The Maryland Advisory Council on Arthritis and Related Diseases

Mission

The mission of the Council is to promote, support, enrich, and improve the quality of life of individuals with arthritis and related diseases. The Council works collaboratively with a broad range of agencies and organizations in order to accomplish these core goals:

        • Collect, assemble, and disseminate educational information among Marylanders suffering from arthritis and their families.
  • Promote the benefits of physical activity programs as a means of improving the lives of people with arthritis and also make these programs more available to the public.

History

In 1981, a Governor’s Task Force on Arthritis was established to study the arthritis burden in Maryland, and a Maryland Commission on Arthritis and Related Diseases was subsequently appointed by the Governor in 1985 followed by the State Advisory Council on Arthritis and Related Diseases in 1989 under the direction of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH).  In 2002, an amendment was passed under the Health-General, Annotated Code of Maryland §§13-503 – 13-509 (HB 247/2002) to establish an Arthritis Prevention and Control Program in DHMH, and to revise some power and duties of the members in the Council.

Roles of the Council:

  • To recommend an integrated State program of education and applied research in gerontology and geriatrics;
  • To develop and coordinate programs in vocational rehabilitation and industry designed to assist individuals with arthritis to remain productive members of the State's workforce;
  • To coordinate the development of a strategic plan of patient education throughout the State, involving state and local health departments, private agencies, pharmaceutical companies, medical schools, and related professional organizations;
  • To address gaps in the delivery of State service and to make recommendations designed to contain costs associated with arthritis prevention, treatment, and vocational training;
  • To coordinate the activities of public and private agencies, medical schools, and related professional groups to improve the quality of life for individuals with arthritis and their families; and
  • To make any other recommendations for carrying out the purposes of the Program as provided in the Arthritis Prevention and Control Act and;
  • To submit a report annually to the Governor on the work of the Advisory Council. 

Council Membership

The Advisory Council consists of 15 members appointed by the Governor. Member terms are for four years.

  • Two (2) shall be representatives of the physicians and arthritis health professionals at the State’s two medical schools;
  • One (1) shall be a representative of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene;
  • One (1) shall be a representative of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation;
  • One (1) shall be a representative of the Department of Aging;
  • One (1) shall be a representative of the Department of Disabilities;
  • Three (3) shall be members of voluntary agencies, including the Maryland Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, Maryland Lupus Foundation, and Home Health Care Inc.
  • Two (2) shall be representatives from hospitals or health professionals or both outside of the major metropolitan areas;
  • Two (2) shall be representatives from the health care industry, including the pharmaceutical industry and third-party payors; and
  • Two (2) shall be arthritic patients or family members of arthritic patients.

Current (2009) Member Roster

Allan Gelber, MD (Chair) JHU School of Medicine
Renee Hilliard, Pharm.D.    Healthcare/Pharmaceutical
Barbara Cuffie     Patient/Family Representative
Linda Brown-Sutphin  Hospital
Joan Stine     DHMH
Jeanne Moyer   Hospital
Violeta Rus University of Maryland School of Medicine
Michael Breeden, M.Ed., CRC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Janet Thompson  Arthritis Foundation


How You Can Become Involved:

  • Attend Advisory Council meetings;
  • Submit Advisory Council agenda items;
  • Volunteer to serve on a subcommittee of the Advisory Council; and
  • Recommend individuals to serve on the Advisory Council

Minutes:

(Insert pdfs of meeting minutes)

Meetings:

All Council meetings are open to the public. Meetings are usually held quarterly in the evening (except July and August) at the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH), O’Conor Building, 201 West Preston Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201. Anyone interested in attending Council meetings, suggesting agenda items that are related to the goals of the Council, or becoming a member, should contact Jade Leung at
410-767-2919

For more information about Arthritis in Maryland, visit the Maryland Arthritis Project Web site.