Two Grants Help Strengthen the Rheumatology Workforce 

ATLANTA (May 28, 2026) – Continuing its commitment to closing the gap in the rheumatology workforce and reducing health inequities, the Arthritis Foundation has awarded its Rheumatology Workforce Enrichment grants, totaling almost $1 million.  

The workforce shortage in rheumatology remains a critical challenge. By 2030, the number of adult rheumatologists is expected to decline by 31%, leaving them unable to meet the demand, which is predicted to exceed supply by 138%. With more than 58.5 million American adults diagnosed with rheumatic disease and around 300,000 children living with rheumatic disease, more specialists must be trained so they can strengthen the workforce.  

This year’s funding is the second part of a two-phase award. The first phase was a planning grant that supported the development of infrastructure, relationships and processes. In contrast, the second phase is an implementation grant intended to deliver a more diverse career pipeline. 

Upon successful completion of the first phase, Candace Feldman, MD, MPH, ScD, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and James Jarvis, MD, professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington, have received the 2026 Rheumatology Workforce Enrichment grants. 

Dr. Jarvis, a pediatric rheumatologist with extensive experience working with indigenous children with rheumatic disease, used his phase 1 planning grant to establish and strengthen relationships between regional Native American communities and the University of Washington’s academic rheumatology community.  

With the phase 2 grant, Dr. Jarvis and his team will focus on expanding their teaching activities and integrating rheumatology-focused immunology, epidemiology and clinical basics into teaching at tribal colleges in Montana. To increase participation, his team will teach within the context of existing courses at these colleges. They will also continue to promote rheumatology clinical elective and research opportunities among University of Washington medical students and expand an existing opportunity to reach middle school students in the Makah Nation. 

In the first phase of her Rheumatology Workforce Enrichment grant, Dr. Feldman brought together a multidisciplinary, representative team of adult and pediatric rheumatologists as well as allied health professional leaders to build the infrastructure for the Academy for Workforce Advancement to enrich Rheumatology Diversity (AWARD) through four central pillars: mentorship, pathways programs, education and leadership.  

In Phase 2, she will add sustainability as a fifth pillar by assembling national leaders from multiple rheumatology-related organizations to plan for AWARD's future. Phase 2 efforts will also focus on implementing and expanding pillar-specific efforts and building upon Phase 1 collaborations to promote programs accessible to all individuals, while prioritizing outreach to under-resourced communities across geographic areas and to individuals with varied interests and skill sets.  

“The Rheumatology Workforce Enrichment grants represent a strategic investment in the future of care,” says Steven Taylor, president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation. “By supporting programs that build infrastructure, foster partnerships, and create sustainable pathways into the field, we are strengthening the pipeline and ensuring the next generation of rheumatology providers is prepared to meet growing patient needs.” 

The Arthritis Foundation’s Rheumatology Workforce Enrichment grants expose medical trainees to rheumatology early in their careers and provide longitudinal mentoring experiences within collaborating rheumatology departments.