The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and its public awareness campaign, Simple Tasks, have designated September 2016, as the first annual Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month (RDAM). The goal of RDAM is to raise awareness of the more than 100 rheumatic diseases, including the most common, osteoarthritis, as well as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, gout, and many others.
The OA Action Alliance along with UNC’s Thurston Arthritis Research Center are excited to support this important awareness month.
The theme for RDAM 2016 is “Hundreds of Diseases, One Voice.” What better time to raise awareness about osteoarthritis? Unfortunately, not many people fully understand osteoarthritis symptoms and its complications – but speaking together as one voice, we can help to change that during RDAM 2016!
To promote RDAM, ACR’s Simple Tasks is expanding their monthly #RheumChattwitter chats to include weekly offerings listed here:
- September 8 at 1 PM ET: “Faces of Rheumatic Disease,” with the National Patient Advocate Foundation(@NPAF_Tweets)
- September 15 at 1 PM ET: “Living Well with Rheumatic Disease,” with the Lupus Foundation of America (@LupusOrg)
- September 22 at 1 PM ET: “The Importance of Medical Research,” with the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (@NIH_NIAMS)
- September 29 at 1 PM ET:“Spotlight on Rare Diseases,” with the Rheumatology Research Foundation (@RheumResearch)
The OAAA looks forward to participating in several of these chats to reach patients, practitioners, policymakers, the media and all others interested in learning about osteoarthritis and available resources. Get the chat questions ahead of time and be prepared:http://simpletasks.org/rheumchat/
We have also downloaded ACR’s digital toolkit with shareable messaging, facts and figures, images, events and more to make our ability to promote awareness incredibly easy! http://simpletasks.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/RDAM-2016-Toolkit.pdf
Follow our messaging on twitter @oaactionalliancand Facebook.
Join us in raising awareness for osteoarthritis this September during #RDAM!