Quarterly Highlights January-March 2017
In This Issue:
- Alliance Updates
- Communication Highlights
- Notes from the Chair and Director
- Upcoming Events
- Take Action Now!
Alliance Updates |
Communication Highlights |
Congrats! We are excited to announce 3 additional grantees as a part of our 2017 mini-grant program to expand Walk with Ease: Fayette County Family Resource Network, Upper Valley Aquatic Center, and Texas State University. You can read all our grantee profiles on our website. |
Our Director, Dr. Leigh F. Callahan and Steering Committee Member, Dr. Stephen P. Messier, published an article “What Really Works to Reduce Osteoarthritis Pain in the Knee?” Read and share the article from The Doctor Weighs In blog. |
The OAAA participated in the Arthritis Foundation’s Advocacy Summit to encourage members of Congress to learn more about the Arthritis Caucus and the tremendous impact of arthritis on costs to society, including the people in it and the healthcare they seek. |
OAAA’s Walk with a Doc Chapter, led by workgroup 3 leader Dr. Amanda Nelson, was featured in the Chapel Hill Magazine. |
Visit our updated resource page for community organizations where you can find implementation tools, marketing materials, and evaluation guides. |
Read our factsheet about how the cost of OA affects the nation |
OAAA Lunch and Learn Webinars
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Conferences and Presentations Workgroup 2 presented a poster on the Alliance’s support of community-based organizations that increase physical activity for people with arthritis at the Active Living Research Conference in March. Workgroup 5 has been accepted to present at Obesity Week as a level 2 partner symposium in November.
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Social Media Highlights
 Facebook
243 Facebook Likes 8,158 people reached this quarter
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 Twitter
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We have launched on LinkedIn  Our group is a place for members to connect and discuss the latest news, research, events and resources related to Osteoarthritis. Join today! |
Subscribe to our updated YouTube Channel  Our youtube channel hosts an archive of all our library of Lunch and Learn Webinars. Subscribe to rewatch your favorite and never miss a Lunch and Learn webinar again! |
Additional workgroup and Alliance efforts and progress from this quarter are highlighted on our website.
Notes From the Chair
In the first quarter of 2017, we learned from the CDC Vital Signs monthly report “Arthritis in America” (released 3/7/17) that about 1 in 4 (54 million) adults have arthritis today, and 78 million are projected to have arthritis by the year 2040. This limits many Americans’ activity levels. Arthritis affects many adults who have heart disease (49%), diabetes (47%), and obesity (31%). Physical activity is important in the management of all of these conditions. Furthermore, the CDC notes that “physical activity programs can reduce yearly healthcare costs by about $1,000 per person”; however, people with arthritis struggle to be active due to fear of pain, and lack of knowledge about safe exercise programs.
The increase in OA and its effects on other illnesses highlight now even more the importance to raise awareness about arthritis, and the various ways that each of us can contribute to improving the lives of people with arthritis whether this includes people we care for in the office, people we treat on the playing field, or our friends, family and loved ones.
The OAAA has devoted substantial effort this quarter to doing just that – raising awareness. In February, we presented our mini-grant program progress to attendees at the Active Living Research conference in Florida, which focuses on improving transportation, land use, and community design to promote active living opportunities. We also participated in the Arthritis Foundation’s Advocacy Summit to encourage members of Congress to learn more about the Arthritis Caucus and the tremendous impact of arthritis on costs to society, including the people in it and the healthcare they seek. As Congress seeks to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and look to the future budget of the CDC, it is vital that research, healthcare options for arthritis, and public health programs are a vital part of the conversation.
With regard to public health programs, the OAAA just awarded 13 mini-grants to communities around the country to expand access to the Arthritis Foundation’s evidence-based Walk With Ease program. Just as local organizations rely on this type of support to help people with arthritis in their communities, the OAAA relies on the support of donations from our member organizations and the CDC’s Arthritis Program, and the CDC Arthritis Program relies on support from Congress. Stated in reverse, you can see that the trickle down impact is enormous. Learn more about our efforts to raise awareness and consider joining us. Together we can make a healthier America.
Thomas Trojian, MD, CAQSM, FACSM
Chair, OA Action Alliance
From Our Director
The Quarter ended with March Madness and UNC Men’s Basketball team winning the NCAA National Championship, but the OAAA had a bit of madness itself during the first quarter of 2017! We awarded 13 mini-grants to expand implementation of the Arthritis Foundation’s Walk with Ease (WWE) program, increased our presence on social media considerably, and we are continuing to improve our website.
Just as UNC’s Tar Heels accomplished their goal through teamwork, we believe that through partnerships we can achieve our goal of elevating OA as a national health priority. With the support of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Arthritis program, the Alliance along with three of our OAAA member organizations were funded to expand and sustain the “Dissemination and Delivery of Arthritis-Appropriate, Evidence-Based Interventions (AAEBIs).” The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD), in collaboration with the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), recently announced an opportunity for APTA state chapters to receive funds to implement and evaluate activities that increase access to WWE.
Another member organization funded to expand AAEBIs is working with our local OAAA Walk with a Doc (WWAD) chapter. The Chapel Hill WWAD chapter was chosen as a pilot location in a partnership between Walk with a Doc and the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) to cross-promote Walk with a Doc and Walk with Ease, with the hopes of increasing participation in both programs. Additionally, our WWAD chapter was featured in the March edition of the Chapel Hill Magazine. Similarly, the YMCA is working to expand uptake of Enhance Fitness around the country to encourage older adults to be active for life.
We have implemented a strategic communication plan to increase the awareness of the Alliance and osteoarthritis, and with the help of our newest staff member, Allison Napier, and intern, Leigha Vilen, our social media presence has grown by leaps and bounds. In this quarter alone, we have gained almost 100 new followers and increased our engagement rate by 22% since last quarter. In this quarter we received 956 impressions a day on twitter; three times the amount as compared to quarter 1 last year. Additionally, we have developed new brochures, factsheets, and infographics and published several articles about OA and the Alliance.
Just as our honorary co-chair Lennie Rosenbluth led the 1957 Tar Heel team to their first National Title with an unblemished record, we feel we have reached our quarterly objectives with the Rosenbluth’s support as they cheer us on in our journey to reach our goals. Lennie and Dianne wrote a fantastic blog post to inspire us in the New Year and often attend Chapel Hill’s Walk with A Doc (and Tar Heel games!).
As we work to raise awareness and ensure people with OA have the access, skills, and capacity to benefit from effective and proven interventions, I want to take a moment to recognize the support of our steering committee, honorary co-chairs, members, partners, and staff. We have accomplished a lot to date and are excited to keep moving forward. I am sure our next quarter will bring more opportunities for us to leverage our partnerships, collaborations, and resources to expand efforts to facilitate collaborative public health action to address OA.
Director, Osteoarthritis Action Alliance
Upcoming Events
April
- Lunch & Learn webinar with Susan L. Hughes, PhD, DSW – Fit and Strong! | Wednesday, April 19 | 12:00pm-12:30pm ET | Watch the webinar recording
- Meet and Greet at OARSI 2017, Las Vegas, NV | Caesars Palace Lobby Bar | Friday, April 28, 6:45-7:30pm
May
- Arthritis Awareness Month | We will be participating in social media activities throughout the month. Stayed tuned for more information and the hashtag.
- 2017 Walk to Cure Arthritis – Triangle | Our team here at the OAAA and other area partners will be participating in the Arthritis Foundation’s annual walk. Come join us!
- Lunch & Learn webinar with Dr. Portia Flowers- Health Disparities and Biomechanical Outcomes Related to Osteoarthritis| Wednesday, May 17 | 12:00pm-12:30pm ET | Register here
- Saturday, May 20 | Walk with a Doc @ UNC Wellness Center-Meadowmont, Chapel Hill, NC | 10:00am Free for all
June
- Lunch & Learn webinar with Cynthia Labella, MD – Lower Limb Injury Prevention | Wednesday, June 21 | 12:00pm-12:30pm ET | Register here
- Saturday, June 17 | Walk with a Doc @ UNC Wellness Center-Meadowmont, Chapel Hill, NC | 10:00am Free for all
- Workgroup 5 will be presenting at the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Annual Meeting. June 26-29, 2017, Houston TX and 64th ACSM Annual Meeting, 8th World Congress on Exercise is Medicine May 30-June 3, 2017 Denver, CO
Take Action Now
Whether you are a member or just a friend, there are many ways you can support the OA Action Alliance:
We love to engage and share messaging on social media.
- Please like, share and retweet our posts and use the hashtag #osteoarthritis in your posts.
- Check out our website and share our resources with your networks.
- Send us feedback and let us know how we can better promote your organization by emailing us at oaaction@unc.edu.
You can join a work group(s) or a task force by emailing us.
- Workgroup 1: Policy & Advocacy
- Workgroup 2: Community Engagement
- Workgroup 3: Healthcare Systems & Provider Mobilization
- Workgroup 4: Individual Engagement & Education
- Workgroup 5: OA Prevention
Task force opportunities: Funding, Resource Development and Sustainability; Strategic Planning Management and Evaluation; Marketing, Visibility & Communications; and Membership
Don’t forget to follow us on Social Media for the latest information on the Alliance’s activities
For the original MailChimp Newsletter click the link below:
http://mailchi.mp/unc/oaaa-quarterly-newsletter-highlights-from-january-march-2017
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