Welcome to the 46th Annual Australian Rheumatology Association (ARA) NSW and ACT Branch Meeting on Saturday 30 November 2024 at the Hyatt Regency, Sydney.

In response to our membership, this year’s meeting is a 1-day concentrated power-packed program of inspiring message-laden lectures, clinical conundrums, Ask the Expert sessions, and research. The revised format is intended to increase attendees as it will continue to attract our regular attenders, and will also appeal to a large cohort that are unable to attend a two day out of city event.

A detailed analysis of attendees and feedback will be used for future planning of this, our major state based scientific Rheumatology event.

At this early stage of planning, we are pleased to confirm the following speakers:
- Dr Nic Kormas, Senior Endocrinologist and Director of the Macarthur Metabolic Service: The How and When of Medical Weight Loss in Rheumatic Disease
- A.Prof Paul Miniter, Orthopaedic Surgeon: Surgery for ankle/foot injuries and the medicolegal implications
- Dr Karuna Keat, Senior Immunologist and Head of Department, Campbelltown Hospital: Optimal therapy for IgG4 disease and how it may change
- Professor Mandana Nikpour, Rheumatologist and Professor of Public Health, University of Sydney: World renowned expert on SLE and Scleroderma

Our guest Ask the Expert is Professor Connie Katelaris, Immunologist at Western Sydney University and Clinician Campbelltown Hospital. Dr Katelaris will field pre-submitted and live questions on “Whatever you ever wanted to ask about being allergic to food?” The high-quality research output of our advanced trainees and rheumatologists will be showcased in the selected oral presentations. The Clinical Conundrums presented by our Advanced Trainees and Specialists will amuse and astound the audience, reminding us all why we like clinical medicine.

The centrally located Hyatt Regency is readily accessible by public and private transport, and provides a great meeting venue, scrumptious catering, and at the end of a serious day of upskilling, mentorship and camaraderie, we will segue into our early evening social event at the rooftop.

We look forward to welcoming all members of the NSW and ACT Rheumatology community to this meeting. It will be lovely means of making new friendships and consolidating older ones.

Kevin Pile, Amy Kelly, Narain Kamalaraj