Newswise — The Center for Enhancing Activity and Participation among Persons with Arthritis (ENACT) at Boston University College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College is hosting the State of the Science meeting, “Promoting Activity and Participation among Persons with Arthritis.” As the National Arthritis Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), ENACT has a unique responsibility to advance the arthritis research agenda. The State of the Science meeting, which is held every five years, provides an ideal venue for bringing together leaders in the fields of rheumatology and rehabilitation science to discuss arthritis activity and participation research.

“Arthritis and rheumatic conditions are the leading cause of disability, affecting the quality of life of nearly a quarter of the U.S. population and posing a major public health concern,” said ENACT Director Julie Keysor, PT, PhD. “There is a critical need to shift the arthritis research paradigm from a focus on limitation and pain to a focus on active living with full participation in the community.”

Conference presentations and discussion will focus on recent and emerging innovations for promoting activity and participation in three settings: community, rehabilitation, and employment. Presenters include representatives from national organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Arthritis Foundation, Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (ARHP), Arthritis Society of Canada, and multiple prestigious academic institutions.

EVENT DETAILS: Event: Promoting Activity and Participation among Persons with Arthritis Date: Monday, April 7th, 2014 Time: 8:00am – 5:00pm Location: Ritz Carlton, Pentagon City VA Registration: $150 registration fee (Registration Deadline March 7th, 2014) Contact: Liz Simpson, [email protected] or visit www.bu.edu/enact/sos201

PRESENTERS TO INCLUDE: Catherine Backman, PhD, OT(C), FCAOT, University of British Columbia Kristin Baker, PhD, Boston University Sargent College Nancy Baker, ScD, MPH, OTR/L, University of Pittsburgh Teresa Brady, PhD, Centers for Disease Control David Felson, MD, MPH, Boston University Clinical Epidemiology Kelley Fitzgerald, PT, PhD, University of Pittsburgh Scott Hasson, EdD, PT, FACSM, FAPTA Karen Jacobs, EdD, OTR/L, CPE, FAOTA Alan Jette, PT, PhD, Boston University Health and Disability Research Institute Julie Keysor, PT, PhD, Boston University ENACT Center Michael LaValley, PhD, Boston University Department of Biostatistics Susan Murphy, ScD, OTR, University of Michigan Jessica Maxwell, PT, DPT, OCS, Boston University Glenn Pransky, MD, M.Occ.H, Liberty Mutual Research Institute Jan Richardson, PT, PhD, OCS, FAPTA, Priority Care Solutions James Rimmer, PhD, University of Alabama-Birmingham Research Collaborative Renae Smith-Ray, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago Theresa SanAgustin, MD, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Patience White, MD, MPH, Arthritis Foundation Janet Yale, LLB, MA, Arthritis Society Canada

About ENACT The Center for Enhancing Activity and Participation among Persons with Arthritis (ENACT) at BU College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College is funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). As a leader in arthritis rehabilitation, ENACT collaborates with The Arthritis Foundation’s New England Chapter and BU’s School of Medicine, School of Public Health, and School of Communications to enhance the lives of persons with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions through research, training, and community education programs. Visit www.bu.edu/enact for more information.