Air Force doctor wins national award

  • Published
  • By Jen D. Rodriguez
  • Brooke Army Medical Center Public Affairs
FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (AFNS) --  An Air Force doctor here was one of 10 receipients recently selected for the 2009 American College of Rheumatology Distinguished Award. 

Capt. (Dr.) Angelique Collamer is a physician, teacher and researcher assigned to the 59th Medical Wing, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, but works in the Rheumatology Clinic at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston.  

"I was excited and surprised to hear that I had been chosen, and that I've been recognized as one of the top fellows in the country," Doctor Collamer said. "It's so special to be included in this select group. This honor will follow me throughout my career."

Formerly known as the Rheumatology Fellow Award, the award recognizes clinical and research fellows who are in a rheumatology fellowship training program and who have performed meritoriously. Awardees receive a $1,500 stipend from the American College of Rheumatology.

According to Dr. Daniel F. Battafarano, the chief of Rheumatology at BAMC who nominated her, "Doctor Collamer's devotion to academic excellence, clinical rheumatology, research and scholarly activity and contributions to the community is extraordinary. She truly demonstrates humble academic rheumatology while providing holistic medical care with a sense of commitment to the community." 

Doctor Collamer has served in the Air Force for nine years, including four years of medical school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md.

Some of her achievements include publishing a now widely referenced manuscript in "Arthritis & Rheumatism" in 2008, titled "Psoriatic skin lesions induced by tumor necrosis factor antagonist therapy with a literature review and potential mechanisms of action," as well as a comprehensive manuscript, titled "The treatment of ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis with etanercept" published in "Clinical Medicine: Therapeutics."

Additionally, she was contacted to write an expert commentary for a book, titled "Tumor necrosis factor antagonist induced psoriatic skin lesions," and she has a case report in publication, titled "Bone marrow hemophagacytosis complicating rheumatoid arthritis."

Recently, she submitted an abstract for consideration to the 2009 American College of Rheumatology, titled "Musculoskeletal ultrasound of acute chest wall sydromes in SAPHO syndrome." SAPHO is an eponym for the combination of synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis and osteitis.

"I'm grateful to Doctor Battafarano for going out of his way to nominate me," she said. "Receiving this award is really a reflection of the superior training and teaching and the opportunities to succeed that I was provided through the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program." 

Doctor Collamer graduated from the SAUSHEC training program in June.

"She is a pioneer in a national musculoskeletal ultrasound training and testing project, and she will be among the first fellows in the nation to achieve certification in musculoskeletal ultrasound on completion of her fellowship," Doctor Battafarano said. "Her enthusiasm for teaching has led to 22 intramural academic topics to residents, fellows and staff and five lectures at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio Rheumatology Grand Rounds, highlighting her commitment and predilection as a clinical professor."

"I love being able to work with patients, especially our active duty military members, and the privilege of helping them to improve their health and well-being," Doctor Collamer said. 

Doctor Collamer will be honored Oct. 16 at an awards ceremony at the 75th annual scientific meeting of the American College of Rheumatology in Philadelphia.