PANLAR Presidency, First Self-Assessment Report 2014-2016: Challenges, Opportunities, and Results.

We present here the first PANLAR Presidency Self-Assessment Report 2014-2016, emphasizing the challenges, opportunities, and results achieved in terms of (1) governance, (2) education and scientific research, (3) finance, and (4) communications throughout this tenure. The main result must be understood as a strategic planning exercise that strengthened institutional responsibility in policies, decisions, and actions, thanks to the teamwork of Latin America's National Rheumatology Societies, the PANLAR Executive Committee, and PANLAR Board Members.

Review of Current Workforce for Rheumatology in the Countries of the Americas 2012-2015.

Background: With the increases in and aging of the populations of the Americas, monitoring the number of rheumatologists is critical to address and focus on areas of greatest need.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to gather data on the rheumatology workforce from 21 national societies in the Pan American League of Associations for Rheumatology (PANLAR).

Methods: In September and October 2012 and again in October and November 2015, the heads of the 21 rheumatology national societies were contacted in the 2012 survey; all national societies responded except Cuba.