Bharat Kumar, MD, MME, clinical assistant professor in the Division of Immunology and associate director of the Rheumatology Fellowship program, has been selected as a member of the American College of Rheumatology’s (ACR) Board of Directors. As one of the 13 at-large members of the ACR Board of Directors, Kumar will help to govern ACR activities and supervise the affairs of the 7,700 members. 

“This three-year term will enable me to help steer one of the nation’s most influential medical specialty societies even further towards an agenda that advances wellness, justice, and empowerment of all those whose lives are impacted by rheumatologic diseases,” Kumar said.

As one of the youngest members on the Board of Directors, Kumar hopes to prioritize the interests and well-being of rheumatologists early in their careers. Kumar’s appointment will begin in November of this year and end in November 2023.

Since becoming associate director of the Rheumatology Fellowship program in 2018, Kumar has been a leader in rheumatology education at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. This past spring, Kumar created a musculoskeletal sonoanatomy coloring book to help beginners master the ins and outs of ultrasound machines. Most recently, Kumar worked with Manish Suneja, MD, and Melissa Swee, MD, MS, MME, to evaluate leadership training programs in the US and Canada.

Founded in 1938, the American College of Rheumatology is committed to advancing the rheumatology subspecialty and improving care for patients with rheumatologic diseases.