AJAI
Welcome to the Alabama Juvenile Arthritis Initiative
My name is Blair Newman, and I serve as Development Director of Juvenile Arthritis Programs for the Arthritis Foundation, Alabama Chapter. 
More importantly, I am an adult who has lived with juvenile arthritis for more than 27 years. However, I consider myself very fortunate because I was diagnosed early, at age two, and because of their professions, my parents were aware of the therapies necessary to avoid the potentially devastating effects of the disease. Thousands of other kids in Alabama are not so fortunate.
But now we have a chance to help through the Alabama Juvenile Arthritis Initiative, a statewide effort to continue to support the newly established pediatric rheumatology program within the UAB Department of Pediatrics.
With fewer than 200 pediatric rheumatologist in the country, our first priority was to recruit at least two such specialists to Alabama for the purpose of early diagnosis and treatment of children with juvenile arthritis, which is essential in preventing life-long physical and emotional change. We accomplished this goal in the fall of 2007. Alabama now has 2 pediatric rheumatologists treating children at our local Children's Hospital.
The mission of the Alabama Juvenile Arthritis Initiative is to establish a pediatric rheumatology program that will enhance access to care and lead to the prevention, control and cure of juvenile arthritis for children within our state.
Providing BETTER CARE for a BRIGHTER FUTURE!
Now that this pediatric rheumatology program has been established, we are able to provide:
- Early diagnosis and treatment for juvenile arthritis patients;
- Research in pediatric rheumatologic conditions; and
- Delivery of quality academic instruction in pediatric rheumatology, which will in turn allow the UAB Department of Pediatrics to produce their own pediatric rheumatologists.
The ultimate objective is to ensure the best possible outcome for children with rheumatic diseases.
But our work is FAR from over. We would like to further establish the program with the inclusion of at least one new fellow at the clinic in 2010. Please join me and the many other Alabamians committed to this worthwhile effort.
