IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--USMD Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: USMD), a physician-led integrated healthcare system, announced today that Emily Isaacs, M.D., a USMD rheumatologist, has been appointed to serve a three-year term on the American College of Rheumatology Board of Directors. Dr. Isaacs’ term as director commenced at the American College of Rheumatology annual meeting in October.
The need for rheumatologists is increasing across the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 50 million U.S. adults, or 22 percent of the adult population, suffer from arthritis; 1.3 million of those suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. By the year 2030, it is estimated that 67 million adults, or 25 percent of the population, will be diagnosed with arthritis.
“As the need for rheumatologists and the treatment of rheumatic disease expands, having representation on the American College of Rheumatology Board of Directors is a great honor for Dr. Isaacs and USMD,” said John House, M.D., chairman and chief executive officer of USMD Holdings. “We’re proud of Dr. Isaacs and this achievement.”
The American College of Rheumatology represents more than 10,000 rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals around the world with the goal of advancing the field of rheumatology, studying and researching rheumatic diseases and treatments, and educating physicians on the field of rheumatology so they know when to refer patients for treatment. The American College of Rheumatology offers its members the support they need to ensure that they are able to continue their innovative work by offering support for education, research, advocacy, and practice.
“This is an exciting time for rheumatology and it’s an honor for me to be appointed to the American College of Rheumatology Board of Directors,” said Dr. Isaacs. “The need for rheumatologists is increasing as our population ages. I am excited to join the Board and be given the opportunity to advance the field of rheumatology, promote educational opportunities for our members, expose more medical students to the field, and serve as an advocate to help ensure that patients have access to affordable, quality care and treatments.”
Prior to serving on the American College of Rheumatology Board of Directors, Dr. Isaacs spent six years on the organization’s Rheumatology Research Foundation Board of Directors. She served three of those years as chair of the Development Advisory Committee, where she helped raise more than $43 million dollars to fund research and training for future rheumatology scientists and practitioners.
USMD has nine rheumatologists serving patients throughout the DFW Metroplex. Dr. Isaacs provides rheumatology care to patients at USMD’s Fort Worth, Texas clinic, located at 909 9th Avenue in Fort Worth. To learn more about Dr. Isaacs, please click here.
About USMD Holdings, Inc.
USMD is a publicly held (NASDAQ: USMD), physician-led integrated healthcare system committed to exemplary patient care. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, USMD serves the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area with more than 250 physicians and associate practitioners, and provides healthcare services to patients in just under 20 different specialties at its two hospitals, nine cancer treatment centers and nearly 70 physician clinics. For more information about USMD, visit www.usmd.com.
