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Introduction
PURPOSE
The Section on Rheumatology, founded in 1981, was organized for the
purpose of improving the care of infants, children, adolescents, and
young adults with rheumatic diseases and other musculoskeletal disorders
by providing a forum for the exchange of information among pediatric
rheumatologists, and between rheumatologists and general pediatricians
on the diagnosis and management of various rheumatologic problems. The
Section is dedicated to stimulating interest in basic, clinical, and
transitional research relevant to childhood rheumatic disease. Additionally,
the Section is responsible for the dissemination of information regarding
rheumatic diseases to pediatricians, pediatric rheumatologists, and
the lay public, and serves as a consulting body to the AAP Board of
Directors on policy statements and programs relating to pediatric rheumatology.
MEMBERSHIP
The membership of the Section is open to all medical professionals with
a special interest in pediatric rheumatology and a desire to contribute
to the objectives of the section. Accepted membership types include:
- Fellow Members
(including)
- Fellows
- CPS/AAP
Dual Fellows
- ACP/ASIM/AAP
Dual Fellows
- Corresponding
Fellows
- Life Fellows
- Honorary
Fellows
- Retired
Fellows
- Emeritus
Fellows
- Post-Residency
Training Fellows
- Candidate
Fellows
- Resident Members
- Section Affiliate
Members
- licensed
physicians that are not eligible for membership in the Academy;
- registered
nurses and nurse practitioners who are active in pediatric rheumatology;
- occupational
and/or physical therapists; and
- registered
dietitians.
The Section currently
has 140 members and dues are assessed annually. Dues for Fellow are
$40, Resident and Post-Residency Training Fellow Members $10, and Section Affiliate Members $60. For more
information about section activities and benefits, refer to the Section
on Rheumatology Fact Sheet. Complete the Section
Application and the AAP
application (if you are not a member already).
EDUCATION
The Section on Rheumatology presents educational programs at the AAP
National Conference and Exhibition (NCE). The Section sponsors a hands-on
workshop during the NCE and a three-hour seminar on rheumatology for
the generalist. In addition, the Section sponsors a workshop for pediatric
rheumatologists during the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting.
The Section collaborated with the Academy to offer the CME Conference
"Pediatric Rheumatology 2003: Park City and Beyond" held March
22-26, 2003 in Snowmass, Colorado.
AWARDS
The Section sponsors three awards on a yearly basis:
- James
T. Cassidy Award - to recognize an individual who
has distinguished himself/herself through his/her service to the field
of pediatric rheumatology. The 2004 award was presented to Peter Dent,
MD
- Earl
J. Brewer Research Travel Grant -
awarded to a pediatric rheumatology training fellow who has distinguished
himself/herself in the area of clinical research. The 2004 travel
grant was awarded to Jennifer Weiss, MD, for the abstract entitled:
"Pediatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Change in SELENA SLEDAI
Score with Disease Flare"
- Visiting
Professor Program - The yearly visiting professor program
allows interested members of the section on rheumatology to visit
a training program/medical school without a full-time pediatric rheumatologist
on staff.
POLICY
OTHER
INITIATIVES
Other initiatives of the Section:
- Development of
an Annual Fellows Meeting
- Web site map
listing location of pediatric rheumatologists in US and Canada.
- Rheumatology
2003: Park City and Beyond - CME Course
- Women in Pediatric
Rheumatology survey
- Development of
a mentoring program
- Proposal of a
pediatric rheumatology research fellowship
- Memorandum of
Understanding with the American College of Rheumatology and the American
Juvenile Arthritis Organization.
COMMUNICATION
In effort to communicate with section members, the section distributes
a biannual newsletter, maintains a section web site and also maintains
a section e-mail list.
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