Award Recipient
Arthritis Foundation Inspirational Leadership Award

Helen Emery, MD
Section Chief, Rheumatology
Seattle Children’s/University of Washington

The Arthritis Foundation, Pacific Northwest Chapter is privileged to have the opportunity to honor Dr. Helen Emery with the first annual Inspirational Leadership Award for her years of dedicated commitment to patient care and her tireless efforts in the journey to a cure for arthritis.

Helen leads the way for both the Pediatric Rheumatology Section at Seattle Children’s and for the Arthritis Foundation in providing the highest standard of care for children with arthritis and their families. She takes an active role in the ongoing recruitment and retention of pediatric rheumatology fellows for Seattle Children’s. She is known as a thoughtful and respected mentor for both residents and fellows – which probably accounts for a large percentage of them staying in Seattle upon completion of their training.

Helen is a visionary leader in the Arthritis Foundation’s advocacy program both at the local and national level. On a recent unrelated business trip to Washington, DC, Helen found the time to visit Washington state representatives to discuss the importance of passing the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act. She also serves in a leadership role on the Pacific Northwest Chapter advocacy committee and has been instrumental in training parents to become their child’s best advocate. Anyone who has seen her pull $23 out of her pocket to demonstrate the lack of research funds for juvenile arthritis knows how passionate she is about increasing funding for research.

Dr. Emery is also a leader in the area of both public and professional education. She is a member of the chapters’ professional education committee and is always thoughtful about what the Arthritis Foundation can do to provide the strongest support for rheumatologists to further their skills. Her guidance and support in helping to secure expert speakers has helped to establish the chapter’s professional education program as one of the top in the country. In the area of public education Dr. Emery has never balked at donating her time to speak to children with JA, parents or siblings about the disease. She is a regular and favorite speaker at the Arthritis Foundation’s annual Kids and Teens (KAT) Camp.

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. – John Quincy Adams