The Pediatric subcommittees have been very busy over the last twelve months, offering a variety of educational opportunities in addition to producing manuscripts and guidance materials.
Here is a summary of some of the important work they have completed over the past year:
- The Canadian Autoinflammatory Case Rounds (CANaC) Steering Committee offered two presentations for pediatric members with interactive case presentations by CRA members Drs. Rebeka Stevenson and Marinka Twilt, and invited guests Dr. Jenny Garkaby (immunologist) and Dr. Ashish Marwaha (geneticist).
- The Education Subcommittee offered two accredited National Grand Rounds webinars: “'Hip tips' to avoid the 'cold shoulder' – sport medicine conditions not to miss!” by Drs. Kristin Houghton and Claire Leblanc and “What to Consider After Methotrexate and Mycophenolate Treatment in Localized Scleroderma: Biologics and JAK Inhibitors” by Drs. Kathryn Torok and Suzanne Li.
- Drs. Evelyn Rozenblyum and Mercedes Chan gave a talk on non-articular joint pain and pain syndromes at the Canadian Paediatric Society meeting in Vancouver in June 2024 (see photo).
- The Human Resources subcommittee presented their qualitative study describing models of pediatric rheumatology care across Canada, led by
Dr. Molly Dushnicky, as an abstract at the CRA Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) in Winnipeg. Key themes of importance in care processes include: geographical barriers to care; the value of advanced clinician practitioners in arthritis care (ACPACs); community rheumatologists helping improve access to care; shortages and inconsistencies nationally in allied health resources including social work support and physiotherapists and occupational therapists knowledgeable about rheumatology care; and virtual care. Identification of these themes will lead to future advocacy efforts to improve equity and access to care for pediatric rheumatology patients across Canada.
- The Pediatrics Committee collaborated with the Human Resources Committee to deliver a physician coaching program to CRA members led by ICF-Certified Coach Dr. Kate Baldwin. The themes for these group sessions included: 1) Core values and meaning in work; 2) Self-compassion; and
3) Boundary setting. At completion of the program, 100% of participants indicated they had made (or planned to make) changes to work and/or life habits based on topics discussed in coaching sessions.
Drs. Mercedes Chan and Evelyn Rozenblyum at the Canadian Paediatric Society meeting in Vancouver (June 2024).
Nadia Luca, MD, FRCPC, MSc
Chair, CRA Pediatrics Committee
Associate Professor of Pediatrics,
University of Ottawa
Chief, Division of Dermatology and Rheumatology,
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario
Ottawa, Ontario
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