Pediatric Rheumatology Leader from Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Receives National Award of Distinction

For Release: November 27, 2013

The STANFORD, Calif. - American College of Rheumatology has honored Christy Sandborg, MD, pediatric rheumatologist at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, with a Distinguished Service Award, one of the College’s Awards of Distinction.

“I am very proud of this recognition and the extremely rewarding career I have chosen,” said Sandborg, who is professor of pediatrics and associate chair of pediatrics at the Stanford School of Medicine. Sandborg was noted by the College for her tireless and dedicated service to the field of rheumatology, where she has made a significant mark as an administrator, teacher, researcher, clinician, and one of the leading physicians in America.

The prestigious honor was bestowed at the organization’s annual meeting October 26. It’s another major highlight in a career that has been marked by accomplishment, including authorship of multiple studies and clinical trials advancing the care for autoimmune diseases. Sandborg was an early pioneer in efforts to develop a clinical research infrastructure for pediatric rheumatology in the U.S., and was one of the founding members of the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance in 2002.

This organization, with its membership including almost all of the pediatric rheumatologists in the U.S. and Canada, has had a major impact on increasing the research profile of the field of pediatric rheumatology. Sandborg has set the standard for volunteering and advocacy. She has also been a long-term volunteer for the College, with leadership roles on multiple committees. Additionally, Sandborg is an ongoing volunteer with the Arthritis Foundation nationally and in Northern California, and is an active volunteer for the NIH, where she has sat on several special study sections, workshops, roundtables and committees. Christopher G. Dawes, president and chief executive officer of Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, said Sandborg’s influence will be felt for generations.

“Christy is one of the early pioneers in the field of pediatric rheumatology,” said Dawes, who noted that Sandborg somehow finds the time to also be vice president of medical affairs at the hospital. “Her career reflects tremendous innovation and influence, and the Distinguished Service Award is much deserved.” “I thank the American College of Rheumatology for this honor,” said Sandborg, only the 2nd pediatric rheumatologist to receive the distinction. “I love my many roles at Packard Children’s Hospital and Stanford Medicine,” said Sandborg, “but I like caring for kids best. To make a difference for children, especially the chronically ill, drives me more than anything else I do.”

Authors

Robert Dicks
(650) 498-7836
rdicks@stanfordchildrens.org