Summer 2023 (Volume 33, Number 2)
Presidential Address
By Nigil Haroon, President,
Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA)
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Dr. Haroon with Dr. Felix Leung,
ORA President
at the 2023 ORA
ASM in King City, ON.
Dear Colleagues,
Greetings!
I hope you are in the best
of health and high spirits.
As the President of the Canadian
Rheumatology Association
(CRA), I always
look forward to different
avenues to connect with the
members of our esteemed
organization. The Journal of
the Canadian Rheumatology
Association (CRAJ) is an excellent
medium towards this
end, and I thank the amazing
team that has been leading this publication over the
years, especially Philip and Jyoti, for this opportunity.
One of the key goals during my Presidency is membership
engagement and, over the last year, I have had multiple opportunities
to interact with our members from different
parts of the country. I strongly believe that meeting you in
your local environments helps develop a deeper understanding
of the diverse cultures, perspectives, and challenges
faced by our membership. This in turn feeds into the success
of another major CRA strategic theme, fostering inclusivity,
diversity, equity, and justice within our organizations. We
are stronger together and I encourage you to invite your rheumatology
colleagues to join the CRA if they are not already
members. Our CEO Dr. Ahmad Zbib and I are keen to meet
you in small gatherings and engage with local rheumatology
communities. These interactions will help forge new
connections, discover unique skill sets among our members,
encourage knowledge sharing and build a more interconnected
and inclusive organization, harnessing the full potential
of our amazing membership. Please let us know if there are
opportunities for the CRA to interact with and help you in
any way. I would also encourage you to participate in leadership
opportunities within the CRA. In addition to working
with different committees, we are currently looking for two
new board members. Based on the demographics and skills
of the current board, adult rheumatologists, and those from
smaller communities and/or within their first ten years of
practice are encouraged to apply. For details on how to apply,
please refer to my May 26th President’s Update email or
reach out to the CRA.
With the amazing CRA staff at the 2023 ASM in Quebec City.
Our Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) continues to serve
as a remarkable platform for our members to gather, connect,
and contribute to the collective growth of our field. It is an
occasion that unites us in a shared passion for education,
improving patient care, expanding our scientific understanding,
and envisioning a brighter future for rheumatology.
Thank you to all who were able to attend and contribute to
the success of our 2023 ASM, virtually or in person in Quebec
City. I sincerely thank the ASM committee who put together
a meticulously curated program, esteemed speakers,
and a diverse array of scientific sessions. The gala event was
a night that we will cherish for a long time. Please mark your
calendar for our 2024 ASM, which will be held in Winnipeg,
Manitoba, from February 28 - March 2, 2024.
At the 2023 Northwest Rheumatism Society (NWRS) meeting in
Vancouver, B.C.
Please visit the CRA website (rheum.ca) and check out
our incredible breadth of activities. Please send us a note
if you would like to be involved in any initiatives. You can
also listen to our highly rated Around the Rheum podcasts.
Thank you to all who are supporting the CRA Foundation
(CRAF). If you have not already done so, please visit
the CRAF website. Under the leadership of our Chair,
Dr. Vandana Ahluwalia, CRAF provides us with an opportunity
to build a sizeable endowment that will help fund research,
training and advocacy through grants, bursaries and
other programs.
Thank you once again for the opportunity to be your president
and I look forward to the next time we meet. Best
wishes for a fantastic summer.
Nigil Haroon, MD, PhD, DM, FRCPC, MBA
President, Canadian Rheumatology Association
Head, Division of Rheumatology,
University Health Network and Mount Sinai Hospital
Associate Professor of Medicine and Rheumatology,
University of Toronto
Senior Scientist, Schroeder Arthritis Institute
Toronto, Ontario
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