Special Projects are short-term, low time commitment volunteer activities.
WHO: Open to all current members of the ACR/ARP. Ideally suited for first-time volunteers!
WHAT: These positions vary in nature. Examples include writing a column for The Rheumatologist, reviewing website content, or sending an email to your lawmakers.
WHEN: Applications are accepted year round. Committee leaders will reach out to interested volunteers on an as-needed basis.
WHY: Enhance your CV with volunteerism and connect with your rheumatology colleagues while maintaining flexibility in your busy schedule.
HOW: Click the button “Special Projects Volunteer Application” to tell us your preferred areas of service. The staff liaison for your selections will contact you as opportunities arise.
Special Projects Volunteer Application
Special Projects Volunteer Opportunities
The opportunities are organized by committee. Next to each opportunity, you will also see an icon which indicates the type of activity, e.g., advocacy, research, technology, etc. Refer to the Volunteer Categories section at the top of this page to see a legend of the icons.
ACR
Ethics and Conflicts of Interest
- Write or edit a column regarding ethics or conflict of interest for the Ethics Forum in The Rheumatologist
- Plan publicity to promote the ethics session at ACR Convergence, the ACR's annual meeting, or other meetings (e.g., social media, annual meeting newspaper, etc.)
- Research a particular issue for the committee (e.g., COI policies for other specialty publications or how other specialties handle Sunshine Act requirements)
Nominations and Appointments
- Increase public awareness during nominations period to encourage members to nominate a colleague or self-nominate for an available committee position or award
Communications and Marketing
- Serve as a reviewer to comment on new content, advertisements, or products
- Write an article for The Rheumatologist with an emphasis on drug safety
- Participate in testing new website features or other technology updates
- Become an expert-on-call for media inquiries
Education
- Review abstracts submitted for the ACR's annual meeting
- Serve on the educational meeting planning committee
- Write test questions for CME/MOC activities
- Review images submitted for the ACR's annual meeting
Pediatric Rheumatology
- Serve as an AMIGO mentor to address the needs of early career pediatric rheumatologists
- Speak at the Faculty Panel or Fellows-in-Training Panel at the ACR's annual meeting to answer questions from individuals participating in the Pediatric Residents Program
- Serve as a Poster Tour Guide for the Pediatric Rheumatology Residents Program to highlight posters specifically of interest to pediatric rheumatologists
Quality of Care
- Review drafts of ACR quality measures and provide feedback on feasibility in practice, validity, and other metrics
- Assist in concept development for quality measures (e.g., work as part of a small group to review guideline recommendations, prioritize, and draft quality indicator statements)
Government Affairs and RheumPAC
- Sign up for the ACR Key Contacts advocacy program
- Go to a local fundraising event for your representative and deliver a RheumPAC check
- Write an advocacy or issue-focused article for ACR@Work
- Write an advocacy or issue-focused article for The Rheumatologist
- Send an email to your lawmakers
- Write an open letter to your legislative delegation
- Help pilot new strategies for member outreach and communications with lawmakers
- Edit a survey to the fellows in training regarding their interests and experiences in health policy
Research
- Assist with publicizing the annual Rheumatology Research Workshop
- Review the Clinical Research Conference agenda
- Review the Basic Research Conference agenda
- Provide speaker recommendations for the ACR/EULAR Exchange Program half-day workshop
- Assist with the annual funding report as needed: draft responses to NIH Request for Information on behalf of the College
Rheumatology Research Foundation
- Become a peer reviewer: The Foundation’s peer review process engages experts to examine proposals for rigor, integrity, and quality; new Study Section members are recruited annually
- Teach precept students in NP/PA programs
Partnerships
- Present a one-hour session in your community on the topics of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and juvenile arthritis. Presentation and materials provided by the U.S. Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI).
Training and Workforce
- For fellows in training: Write a Fellows’ Forum column for The Rheumatologist
Collaborative Initiatives
- Present education to non-rheumatology clinicians through ACR coordinated in-person or virtual sessions
- Develop content for CME activities
- Review patient education materials on lupus to ensure information is accurate and current
- Review education materials for non-rheumatology clinicians and non-clinicians that provide information on self-management
ARP
Membership and Nominations
- Write a column for membership and nominations in The Rheumatologist
- Plan publicity to promote networking events at the ACR's annual meeting (or other meetings), e.g., social media, newsletter, etc.
- Plan and promote membership outreach initiatives
- Serve as a greeter during the ACR's annual meeting networking events
- Initiate membership and volunteer communications for outreach engagement
- Increase awareness during award nominations and encourage members to nominate a colleague for an award or committee or self-nominate for a committee position
- Participate in an interview to highlight membership resources and/or volunteer engagement
- Mentor other rheumatology professionals in a specific profession or topic area
- Lead/facilitate a community of practice professional group
Practice
- Write articles for The Rheumatologist on rheumatology professionals, workforce issues, payer relations, administration management, health information technology, guidelines, criteria development, or quality measures
- Develop, review, and/or update medication guides for rheumatology professionals
- Develop, review, and/or update patient education materials
- Develop, review, and/or update practice support resources
- Plan publicity to promote workforce webinars, e.g., social media, newsletter, etc.
Annual Meeting Program
- Write articles for The Rheumatologist to raise awareness, highlight, and advise the rheumatology community on annual meeting sessions and tracks that will meet their needs
eLearning
- Write online educational activities and/or webinars
- Serve as a reviewer to comment on new content, advertisements, or products
- Participate in an interview to provide educational activity highlights
- Write test questions for online educational activities
- Plan publicity to promote workforce webinars, e.g., social media, newsletter, etc.
Research
- Serve as speaker and/or facilitator for research webinars
- Write articles for The Rheumatologist on research topics such as how to manage big data in research findings, best practice of basic research, emerging approaches to clinical trials, etc.
- Plan publicity to promote research webinars, e.g., social media, newsletter, etc.