American College of Rheumatology Wins Three Awards for Outstanding Public Relations Efforts
ATLANTA – The American College of Rheumatology's first public relations campaign, Simple Tasks, received three awards for creatively elevating the awareness about the devastating impact and severity of rheumatic diseases and the important role of rheumatologists in their diagnosis and treatment.
Launched in September 2011, Simple Tasks illustrates that the easiest tasks—such as brushing teeth, eating, buttoning clothes, or driving a car—can become impossible for more than seven million Americans who suffer from inflammatory rheumatic diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and gout. The campaign also highlights the importance of rheumatologists in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with these diseases and aims to influence lawmakers to create favorable public policy that supports rheumatology as a subspecialty as well as encourage referring physicians and health professionals to make early and appropriate referrals to rheumatologists.
The Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals awarded the Simple Tasks campaign two Hermes Creative Awards and one AVA Award. The Hermes Awards are an international competition for creative professionals involved in the concept, writing and design of traditional and emerging media. The AVA Awards recognize outstanding work by creative professionals involved in the concept, writing, direction, shooting, and editing of film, digital and audiovisual materials.
The Simple Tasks campaign white paper, "Rheumatic diseases in America: The problem, the impact, and the answers," received the highest honor. The publication builds the case for the campaign by including more than 55 citations and rheumatology facts. Since the campaign launched, several hundred papers have been downloaded and distributed to key members of the campaign audience.
Simple Tasks Awards
- 2012 Hermes Creative Award, Platinum: White Paper, "Rheumatic diseases in America: The problem, the impact, and the answers".
- 2012 Hermes Creative Award, Gold: Communications Plan, Enhancing the Perceived Value of Rheumatology.
- 2011 AVA Award, Gold: Video Production, State of Rheumatology.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., the American College of Rheumatology is an international professional medical society that represents more than 8,500 rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals. Rheumatologists are internists or pediatricians who are qualified by training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis and other diseases of the joints, muscles and bones. Over 50 million Americans — including nearly 300,000 children — suffer from the painful, disabling and sometimes fatal effects of arthritis and rheumatic diseases. The ACR's mission is to advance rheumatology. Learn more by visiting www.rheumatology.org or follow ACR on Twitter at twitter.com/acrheum.
