunteerRheumCare.org, provides answers to frequently asked questions related to providing free care, as well as links to organizations…
Having completed her term as ARP president, Hazel L. Breland, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, CLA, has stepped into a new role as chair of the ARP’s Membership and Nominations Committee (https://www.rheumatology.org/Rheumatology-Professionals). Dr. Breland is associate professor of occupational therapy at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Charleston, where she teaches graduate students and serves as…
Volunteering is a great way to give back and can be truly meaningful. Myriad worthwhile causes exist, so it can be hard to choose among them, but donating time to ACR and ARP committees helps promote rheumatology practice and brings awareness to rheumatic diseases. The College relies on volunteers to help achieve strategic priorities, promote…
Rheumatology is a small specialty, but the ACR has a large footprint in terms of activities and impact. The ACR’s remarkable success can be attributed to effective collaboration between a highly professional and talented staff and a large number of volunteer members. Under the direction of the Board of Directors, the activities and strategic initiatives…
For Daniel Albert, MD, a rheumatologist with the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., some of his most defining medical experiences haven’t taken place within his practice, but in exotic locales such as a rainforest on the island of Borneo. One of many physicians across the world who volunteer their time and expertise on medical…
At the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), volunteer leaders play an essential role in achieving the College’s goals in Advancing Rheumatology! This year, 64 new volunteers were appointed to serve on ACR Standing Committees. The College would like to extend a special thank you to these individuals who join other volunteer leaders in making a difference…
Volunteering can help your career, friendships, and specialty at the same time
Meeting the needs of persons with complex, chronic diseases is increasingly challenging in a healthcare environment where the demand for high-quality comprehensive services is coupled with dwindling resources. According to the Institute of Medicine, “the ability to plan care and practice effectively using multidisciplinary teams takes on increasing importance as the proportion of the population with chronic conditions grows.”1 This kind of collaboration is increasingly important to ensure high-quality, cost-effective, comprehensive patient-centered care.