The Association of Rheumatology Professionals Selects Long Time Physical Therapist to Lead the Organization

SAN DIEGO – Today, the Association of Rheumatology Professionals (ARP), a division of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), announced the appointment of Aileen Ledingham, PT, MS, PhD as the ARP’s 58th president during ACR Convergence 2023, the ACR’s annual meeting.

"The ARP has been a professional home for me for more than a decade—providing the support, resources and educational value needed to excel in my rheumatology career,” said Ledingham. “To now be trusted to lead this organization and all it does to serve rheumatology health professionals and their patients is a true honor.”

As an ARP member, Ledingham has held various leadership positions including co-chair of the ACR membership & awards committee and chair of the ARP eLearning subcommittee. She has also been a member of the ACR finance and education committees, and the ARP nominations and appointments committee. For the past few years, she has been a member of the ARP executive committee as secretary and president-elect leading up to her appointment as ARP president.

Ledingham earned a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from Northeastern University, a master’s degree in pediatric physical therapy from Long Island University, and a doctorate in rehabilitation sciences from Boston University. She is currently a physical therapist clinical scientist working at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her research interest is in the field of knee osteoarthritis, specifically on how to help patients use exercise and physical activity to improve their quality of life.

Ledingham’s term begins this month along with the recently appointed 2023-2024 ARP Executive Committee:

• President Elect - Adam Goode, PT, DPT, PhD
• Secretary - Becki Cleveland, PhD
• Immediate Past President - Kori Dewing, ARNP, DNP
• Practice Committee Chair - Annelle Reed, CPNP, MSN
• eLearning Committee Chair – Adena Batterman, MSW
• ARP AMPC Chair – Priscilla Calvache, MSW, LCSW
• Member-at-Large, Finance – Jillian Rose-Smith, MSW, MPH, PhD
• Member-at-Large – Bharati Bhardwaja, PharmD, BCPS, LSSBB
• Member-at-Large - Yvonne Golightly, PT, MS, PhD
• Committee on Research Liaison – Kaleb Michaud, PhD
• Committee on Government Affairs Liaison – Donald Miller, PharmD, FASHP
• ACR Representative – Sam Lim, MD, MPH

The ARP, which serves more than 1,200 members, exists to equip rheumatology professionals with the tools needed to provide quality care for patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. ARP members include nurses, nurse practitioners, occupational therapists, physician assistants, physical therapists, pharmacists, practice managers, researchers, social workers and other non-physician professionals in various rheumatology and healthcare settings.

Media Contact
Monica McDonald
mmcdonald@rheumatology.org
404-365-2162

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About the Association of Rheumatology Professionals
The Association of Rheumatology Professionals (ARP) is a division of the American College of Rheumatology built by rheumatology professionals, for rheumatology professionals. Our goal is to empower rheumatology professionals by providing education, advocacy, and practice management tools.

About the American College of Rheumatology
Founded in 1934, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is a not-for-profit, professional association committed to advancing the specialty of rheumatology that serves nearly 8,500 physicians, health professionals, and scientists worldwide. In doing so, the ACR offers education, research, advocacy and practice management support to help its members continue their innovative work and provide quality patient care. Rheumatology professionals are experts in the diagnosis, management and treatment of more

About ACR Convergence
ACR Convergence, the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, is where rheumatology meets to collaborate, celebrate, congregate, and learn. With more than 320 sessions and thousands of abstracts, it offers a superior combination of basic science, clinical science, business education and interactive discussions to improve patient care. For more information about the meeting, visit the ACR Convergence page, or join the conversation on Twitter by following the official hashtag (#ACR23).