A lot of clinicians assume research belongs to someone else. Big academic center, protected time, a lab down the hall. We would like to gently retire that idea. Some of the most useful questions in rheumatology come from clinicians in community practice who noticed a pattern nobody had written down yet. Which patients relapse after tapering. How access barriers change adherence. What actually happens when a treatment plan meets a real payer. AWIR's clinical research committee has years of experience in both basic and clinical research, and we comply with Good Clinical Practice guidelines. What that means for you is that the methodology support already exists. You do not have to build any of it yourself. We invite members to submit proposals that evaluate gaps in patient access to specialists or to approved treatments. If that sounds like something you have opinions about, you are exactly who we are hoping to hear from. #AWIR #ClinicalResearch #Rheumatology #PatientAccess #WomenInRheumatology

"There is no chapter near me." We hear this a lot, and every single time we think the same thing. Then let us fix that together. More than 70 of our Local Chapters exist because one clinician decided the colleagues around them deserved a place to meet. Not an institution, not a budget line. One person who made the first call and let us help with everything after that. If you have been quietly wishing there was something like this in your area, you are almost certainly the right person to start it. You know who should be in the room. We handle the structure, the support and the connection to the wider AWIR network. The same is true internationally. Our global chapters in places like Ghana, Vietnam, Lebanon, Uruguay and Poland all started exactly this way, and we would love to add your country to the map. Reach out and we will walk you through it: awirgroup.org/meetings/local… #AWIR #LocalChapters #Rheumatology #Leadership #WomenInRheumatology

One week until AWIR's CAR T-Cell Therapy Summit! On the agenda: an accredited session with Bradley Hunter, MD (Intermountain Health) and Sheetal Desai, MD, MSEd (UC Irvine) unpacking mechanisms, eligibility, safety data, and real-world adoption strategies for CAR T-cell therapy in autoimmune disease. Plus, 1.5 CME/MOC. Join virtually from anywhere, or find a Watch Party near you - AWIR Local Chapters are hosting gatherings across the country for live streaming and discussion with colleagues in your area. Free and open to all HCPs. Register at awirgroup.org/summit-sep-202…

Big congresses can be lonely in a way nobody really talks about. Thousands of people, a packed agenda, and somehow you still end up eating lunch alone looking at your phone. If you see the AWIR booth or one of our receptions, please come over. You do not need a reason, you do not need to be a member, and you do not need to already know anyone. That is genuinely what it is there for. To be the corner of a very large meeting where somebody knows your name by the end of the conversation, where you can meet chapter leaders from your region, and where you can ask what AWIR is without anyone making you feel like you should have known. Bring whoever came with you. Bring the fellow attending for the first time who looks a little lost, because every one of us has been that person. Come say hi: awirgroup.org/summit-sep-202… #AWIR #Rheumatology #MedicalConference #WomenInRheumatology #MedicalCommunity

We hear a version of the same sentence all the time. "I am not sure I count." The APP who carries half the panel. The fellow who is not sure they have earned a seat yet. The male colleague who assumed an organization for women in rheumatology was not meant for him. The clinician outside the US who wondered whether this was a North American thing. All of you count. All of you are already welcome here. AWIR membership is open to health care providers whose practices involve the treatment of patients with rheumatic diseases. Physicians, advanced practice providers, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, fellows, medical students and residents, PhDs and PharmDs working in the field, and non-rheumatology clinicians who care for these patients too. Our leadership is 100% women. Our membership is 30% men. That is not a contradiction, it is the whole idea. Our mission is to advance women in rheumatology and to advocate for the highest quality care for patients everywhere, and that work moves faster with everyone in the room. Fellows, medical students and residents join free. Come in: awirgroup.org/become-a-membe… #AWIR #Membership #Rheumatology #WomenInRheumatology #Fellows

Weight-management therapies are emerging as a real tool in psoriatic disease (PsD) care - significant weight loss can lower inflammatory markers, ease joint and skin symptoms, and improve how well biologics work. With new GLP-1 and GIP drugs on the market and demand rising fast among patients, rheumatology teams need a clear plan for contraindications, biologic adjustments, and long-term care. Juliana Simonetti, MD (University of Utah) and Alexis Ogdie, MD, MSCE (University of Pennsylvania) lead AWIR's Obesity and PsD Virtual Summit with a practical, evidence-based playbook you can bring straight into clinic. Free, CME-accredited, virtual or at a local Watch Party. Register: awirgroup.org/summit-oct-202…

Preclinical data and case series are showing something remarkable: CAR T-cell therapy may drive high rates of drug-free remission in severe autoimmune disease. Multiple clinical trials are underway now, with preliminary results already surfacing at major rheumatology congresses in 2026. Are you up to date? Join Bradley Hunter, MD and Sheetal Desai, MD, MSEd at AWIR's Virtual Summit to learn how emerging CAR T therapies compare, which patients are candidates, what the trial data actually shows, and how to build the inter-professional strategy this will require. Free, CME-accredited, available virtually or at a local Watch Party. Register at: awirgroup.org/summit-sep-202…

Somewhere in your panel there is a patient who would have said yes. Nobody ever offered. Not out of neglect, but because the visit ran short, the study did not come to mind, or there simply was no trial within reach of where they live. That gap is one of the things AWIR was built to close. The Alliance, our clinical research arm, exists to engage members and partners in research that improves the treatment of rheumatic diseases and patients' lives, and to find better avenues of access to specialty care. One of our current priorities is improving enrollment of underrepresented populations in rheumatology research. It matters because the evidence all of us practice from is only as representative as the people who were invited into it. If your practice has ever considered participating and did not know where to start, you do not have to work it out alone. We have members who have already done it and are glad to tell you what the first year really looked like. #AWIR #ClinicalTrials #Rheumatology #ClinicalResearch #HealthEquity

GLP-1 and GIP use is exploding - and obesity affects a high percentage of psoriatic disease patients. Is your treatment protocol ready? Obesity and Psoriatic Diseases (PsD) share real inflammatory pathways, and weight management measurably moves disease markers. The open questions: which therapies fit which patients, who has contraindications, how existing PsD therapy should shift once a GLP-1 or GIP enters the picture, and what to do when drugs aren't an option. AWIR's October Virtual Summit brings rheumatology and obesity experts together to answer all of it. Free, CME-accredited, available virtually or at a local Watch Party. Register today: awirgroup.org/summit-oct-202…

There is probably a question you keep running into and have never had time to chase. Why that group of patients keeps relapsing. Why the ones from a certain part of town arrive so much later. Why coverage ends up deciding more than your clinical judgment does. Those questions are not a distraction from patient care. They are usually where the next piece of evidence comes from. AWIR members are already following questions exactly like that. Our teams are currently looking at how insurance policy practices affect treatment access, how air quality relates to disease burden, and how historical redlining shows up in patient outcomes. All of that started with clinicians who noticed something and said it out loud. The Alliance is our clinical research arm, and we actively submit proposals that evaluate gaps in patient access to specialists or to approved treatments, so we can continue helping our patients regardless of background, circumstances, or location. Learn more: awirgroup.org/clinical-resea… #AWIR #ClinicalResearch #Rheumatology #HealthEquity #WomenInRheumatology

Rheumatology can be a quiet specialty. Small departments, solo clinics, long days where the only person who would really understand the case in front of you is three states away. We built Local Chapters so that stops being true. There are more than 70 AWIR chapters across 40 states, run by over 120 leaders who are practicing clinicians just like you. The meetings are small on purpose: scientific updates, case discussions, and honest conversation about what is hard and what is rewarding in clinical practice. A few things people are often surprised to hear: • Attendance is completely free • Everyone is invited, member or not • You do not need to present anything or prepare anything • Bringing a colleague or someone from your team is more than welcome You can find the chapter closest to you on our map, along with the name of the person who leads it. And if there is no chapter near you yet, that is a conversation we would genuinely love to have with you. #AWIR #LocalChapters #Rheumatology #WomenInRheumatology #MedicalCommunity

National meetings inspire. Local chapters sustain.   Real growth doesn’t happen in isolation or once a year at a conference – it happens in the day to day. In the consistent connection, the honest conversations, and the shared experiences with peers who get it, close where you practice.   That is what AWIR Local Chapters are for. For creating spaces where members connect, exchange insights, and strengthen the rheumatology community year-round. If you haven’t been to a Local Chapter meeting – you are missing out.

CAR T-cell therapy reshaped oncology. It's now moving toward autoimmune disease - and rheumatology needs to catch up fast. AWIR's September Summit pairs Bradley Hunter, MD (Director, Immune Effector Cell Therapy, Intermountain Healthcare) with Sheetal Desai, MD, MSEd (Chief of Rheumatology, UC Irvine) — one expert who delivers CAR T, one who'll decide which patients need it. Together, they'll cover the mechanisms behind emerging CAR T options, how to evaluate eligibility and referral, and what the safety and efficacy data actually shows so far. Whether you'll administer this therapy yourself or refer out, this session gets you ready for either. Free, CME-accredited, available virtually or at a local Watch Party. Register: awirgroup.org/summit-sep-202…

"I don't know how we can treat these patients successfully without each other. I know CAR T toxicities. I have a 24/7 cell therapy team on the floor. What I don't have is the decades of expertise in autoimmune disease that my colleagues in rheumatology bring. I can't think of two specialties better positioned to collaborate" — Dr. Bradley D. Hunter, Oncologist & CAR T Program Director, Intermountain Health Hear directly from Dr. Hunter at AWIR's Virtual Summit, where he'll cover CAR T-cell therapy in autoimmune disease: the evidence, the candidates, and the collaboration model that makes it work. Register for FREE and attend from anywhere with seamless virtual access – or elevate the experience by joining colleagues at an AWIR Watch Party: small group viewing gatherings at local restaurants for you to connect while you learn. Open to HCPs only. awirgroup.org/summit-sep-202…

Obesity and psoriatic disease share more biology than most clinicians realize — and the treatment implications are moving fast. AWIR's free virtual Summit brings together two experts working on opposite sides of this overlap: Juliana Simonetti, MD (Director, Obesity Medicine Program, University of Utah) and Alexis Ogdie, MD, MSCE (Director, Penn Psoriatic Arthritis Clinic). Together, they'll cover the inflammatory synergies driving outcomes, what the GLP-1/GIP data means for rheumatology, and how to build weight management into PsD treatment plans that actually work in practice. Free, CME-accredited, and open to virtual attendance or a local Watch Party with your rheumatology community. Register today:awirgroup.org/summit-oct-202…

AWIR has 22 Global Chapters and more than 4,000 members in +60 countries — spanning North, Central, and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Same mission everywhere: advance the science and practice of rheumatology, close care gaps, and address gender disparities in the field. "AWIR's global work isn't about telling countries what to change. It's about listening first, understanding what matters most locally, and then providing the tools and support so rheumatologists can address the challenges they identify themselves." — Silvia Ross, MD, FACR, Co-Chair of Global Affairs for AWIR Learn more about AWIR's global reach: awirgroup.org/about-awir/glo…

"Working within our local chapter helps us get to know our rheumatology community better... which makes the learning and practice of medicine much more enjoyable." — Erin Arnold, MD, AWIR Local Chapter Leader Rheumatology can feel isolating. Watch Parties are the fix. Free, CME-accredited, expert-led Summits — streamed at local restaurants with the colleagues who actually get what your week looks like. Education and connection, in one sitting. Same experts. Same rigor. Same credits. Just built to fit your life. See what's next and register for free: awirgroup.org/meetings/summi…

What makes AWIR's approach to clinical research different? According to Dr. Kerr, it comes down to creating an environment where people feel confident enough to participate, contribute, and grow. Through AWIR, members can engage in research within a familiar and supportive environment while still receiving the same level of thoughtful critique found at major institutions. That combination can give individuals the confidence to pursue opportunities they may otherwise have hesitated to take. And the impact goes beyond research. As Dr. Kerr explains, AWIR has helped members find the confidence to participate in advocacy, speak up, and take on leadership opportunities. Some have truly “blossomed” through the support and encouragement they received. Because the goal isn't simply to advance today's leaders. It's to develop a legacy that others can follow and create opportunities for the next generation to step forward, take positions, and expand the impact of rheumatology. #AWIR #ClinicalResearch #Rheumatology #MedicalResearch #WomenInRheumatology

CAR T‑cell therapies are rapidly emerging as a potential breakthrough in rheumatic diseases – offering early evidence of deep immune reset and even drug‑free remission in patients with severe, refractory disease.   With novel mechanisms, evolving safety considerations, and complex care pathways, rheumatology teams need guidance on how to identify appropriate patients, coordinate multidisciplinary care, and integrate this transformative approach into practice.   Attend AWIR’s CAR T-Cell Summit to learn from the experts already shaping how rheumatology adopts this therapy - and walk away with a framework you can actually use.   Even better: Meet and Learn with Colleagues at an AWIR Summit Watch Party!  Select AWIR Local Chapters are hosting exclusive Watch Parties at select restaurants - where the Virtual Summit comes to life with real-time dialogue and inter-disciplinary networking!    Connect with local clinicians, expand your professional circle, engage in live discussions on clinical insights, and learn from each other to improve care.   Register today at: awirgroup.org/summit-sep-202…

Education doesn't end when the conference does. Neither should support. At AWIR, the commitment to rheumatology professionals extends far beyond educational sessions, mentorship, and advocacy. As Dr. Grace Wright shares, AWIR has launched initiatives specifically designed to meet the evolving needs of independent practitioners, recognizing the unique challenges they face every day. Through the Independent Practice Committee, AWIR provides resources and guidance on topics ranging from access to therapies to the operational and business aspects of running a successful practice. The goal is simple: empower community rheumatologists with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to thrive while continuing to deliver exceptional patient care. Because supporting rheumatology professionals means being there at every stage of their journey, both inside and outside the clinic. #AWIR #IndependentPractice #Rheumatology #MedicalEducation #PhysicianSupport