2023 Meeting Magazine - 20

AN UPDATE FROM V. MICHAEL HOLERS, MD
Rheumatology Research Foundation President
Exciting Changes
at the Rheumatology
The Rheumatology Research Foundation is dedicated
to meeting the needs of the rheumatology community.
The Foundation's leadership comes from every aspect of
rheumatology, so we fully understand the needs of
our community and are passionate about creating
opportunities for all members of the College.
Our Foundation was truly built for all of us, by
people just like us. The magic of our work is
the impact it has on our patients.
Since being established by the American
College of Rheumatology in 1985, the
Foundation has distributed 4,406 awards-
totaling over $218 million-to support the entire
rheumatology community in all career stages. For
fiscal year 2024, the Foundation has committed $13,118,575
to support rheumatology recruitment, education and training,
research, and career development.
The Foundation's current strategic plan proposes an expansion
of the research portfolio and increased support for workforce
development. The Foundation will ensure that the focus on
training awards and innovative research in its current portfolio
remains a priority. Three elements are central components of the
Foundation's continued growth of its programs and positioning
to have an even greater impact on the health of patients living
with rheumatic disease: expanding the rheumatology pipeline,
accelerating discoveries, and leveraging relationships to grow
rheumatology.
Many years ago, the Foundation adopted the process of
convening regular portfolio review panels (PRPs) to evaluate
mission-related programming, allowing us to address the
ever-changing needs of the entire rheumatology community.
ACR CONVERGENCE 2023
20
Research Foundation
The Foundation's fourth PRP was convened in 2022 to
evaluate the awards program and provide recommendations
to the Board of Directors. The PRP was charged with vetting
recommendations through the lenses of impact, cost,
feasibility, and relevance to the mission. We are
excited to share many of the changes that have
already been implemented this year.
Fellowship Training Awards have increased
from one year of funding to two years for adult
programs, and three years for pediatric programs.
This provides consistent financial support
throughout a fellow's training and eliminates the
administrative burden for program directors of
having to apply annually.
Because future medical and graduate students are often
inspired by the scientific fields they are exposed to during
training, the Foundation now offers a Choose Rheumatology
Scholarship specifically for Undergraduate Students and PostBaccalaureate
Training. There are 17 students from around the
country who received this scholarship and are attending the
meeting with us in San Diego.
The Clinician Scholar Educator Award is instrumental in enhancing
education of rheumatic diseases and provides early exposure and
potential recruitment of medical students and residents to pursue
a rheumatology career. Funding for recipients of the Clinician
Scholar Educator Award will increase from $180,000 to $210,000
for the three-year term.
Despite their substantial service to people living with rheumatic
and musculoskeletal diseases, international medical graduates
living and practicing in the U.S. on non-immigrant visas
2023 Meeting Magazine

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