Presidential Address.

I am both honored and humbled to deliver this address as the President of the ACR. The honor does not come from the title, but rather from the precedents, performance and professionalism that defines those in the field of rheumatology. I am extremely proud to be a rheumatologist. Although I always wanted to be a doctor, I didn't always want to be a rheumatologist. Fortunately, I was exposed to the essential features of this profession as a medical student, allowing me to start what has become a great life journey. I credit three wonderful teachers with opening the amazing world of rheumatology to a bright eyed young medical student. Steve Campbell, Mike Davey and Jim Rosenbaum at the Oregon Health Sciences University showed me through their teaching and their skills the essential features of our profession, just as they have for many other generations of medical and graduate students. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.