Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiatives

While diagnostics and therapeutics have improved for many people living with rheumatic disease in the U.S., racial, ethnic and socioeconomic status disparities continue to negatively impact patient outcomes. In 2021, the Foundation launched a grant program focused on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) to address disparities in patient care and outcomes of rheumatic diseases, and to attract under-represented minority medical students and residents to rheumatology. Our ultimate goal is to improve health outcomes for adult and pediatric patients living with arthritis.

2022 DEI Awards

• Atrium Health Foundation, NC, Sheetal Vora, Research initiative (two-year)
• Baylor College of Medicine, TX, Angela Chun, Curriculum Development, pediatrics (one-year)
• Boston University, MA, Maureen Dubreuil, Research Initiative, adult (two-year)
• Boston University, Eugene Kissin, Curriculum Development, adult (one-year)
• Brigham & Women’s Hospital, MA, Candace Feldman, Curriculum Development, adult (one-year)
• Washington University in St. Louis, MO, Daphne Lew, Research initiative, adult (one-year)

2021 DEI Awards

• Duke University NC, Lisa Criscione-Schreiber, Curriculum Development, combined adult-pediatric (one-year)
• Indiana University, IN, Olivia Kwan, Research Initiative, pediatrics (two-year)
• Indiana University, IN, Martha Rodriguez, Curriculum Development, pediatrics (one-year)
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, Alfredo Rivadeneira, Research Initiative, adult (two-year)
• University of California Los Angeles, CA, John FitzGerald, Research Initiative, adult (two-year)
• University of California San Francisco, CA, William Soulsby, Research Initiative, pediatrics (two-year)