Annual Meeting Patient Perspectives
The ACR and ARP invite patients who have been impacted by rheumatic diseases, in conjunction with a patient sponsor organization, to submit their stories for the Patient Perspectives Program. These stories will allow patients affected by rheumatic disease to share their journeys and experiences living with rheumatic diseases with thousands of rheumatology healthcare providers worldwide.
New in 2026, the Patient Perspectives Program offers expanded opportunities for collaboration and participation. Patient presenting authors may indicate whether they wish to be paired with a physician collaborator for their session or prefer to present independently.
The ACR also has enhanced integration between patient voices and the ACR Convergence scientific program; rheumatologists presenting in general scientific sessions may invite or collaborate with a patient advocate to support their educational content where appropriate.
Accepted submissions for the Patient Perspectives session will be published in an official journal of the ACR, Arthritis & Rheumatology. Stories are considered for either a short oral presentation or poster presentation. Both oral and poster presenting authors will have the opportunity to present their story in-person at ACR Convergence. Oral presentations will be featured in a didactic session, and posters will be presented in the Poster Hall. Presenting authors of oral and poster presentations will be provided complimentary registration to ACR Convergence 2026.
Patient Perspectives Eligibility
Who Is Eligible to Submit?
- Members and non-members of the ACR and ARP are eligible to submit. The presenting author is required to be someone who is living with a rheumatic disease. All submissions are required to include a patient sponsor organization, such as a nonprofit patient group.
- Interprofessional partners and loved ones who support patients living with rheumatic diseases (e.g., caregivers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, and other health professionals) are eligible to serve as submitting authors. However, the presenting author must still be a patient impacted by a rheumatic disease. This ensures that lived experience remains central to the Patient Perspectives Program.
- Employees/owners of an ineligible company are not eligible to be the presenting author.
- Organizations that meet the ACCE's definition of an ineligible company are not eligible to be sponsor organizations.
- Presenting authors (patient impacted by rheumatic disease and/or interprofessional caring for a patient with rheumatic disease) may only submit one story, but sponsor organizations may be included in multiple submissions.
What Is Eligible for Submission?
Submissions should meet one of the following criteria:
- Address the question: “What adaptations did you and/or your healthcare team adopt to better care for your health?"
- Describe how you became more engaged in healthcare
- Demonstrate an idea that was put into practice, and how the idea resulted in improved quality of life
- Addresses how a medical professional can incorporate your findings into their everyday practice
What Is Not Eligible for Submission?
- Medication or therapy-specific interventions will not be accepted.
- Submissions that report work that has been accepted for publication as a manuscript (e.g., full-length article, brief report, case report, concise communication or letter to the editor, etc.) prior to the submission deadline of noon ET on June 9 are ineligible for consideration.