Patient Advocacy Highlights 2025: Change, Impact, and Progress
I am grateful for patient advocacy, because when darkness enters my life, advocacy brings in a little light to help me find my way through the darkness.
Let’s Get Physical: Evidence Based Resources for Exercising With Arthritis
Resources to get you moving while living with arthritis
10 Online Resources to Combat Fatigue in Rheumatic Diseases.
Trusted Resources to Help You Manage Fatigue
Science Meets Real Life: My Favorite ACR25 Abstracts as a Person With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Resilience, Fatigue, and the Hidden Faces of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Health Literacy in Rheumatology: How Communication, Technology, and Education Shape Care
Understanding health information — and being able to use it to make good decisions — is a cornerstone of managing any chronic condition.
Meet 10 Registered Dietitians Guiding Nutrition for Autoimmune Arthritis
Trusted Nutrition Experts for People Living with Autoimmune Arthritis
Mind Over Matter: How Mental Health Shapes Life with Rheumatic Disease
Across dozens of new studies, researchers highlighted what patients have long known — that chronic illness is never “just physical.” Trauma, depression, fatigue, anxiety, and sleep all shape how rheumatic diseases are lived and treated. Here’s what stood out.
What New Research Says About COVID-19, Rheumatic Diseases, and Vaccination
Several new studies presented at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) meeting offer helpful insights into how different treatments and vaccines may influence risk
GLP-1 Medications: Could They Improve Outcomes in Rheumatic Diseases?
6 Studies on GLP-1 Medications and Rheumatic Diseases at ACR25.
More Than Medicine: What New Research Reveals About Diet, Cannabis, and Integrative Care
Can Lifestyle Choices Help Manage Rheumatic Disease? Here’s What the Research Says
How Genetics and the Environment Can Shape Rheumatic Diseases: 7 Key Studies From ACR25
Rheumatic diseases don’t come from a single cause — they arise from a mix of genetic risk and environmental triggers that interact in complex ways.
Best Practices for Involving Patients in Research
Presentation on best practices for involving patients in research.
Comorbidities and Rheumatoid Arthritis Research At the 2025 American College of Rheumatology meeting
At the 2025 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) meeting, scientists shared new findings that shine a spotlight on these comorbidities—medical problems that develop alongside the primary disease
New Research on Fibromyalgia: Updates from the 2025 American College of Rheumatology Conference
The latest research on Fibromyalgia presented at The 2025 American College of Rheumatology Convergence.
12 Arthritis YouTube Channels You Can trust
The Rheum List — a curated collection of credible rheumatology resources, from trusted medical journals to patient education channels, gathered through lived experience and advocacy to help you find reliable, evidence-based information online.
Top Rheumatology Journals Patients Can Trust: Where to Find Credible, Evidence-Based Research
Discover the most trusted, peer-reviewed rheumatology journals that doctors and researchers rely on. Learn why following credible sources helps patients stay informed, empowered, and protected from misinformation.
7 Rheumatologist Content Creators To Follow
Discover 7 rheumatologists using social media to educate, advocate, and connect with patients. Learn how these doctors are transforming rheumatology communication online.
TALK OVER RA – Insights on Rheumatoid Arthritis Remission: What Lived Experience, Advocacy and Research Have Taught Me
If you’re living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you know how powerful, even revolutionary, the word “remission” can sound and how it is a relatively new concept. Discover what it means.
From Diagnosis to Treatment: How Diagnostic Medicine Can Change Rheumatoid Arthritis Care
Presentation at the Lab Q Con in Vancouver
Overcoming the Challenges of Asking for Help in RA
Living with rheumatoid arthritis often means asking for help in various ways.
Calming Your Nerves Before a Doctor’s Appointment
Doctor appointments can be nerve wrecking, but there are ways to help those emotions.
You Didn’t Fail Your Medications—They Failed You: Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Challenges
Treatment failure in rheumatoid arthritis is not uncommon, but it’s important to remember that it’s not your fault. Medications are tools, and finding the right one can take time.
Why It is Important To Be Protective Of Your Energy When Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis
One of the most significant lessons I’ve learned since being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) a decade ago is the importance of protecting my energy.
Rare Patient Voice Network
Living with a chronic or rare condition often comes with many challenges, from navigating healthcare systems to managing daily life. But what if your experiences, insights, and perspectives could help shape the future of medical research and healthcare solutions?
Shining a Light on Autoimmune Diseases: Awareness, Understanding, and Living With It
March is Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month—a time to raise awareness, foster understanding, and bring visibility to the millions of people worldwide navigating life with autoimmune conditions
Occupational Therapy and Arthritis: The Unsung Hero of My Arthritis Care Team
“I had no awareness that occupational therapists could help address the myriad challenges stemming from my rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis and its associated comorbidities.”
Confronting the Challenges of Loneliness and Rheumatoid Arthritis
“Out of all the changes brought on by chronic illness, the loneliness and social isolation are the most painful….There are moments when I feel surrounded by an overwhelming darkness, but I remind myself that these moments will pass, and I have the strength to endure them.”
The Importance of Clinical Trial Training To Patients and Community – Speech
On Monday February 24th 2025 I gave a speech at the 2025 Clinical Trials Training Summit on why it is important to train patients involved in Clinical Trials
Why You Need to Mourn Your ‘Old Life’ After a Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis (and How to Move On)
Gradually the person I was before RA became more and more of a stranger. A ghost.
The Sneaky Perks of Dating Someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis
For the few who can see me past my illness, I am still just like anyone else — with some unexpected bonus traits too.
The 11 Moods of Rheumatoid Arthritis — and How I’ve Learned to Cope with Them
Eileen Davidson wasn’t prepared for the emotional and mental health roller coaster that followed her rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis. Here’s what she learned along the way.
7 Ways My Rheumatoid Arthritis Changed My Personal Style and Look
Eileen Davidson used to have a flair for the dramatic when it came to hair, clothes, makeup, and clubbing. Now her definition of flair — or rather, flare — is much different.
Self-Love and Self-Care: What Chronic Illness Taught Me About Both
“Having self-love gives me motivation for self-care. Practicing self-care reaffirms my self-love,” says advocate Eileen Davidson, who lives with rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic conditions.
Hiking with Rheumatoid Arthritis Is a Small Victory Over My Disease
“Hiking has become a victory — albeit, a small one — over rheumatoid arthritis. I am proving to myself and others that I will not let rheumatoid arthritis win; that with a few adaptations I can still live and enjoy life,” says Eileen Davidson, who has rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Exercising with Rheumatoid Arthritis Isn’t a Walk in the Park
To the rescue: Tips for managing barriers and staying motivated to make movement part of your life with rheumatoid arthritis.
How I Prepare for My Rituximab Infusion for My Rheumatoid Arthritis
Here’s a look at how I prepare for my Rituximab infusion and what the process involves.
This Is How My Rheumatoid Arthritis Affects My 6-Year-Old Son
‘Mommy, you used to cry a lot when I was younger.’
I Was Scared of Strength Training Because of My Rheumatoid Arthritis. Here’s How I Got Over It.
With proper guidance, strength training has become one of Eileen Davidson’s favorite tools for managing a painful battle with rheumatoid arthritis. This is how it became a critical part of her exercise routine and overall treatment plan.
I Am Not a Burden Because of My Chronic Illness (Even Though Dating Makes Me Feel Like I Am)
‘I am worthy of love — even if someone doesn’t think I am because my life has been stained by illness. These exact fears of being viewed as a burden have crippled me from letting anyone close to my heart.’
What People Ask Me About Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis
In recognition of Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day, patient advocate Eileen Davidson shares answers to the most common (and bizarre) questions people ask her about living with RA.
How Inflation Is Making Life with Rheumatoid Arthritis Even Harder
“Living with a chronic illness can be incredibly expensive. Add in the rising costs of inflation and life with rheumatoid arthritis becomes even harder.”
Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day: Why It Matters
Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day, observed annually on February 2nd, is a vital initiative aimed at spreading awareness about rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease that affects millions of people worldwide.
Chasing Relief: Navigating My Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication Journey
“The day I was told I’d need to rely on medication for the rest of my life, I was filled with fear. Not only was I grappling with my diagnosis, but also with the reality of taking medication every day.”
A Message for the Medication and Diet Shamers Out There (from Someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis Who Is on Biologics and Eats Healthy)
Chronic illness, unfortunately, comes with its fair share of chronic opinions
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