Workforce Development: Cultivating a New Generation of Rheumatologists

Over the past few decades, the Arthritis Foundation and the arthritis community have made enormous strides in helping patients. Today, however, there aren’t enough rheumatologists available to diagnose, treat and dispense drugs to the people who need them. Unless something is done, the problem will only get worse.

The growing shortage of rheumatologists (both adult and pediatric) is expected to increase with the shrinking number of medical students specializing in rheumatology combined with a growing number of patients as the population increases and ages. This shortage creates more barriers to care; subsequently, worsening disease outcomes, negatively impacting quality of life, decreasing productivity and increasing mortality rates.

See how we're aiming to address the growing shortage of arthritis specialists, especially in underserved parts of the country.