CARRA Welcomes Rachel Myslinski as New Chief Executive Officer
CARRA Welcomes Rachel Myslinski as New Chief Executive Officer
The Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) has taken a significant step in its leadership by appointing Rachel Myslinski, MBA, as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This announcement was made on June 4, 2025, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the organization dedicated to pediatric rheumatic diseases.
Myslinski brings to CARRA an extensive background, having amassed over 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector. Her career has encompassed significant roles in professional medical associations, management consulting, and non-profit research foundations. She is recognized not only for her executive leadership but also for her expertise in strategic planning, financial management, non-profit governance, and healthcare policy.
Before her appointment at CARRA, Rachel served as the Executive Director of the Rheumatology Research Foundation. In this capacity, she managed the organization’s strategic initiatives and operations, effectively contributing to advancements within the rheumatology community. Notably, Myslinski was instrumental in facilitating a partnership between the Rheumatology Research Foundation and the Lupus Research Alliance, resulting in the launch of the Empowering Lupus Research Partnership, which aims to support early career investigators in their research endeavors. Her leadership also transformed the organization's philanthropic approach, expanding its donor base and ensuring a more sustainable funding model.
CARRA President, Dr. Stacy Ardoin, expressed her enthusiasm regarding Myslinski’s appointment, stating, "Rachel has the ideal combination of skills and experience to help move CARRA forward as we position the organization for innovative growth and continued excellence in fulfilling our mission." Dr. Ardoin highlighted Myslinski’s proven success in driving revenue growth and maintaining excellence in non-profits, expressing excitement for what her leadership will bring to CARRA.
Prior to her role at the Rheumatology Research Foundation, Myslinski was the Vice President of Practice, Advocacy and Quality at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). There, she led the creation of the Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness (RISE) Registry, which has become the largest electronic health record-integrated registry of its kind in the United States. This registry supports rheumatologists in fulfilling their regulatory reporting requirements and has aided in improving patient care through better research capabilities.
Myslinski is eager to engage closely with the pediatric rheumatology community as part of her new role at CARRA. "CARRA has already brought great innovation to the field of pediatric rheumatology, and I see lots of opportunity for the organization to continue to grow in its mission to conduct collaborative research to prevent, treat, and cure pediatric rheumatic diseases," she commented.
In addition to her executive experience, Rachel has a history as a Senior Consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where she provided strategic business consulting services to hospitals and healthcare non-profits.
Her academic credentials are equally impressive, having earned both her BA and MBA from Emory University. Rachel also holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) certificate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Certificate of Specialization in Leadership and Management from Harvard Business School.
Residing in Atlanta, Georgia, Myslinski enjoys yoga, travel, and spending quality time with her family during her leisure time.
Myslinski’s official start date at CARRA is set for July 10, 2025, and until then, Larry Hausner will continue to serve as the interim CEO. Creating new opportunities for collaboration and growth, CARRA looks forward to the leadership that Rachel Myslinski will bring to its mission of advancing research and practice in pediatric rheumatic diseases.
Founded in 2002, CARRA has grown significantly, uniting over 800 members across more than 120 institutions worldwide. The organization is dedicated to conducting collaborative research aimed at preventing and curing pediatric rheumatic diseases, managing the largest observational multi-center registry for these conditions, and operating biorepositories in both the U.S. and Canada. To learn more about CARRA and its mission, visit their official website.