Abstract Deadline is March 15, 2010

We are delighted to have The 5th Annual National Young Rheumatology Investigator Forum Wednesday April 7, 2010 at The 26th Annual Congress of Clinical Rheumatology this year. This symposium provides a platform for promising clinical and research oriented rheumatology fellows and junior faculty to have their research efforts reviewed, critiqued and recognized by an acclaimed international panel of rheumatologists. The top candidates will be able to present their abstracts to an established, international judging panel and their peers at the symposium or display their results in a poster session. All of the attendees will have the opportunity to take part in discussions on career development and interact with other investigators early in their career as well as faculty members to expand their knowledge of the opportunities available in the field of rheumatology. The Symposium will close with an awards banquet to present travel stipends of $250-$1000 to those candidates whose efforts have been considered by the faculty to have exceptional promise.

We are very fortunate to have an excellent and diversified international judging panel this year including Dr. Iain MacInnes from Glasgow Scotland, Dr. Joan Merrill, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; Dr. Tim Bongartz, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine; Dr. Phillip Clements, UCLA School of Medicine and Dr. Kenneth Saag, University of Alabama in Birmingham who will be serving as lead judge.

This forum is designed to be stimulating, interactive and constructive where attendees will learn in an informal environment and be able to network with peers and faculty to facilitate future career contacts. All fellows and junior staff within the field of rheumatology are welcome to attend the NYRIF and are also invited to stay for the 26th Annual Congress of Clinical Rheumatology that will immediately follow the NYRIF at a special rate. We also hope that you will also be able to enjoy the beach while you are here to see why Destin has been voted #5 as a Spring Beach getaway in the Western Hemisphere.

David McLain, M.D., FACP, FACR
Symposium Director, 26th CCR