A new program to commemorate his legacy has been announced for ACR Convergence attendees.
As ACR Convergence 2023 registrations open, a new travel scholarship in honour of Dr Phil Robinson has been announced.
The Phil Robinson Global Scholars Program provides free registration and a travel stipend of up to US$3500, and will be awarded to people from outside the US and Canada.
To be eligible, applicants need to show a commitment to clinical rheumatology, rheumatology education, research and/or advocacy. Priority will be given to applicants from low- and middle-income countries. Full details of eligibility criteria and the application form are available on the ACR registration page.
Dr Jinoos Yazdany, who was Dr Robinson’s deputy chair on the Global Rheumatology Alliance (GRA), said that the initiative aims to build a community of global rheumatology scholars.
“We wanted the scholarship program to reflect the things that Phil cared deeply about: global collaboration and mentoring trainees,” she told Rheumatology Republic.
“We considered a number of options and after months of deliberation, agreed that a scholarship that would make it possible for rheumatologists around the world to attend the ACR, attending networking events, and being paired with a mentor would be a perfect fit.
“I know that Phil would have cherished a program that provided opportunities for rheumatologists and trainees from around the world to come to the ACR, a meeting that he loved attending. We are also especially grateful that the ACR agreed to house the program.”
Professor Rebecca Grainger, another GRA colleague who was also involved in the creation of the scholarship, told Rheumatology Republic:
“Phil got such a buzz from connecting with the rheumatology community at the ACR meetings. I think this could be related to coming from a small country – New Zealand – a long way from the large centres of rheumatology.
“To extend the opportunity to attend ACR Convergence to emerging rheumatologists and our future leaders from less well-resourced countries is something I think he would be really proud of.”
A spokesperson for ACR said that in this pilot year of the program, three scholarships will be awarded, “with the goal of expanding the program in the future”.
ACR members can now register for the Convergence, which is being held in San Diego, California, from 10-15 November. Early bird rates are US$1099 for all-access and US$799 for scientific sessions only.
Non-members can register from 27 July, with the early bird all-access fee being US$1699 and the scientific sessions option costing US$1199. Trainees, allied health professionals and patients are among those who get a discounted rate of US$799.
The early bird rate ends on 30 August.
Registration fees are the same whether attending online or in person. Recordings of sessions will be available on demand within 24 hours of the session ending. Around 30 sessions will be livestreamed, mostly at rather unforgiving hours of the morning, Australian time. You can see the schedule here.
If you can’t make the time to watch while the conference is on, there is an ‘On demand only’ registration category available for purchase from 16 November – the day after the conference ends. A spokesperson for ACR told Rheumatology Republic they’re still finalising the registration costs.
Thanks to @ACRheum for their support in launching the next phase of @rheum_covid with a global scholarship dedicated to the memory of @philipcrobinson. This initiative aims to cultivate a community of global #rheum scholars—a vision Phil would have cherished. #ACRheum https://t.co/AOKIb2RxXc
— Jinoos Yazdany (@JYazdanyMD) July 6, 2023
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ACR Convergence 2023 will be held from 10-15 November at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Advance programming takes place on 10-11 November, with the main program including scientific sessions starting on 12 November.
