Global Summit provides world view of current challenges in rheumatology

The Global Rheumatology Summit examines the essential core issues of rheumatology—from disease types to the role of genetics, environmental health, and access to care in determining patient outcomes—through a global lens. 

“Sometimes it’s a different approach to a disease that we know well, or it’s an alternative approach or an innovative approach to an education model that is different from the one that we’ve been classically taught,” said Laura Lewandowski, MS, MD, chair of the Education Planning Committee for the Summit. “It’s a wide range of speakers from the U.S. and elsewhere interacting and discussing the world of rheumatology on a global scale.”

Now in its second year, the Global Rheumatology Summit will take place entirely online, on the ACR Convergence 2022 meeting platform, on Thursday, November 10, from 7:30 a.m.–4:50 p.m. ET.

While the scope of rheumatology outside the borders of the United States has long been a component of ACR Convergence, previously there was not a consolidated focal point for the recurrent issues being handled in different parts of the world.

“Having a day of programming helps to better engage the audience and enable more interesting conversations and collaborations to come out of the programming,” Dr. Lewandowski said. “Last year our first program built a foundation, and now we’re ready to expand and explore different avenues under the umbrella of global health.”

The opening keynote presentation, 7:45-9 a.m. ET, will feature a discussion on Global Impacts of Climate Change, Conflict and Migration on Human Health and Disease.

“Our keynotes are really outstanding every year, and this year will be no different,” Dr. Lewandowski said. “We’re going to open with a session on the global impact of climate change on health, which impacts us as rheumatologists, as humans, and as physicians who are operating in the world.”

Additional presentations include:

• Global Meet the Experts: Idiopathic Inflammatory Myositis: 9:15–10:30 a.m. ET
• Bridging Gaps in Global Access to Rheumatology Care and Medications: 10:30–11:30 a.m. ET
• Training the Next Generation: New Mentorship Models in Rheumatology Education, Research and Care: 11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m. ET
• Reciprocal Innovation in Global Rheumatology: 1–2 p.m. ET                      
• Global Researcher Spotlight: Strategies That Can Improve Health and Reduce Resource Waste in Different Healthcare Settings Around the Globe: 2:15–3:05 p.m. ET
• Moving the Needle – Advocacy in Global Rheumatology (Global LARS Session): 3:20–4:10 p.m. ET

“All of us tend to focus closely on our home setting, and I think getting diverse perspectives can open our eyes to different models and different ways of working and of caring for patients that can be helpful for physicians everywhere,” Dr. Lewandowski said.

The Global Rheumatology Summit fosters international innovation by highlighting how the intersection of different healthcare systems, access to medicine, and patient populations can affect outcomes.

“The more that we can be aware and connected as we work as a global community of physicians, rheumatologists, and researchers to improve the lives of patients, the better it is for communities all around the world,” Dr. Lewandowski said.