Summer 2024 (Volume 34, Number 2)

Presidential Address

By Trudy Taylor, MD, FRCPC

Download PDF

Thank you, Nigil, for your leadership and commitment to the continued success and evolution of the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) over the past two years. Your enthusiasm, creativity, and kindness have resulted in tremendous growth and engagement, which our members have enjoyed.

I entered my rheumatology training in Halifax in 2004 and have been a member of the CRA since that time. I was fortunate to have mentors who drew my attention to the value of CRA membership, not only for the valuable educational offerings, but also to help me make connections within this community of rheumatologists across our country. Over the years, I have enjoyed working with many of our members in one capacity or another. With the support of the CRA, I have also had the opportunity to develop my leadership skills as I took on more leadership roles within committees and eventually on the Board of Directors. This is my second stint on the Board of Directors, having served a six-year term earlier in my career.

After joining the board for the first time, one of my first revelations was that the CRA is its members. Before this realization, I thought of the CRA as an entity I belonged to that had established educational and operational offerings. I could not have been more wrong. The owners of the CRA are its members; we all have a role and a voice in developing the priorities of the CRA! I am fortunate to be a part of this vibrant, enthusiastic, and supportive community of rheumatology specialists nationwide, and I feel fortunate to have a voice in our organization.

During my term as CRA President, I hope to foster connections between Canada’s provincial and regional rheumatology societies to help support advocacy work at the provincial level by sharing successes and experiences. I am also excited to continue to grow and learn in our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). I thank our EDI Taskforce and consultant, Amorell Saunders N’Daw, for spearheading this work. We are starting to see the incorporation of the EDI lens in our day-to-day activities at the CRA, and I hope to foster more of this during my tenure and beyond! Finally, I am thrilled to support our new global health initiative, led by our incoming Vice President, Stephanie Tom. I am confident that with the support of our members and the tireless efforts of our CEO, Ahmad Zbib, along with our fantastic support staff, we will be able to meet these aspirations!

I look forward to serving this organization as President for the next two years. Thank you for putting your trust in me to take on this role.

From left to right: Dr. Trudy Taylor, the new CRA President, Dr. Nigil Haroon, the outgoing CRA President, and Dr. Ahmad Zbib, the CRA CEO.

Trudy Taylor, MD, FRCPC
President, Canadian Rheumatology Association
Associate Professor,
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia