202,000+ Rhode Islanders impacted by arthritis – support Arthritis Foundation event

More than 150 medical professionals, arthritis warriors, advocates, and donors will gather at the Graduate Providence on Saturday, October 14, 2023, for Commitment to a Cure Rhode Island presented by Amgen!

Commitment to a Cure is the Arthritis Foundation’s only marquee event for the State of Rhode Island, held once annually. This will be a special Commitment to a Cure as they commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Arthritis Foundation and 75 years of progress. 

At Commitment to a Cure Rhode Island, they will spotlight the power of the Live Yes! Arthritis Network and how it is changing the lives of arthritis warriors in Rhode Island every day. They will also recognize their medical honorees with the Dr. Hal Horwitz Lifetime Achievement Award. This year, the Arthritis Foundation will honor two healthcare professionals as well as a prominent member in their community. All honorees have made a positive impact on the lives of arthritis patients in Rhode Island. This year, honorees are Dr. Dr. Edward Reardon, Dr. Roy Aaron, and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse who will receive the Dr. Hal Horwitz Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Edward V. Reardon, D.O., FAAIM, is a board-certified rheumatologist who has been practicing in Warwick, Rhode Island for 34 years. He is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed both his internal medicine residency and his fellowship in rheumatology and immunology at the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio. He is affiliated with Kent County Memorial Hospital. Dr. Reardon is experienced in treating a wide variety of musculoskeletal and autoimmune illnesses which include rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, as well as gout and osteoarthritis. His private practice offers personalized, state of the art rheumatologic treatment including onsite infusion services. Dr. Reardon is both a fellow and a diplomate of the American Academy of Internal Medicine. He was named “Physician of The Year” in 2017 by the American Association of Physician Specialists.

Roy K. Aaron, MD, FAAOS, FORS is Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He is a graduate of SUNY Downstate Medical Center and did an internship in medicine at Montefiore Hospital, NY, a year of surgical residency at the US Public Health Service Hospital, NY, and the Harvard residency in Orthopedic Surgery followed by a fellowship in joint replacement surgery at the Brigham. He spent 5 years at the National Institutes of Health doing critical care and basic research. Following an active surgical career in joint replacements and arthroscopy, Dr. Aaron has organized the department’s Osteoporosis and Bone Health Program. Throughout his career he has been actively involved in basic and clinical research focusing on skeletal circulation in osteoarthritis and avascular necrosis, and biophysical influences on skeletal repair. He maintains an outcomes registry of 7,000 joint replacements at The Miriam Hospital as part of a national database for the purposes of surgical risk mitigation.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse represents the Ocean State in the United States Senate, Sheldon Whitehouse has earned a reputation as a fierce advocate for progressive values and a thoughtful legislator capable of reaching across the aisle to achieve bipartisan solutions. Whitehouse has long stood as a staunch defender of Social Security and Medicare and has made improving care and reducing costs in our health care system a hallmark of his career. A graduate of Yale University and the University of Virginia School of Law, Whitehouse served as Rhode Island’s U.S. Attorney and state attorney general before being elected to the Senate, where he is Chairman of the Budget Committee, and serves on the Finance, Judiciary, and Environment and Public Works Committees.

Funds raised will be used to keep research, resources and services going strong for those battling arthritis. This year, the group works to help support 202,583 living with arthritis in Rhode Island. “Arthritis is the No.1 cause of disability in the United States, affecting nearly 60 million Americans, including 300,000 children.

Together, we can make a difference for these arthritis warriors,” said Julia Moore, the Executive Director of Rhode Island and Northern New England with the Arthritis Foundation. “For over seven decades, the Arthritis Foundation has been committed to conquering this disease through life-changing research and resources. We couldn’t make the progress that we do if it weren’t for community members coming together to support and raise money for this important cause.” 

Help fund the mission and raise money to find a cure! To learn more, visit  www.arthritis.org/commitcureri or contacting Julia Moore at 401-226-0954. 

About the Arthritis Foundation 

The Arthritis Foundation is fighting for all people who live with arthritis. As a Champion of Yes, it’s the Arthritis Foundation’s mission to turn the obstacles arthritis causes into opportunities. The Arthritis Foundation champions life-changing solutions and medical advancements, and provides ways for people to connect, break down barriers in health care and join the fight for a cure — uniting hearts, minds and resources to change the future of arthritis. To join the fight to cure arthritis, visit arthritis.org.