The American College of Rheumatology has announced that it will work in conjunction with the US Department of Health and Human Services' Offices of Minority Health, Women's Health, and the Surgeon General to launch "Eliminating Health Disparities in Lupus" (EHDL), an educational initiative aimed at eliminating ethnic and racial disparities in the diagnosis and treatment of lupus.

Lupus, an autoimmune disease that affects and can compromise many parts of the body, including joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, blood vessels, nervous system, blood, and the brain, is 6-10 times more likely to be found in women than in men, and affects women of color (African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans) 2-3 times more often than Caucasian women. There is no known cause of the disease, but it is thought to be triggered by a combination of genetic, environments, and possibly hormonal factors.

The goal of the initiative is to increase awareness of the disease and achieve earlier diagnoses, which can give lupus patients a greater chance for better health and survival. ACR and HHS have brought together an international group of lupus experts, educators, and medical professional to work on enhancing lupus curricula at medical, nursing, and health professional schools. The initiative will also focus on using new media, such as patient/provider websites, social media outlets, podcasts, and webinars, to further their educational outreach.