Category Archives: Awards

Meet Our Newest UCSF Fellow!

Because access to care is not always guaranteed, we’ve been working to help close the gap on the nation’s rheumatologist shortage through our fellowship initiative. The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) recently announced the recipient of the Arthritis Foundation’s Charles F. and Marilyn Meier Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship fund award. This award is specifically given to pediatric fellowship students at UCSF. The 2019-2020 award goes to William D. Soulsby, III, MD. Continue reading Meet Our Newest UCSF Fellow!

Iris Jordan

Iris Jordan – 2019 Jingle Bell Run National Youth Honoree

Since age 7, Iris Jordan has been living and thriving with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, along with other medical conditions that were diagnosed when she was 9: Ehlers-Danlos hypermobility syndrome and pain amplification syndrome. Now 15 and a high school sophomore, Iris endures what most teens can’t even imagine. Yet despite her daily challenges, she has exceptional tenacity, pursuing the things that give her joy while navigating unpredictable pain and fatigue. Continue reading Iris Jordan – 2019 Jingle Bell Run National Youth Honoree

Meet Uptej Khalsa: One of Our Newest Foundation-sponsored Fellows!

Because access to care is not always guaranteed, we’ve been working to help close the gap on the nation’s rheumatologist shortage through our fellowship initiative. Stanford University recently announced the recipient of the Arthritis Foundation’s Jessica Saal Bequest. This 2019-20 award is specifically awarded to a pediatric fellowship student at Stanford University. Congratulations to recipient Uptej Khalsa, MD! Continue reading Meet Uptej Khalsa: One of Our Newest Foundation-sponsored Fellows!

2019 Evening of Honors: Best of the Best Among Arthritis Volunteers

The 2019 Live Yes! Conference of Champions, Sept. 13-15, sparked conversation, learning and celebration. Many Arthritis Warriors joined top volunteers, partners and other supporters of the arthritis movement to move our crucial work ahead. Ultimately, this ongoing work will help even more people with arthritis live their best life.

As a highlight of the conference, the Arthritis Foundation’s 2019 Evening of Honors was held in Atlanta on Sept. 13. There, we recognized Champions of Yes who have demonstrated what’s possible. The special evening was hosted for the second year in a row by Pete Scalia, co-anchor of WBNC 10TV’s “This Morning” news program in Columbus, Ohio. Pete has been very open about living with RA and highly engaged in local Arthritis Foundation activities. Continue reading 2019 Evening of Honors: Best of the Best Among Arthritis Volunteers

Meet Vin Sivan Pillai: One of Our Newest Foundation-Sponsored Fellows!

Because access to care is not always guaranteed, we’ve been working to help close the gap on the nation’s rheumatologist shortage through our fellowship initiative.  In June, we announced four new fellowship awards. One of those grants was offered to SUNY Downstate Medical Center, which has been awarded to Dr. Vin Sivan Pillai.

Already serving a very diverse community, the SUNY Downstate program is also addressing the needs of young adults transitioning from pediatric to adult care. This innovative program, involving rheumatologists, urban health planners, the city of Brooklyn and the Arthritis Foundation, seeks to understand the needs of young adult patients.

Dr. Pillai will be a welcome addition, with a very diverse medical background spanning several countries. He explained his journey: “I grew up in Dubai in a very multicultural environment. I decided to go to medical school in India to get some real-world experience. During my time there, I had to learn two new languages to converse with my patients. I worked in underserved areas where my patients didn’t have easy access to health care.”

Dr. Pillai moved to the UK for his residency, hoping to get into endocrinology. After completing his training, he decided to pursue better opportunities in the U.S. During his residency at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut, Dr. Pillai got interested in rheumatology.

“I saw some really interesting cases while on the rheumatology rotation. These cases were complex and required collaboration with providers from other fields,” he says.  “Not only would I get the chance to sharpen my knowledge to become a well-rounded rheumatologist, but I would also get to work with providers and caregivers from other fields. I cherish the opportunity of establishing meaningful long-term relationships, and there is nothing more rewarding than seeing my patients make progress.”

“My training in India, the UK and America have given me a strong sense of cultural awareness, which helps me connect with my patients on a much more personal level,” he explains. “After completing the fellowship, I hope to work at a teaching hospital.”

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Dr. Pillai is just one new rheumatologist who’s helping bridge the gap in the shortage of much-needed specialists.

 


Spring 2019 Childhood Research Grants Announced

We recently granted $232,357 to childhood arthritis research. Grants are funded through the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA). Small grants were given to pediatric rheumatologists and fellows; more awards were given to third-year fellowship students. The following projects have been funded from July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020. Continue reading Spring 2019 Childhood Research Grants Announced

Meet Irvin Huang: One of Our Newest Foundation-sponsored Fellows!

Meet Irvin Huang: One of Our Newest Foundation-sponsored Fellows!

Because access to care is not always guaranteed, we’ve been working to help close the gap on the nation’s rheumatologist shortage through our fellowship initiative. In June, we announced five new fellowship awards for 2018. One of those grants was offered to the University of Washington (UW), which recently announced that the fellowship will be awarded to Irvin Huang, doctor of osteopathic (DO) medicine.

Dr. Huang became interested in medicine as a young child after being inspired by the free health care he received from a student-run clinic serving the local indigent and immigrant communities near his childhood home in California.

From there, he pursued his undergraduate studies in biological sciences at the University of California, Davis. During those years, he volunteered as a patient advocate and interpreter for Chinese immigrants at the very same free clinic that helped him in his youth. After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree, he continued his volunteer work at the clinic and established a referral system that streamlined patient access to more advanced medical care at the local county hospital.

Dr. Huang attended medical school at A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona and completed his postgraduate training in Portland, Oregon. He completed the UW internal medicine residency program in Boise, Idaho. Residents in the UW Boise internal medicine residency program train at all three of the major hospitals in the area, which exposes them to unique patient populations at each hospital and provides a well-rounded resident education. While there, Dr. Huang gained an interest in rheumatology.

Dr. Huang was recently chosen for the rheumatology fellowship at UW in Seattle. This program provides regional support for five states. They also work with underserved Native Americans. UW has a history of excellence in academic training, with strong interactions between the adult and pediatric training programs.

Dr. Huang is excited about this program because it offers him the opportunity to care for a diverse population with complex diseases and form long-term relationships with his patients. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, our fellowship program is helping Dr. Huang as a first-year fellow in rheumatology at UW.

 

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Closing the Gap in the Nation’s Rheumatologist Shortage

Access to care for arthritis patients isn’t always a guarantee. All too often, seeing a rheumatologist includes traveling out of state because of the severe rheumatologist shortage. We are committed to closing this gap by offering fellowship grants to universities in underserved areas that offer innovative training programs. Continue reading Closing the Gap in the Nation’s Rheumatologist Shortage

Arthritis Foundation-CARRA Grant Awardees Announced

The Arthritis Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the most recent round of Arthritis FoundationCARRA Large and Small Grants! The CARRA (Childhood Arthritis & Rheumatology Research Alliance) members below were recently awarded one-year grants with project dates of April 1, 2019 – March 31, 2020. Continue reading Arthritis Foundation-CARRA Grant Awardees Announced

2018 fellow recipient Margaret Guthrie

Meet Dr. Guthrie: One of Our Newest Foundation-Sponsored Fellows!

Because access to care is not always guaranteed, we’ve been working to help close the gap on the nation’s rheumatologist shortage through our fellowship initiative. In June, we announced five new fellowship awards for 2018. One of those grant awards was offered to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) adult rheumatology program. Doctors at UAB help their community in several ways, including pilot programs in telecare, disease specific clinics, and a clinic for uninsured patients. Continue reading Meet Dr. Guthrie: One of Our Newest Foundation-Sponsored Fellows!