Summer 2016 (Volume 26, Number 2)

Advice on Advisory Boards

By Christine Charnock, CEO

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This issue, the CRA surveyed members about their thoughts on Advisory Boards meetings; read on for a closer look at the advice provided. The survey was sent to the entire membership, of whom 194 members (37%)
contributed their feedback. That noted, the results depicted below are reflective of rheumatologists currently in practice.

More than half (59%) of respondents replied they do attend Advisory Board meetings (Table 1); Table 2 lists the most common reasons noted, including educational opportunity (25%), opportunity to connect with key opinion leaders (25%), and as a source of income outside of clinical practice (22%).

On the other side of the spectrum, the 41% of respondents who do not attend Advisory Boards named lack of time (39%) as the primary reason why (Table 3).

The CRA asked whether they could provide a different opportunity to address member needs in lieu of Advisory Board meetings (Table 4); interestingly, the general consensus was no (73%). Of the 41% of respondents who indicated they do not attend advisory board meetings, 27% thought the CRA should provide some other opportunities to achieve some of the same goals, while of those 59% who attend the meetings, 24% thought that the CRA should provide other opportunities. Those who said yes suggested having the CRA offer small unbranded regional meetings, in-person or online, to highlight pivotal new publications, study results, or emerging data. Communicating how members could become more involved with the CRA in their region and providing CRA-endorsed state-of-the-art continuing medical education (CME) from key opinion leaders were also mentioned. Many responses commended the CRA for already hosting an excellent annual scientific meeting.

Further conversations within the CRA will ensue. However, we certainly appreciate our members weighing in on this key issue. We are always open to further ideas or feedback, so feel free to contact me at christine@rheum.ca.

Christine Charnock, CEO
Newmarket, Ontario