Posted: March 23, 2021
On March 13, 2021, the Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations (CSRO) held its 15th Annual Fellows Conference. Its first (and hopefully only) year as a virtual event, this was the first time that it was open to both fellows and practicing rheumatologists, and attendance was at an all-time high.
Each year, the Conference provides a forum to introduce fellows to a network of experienced physicians that provide valuable perspectives on how to navigate the next phase of their professional careers.
More importantly, it provides insight into the importance of the advocacy efforts of the CSRO. Through a detailed look at the insurance landscape and how to navigate the differences in providers, fellows and practitioners alike learned about some of the specific barriers created by payers, pharmacy benefit managers, and even legislation.
This more nuanced understanding emphasizes the importance of being informed, and ideally being an advocate, to affect policy in order to ensure better access to consistent, quality care for our patients – the mission of the CSRO.
Other presentations highlighted best practices in personal financial management, especially for those early in their career as a physician; successful tactics for negotiating an employment contract in the medical field; an overview of the anatomy of a malpractice lawsuit, including suggestions for how to avoid one; significant updates in coding that went into effect in 2021; and essential considerations when transitioning from life as a fellow to a career in private practice.
A full outline of the program, including speaker bios, presentation slides, and session videos, is available on the CSRO website.
CSRO looks forward to coming together, in person, for the 2022 Fellows Conference! Save the date for Saturday, March 19, 2022, at the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins in downtown San Francisco.
