Rachael A. Gordon, assistant professor of medicine, was awarded the Distinguished Fellow Award from the Association of Rheumatology Professionals (ARP), a division of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). The award reflects her outstanding contributions to the advancement of rheumatology.
Gordon’s work focuses on Sjögren’s disease, an autoimmune disease characterized by the accumulation of lymphocytes in exocrine glands—particularly tear- and saliva-producing glands—and other organ systems like the lungs, kidneys and skin. She is building a research program to better understand the disease and conduct research that will fuel the development of future therapies.
“I'm grateful to have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of people who have come before me and that have done amazing things,” said Gordon. “I'm also incredibly grateful to my mentors and sponsors for helping me build the framework of my translational research program and our clinical center at Pitt and UPMC, respectively, and I could not have done it without this fantastic network.”
ARP Awards of Merit and Awards of Appreciation recognize outstanding contributions of ARP members to the field of rheumatology and include the following designations: Lifetime Achievement Award, President’s Award, Addie Thomas Service Award, Distinguished Scholar Award, Distinguished Educator Award, Excellence in Investigative Mentoring Award, and the Master Designation.
Gordon will receive the award during the ACR Conference in Washington, D.C., Nov. 14-19.
The ACR’s Membership and Awards Committee, a joint committee composed of both ACR and ARP volunteers, reviews all nomination submissions. Nominees are considered for an award based on criteria that range from their academic and scholarly representation to their rheumatology service record both inside and outside the college.