March 2026

Dear SOAP Community,

As we approach the 2026 SOAP Annual Meeting in Montreal, this is a moment of alignment and activation across the Society. Our theme this year — From Discovery to Delivery: Bridging Research and Clinical Care in Obstetric Anesthesia — reflects not just the meeting program, but the direction of SOAP.

Across our committees and initiatives, there is a clear and deliberate shift, moving beyond knowledge generation toward implementation, experience, and measurable impact. Whether through our Research Network Symposium, educational programming, or emerging quality initiatives, the emphasis is increasingly on how evidence translates into better care for patients, safely, equitably, and consistently.

This same focus is evident in the growth of our community infrastructure. The expansion of our State Representative program reflects a commitment to local engagement and national reach, ensuring SOAP is not only a source of expertise but also a connector across systems of care. At the same time, our Special Interest Groups and digital platforms continue to strengthen how members engage with content and with each other, not episodically, but continuously.

Importantly, we are also refining how we define excellence in obstetric anesthesia. Safety remains foundational, but it is no longer sufficient on its own. Excellence now encompasses quality of care, patient experience, team performance, and equity. As a Society, we have an opportunity and responsibility to shape these definitions and the metrics that support them.

Finally, I encourage all members to engage with the Annual Meeting, whether in Montreal or through Virtual Highlights. This hybrid model reflects a broader strategy: delivering high-value, curated content in ways that meet members where they are, while maintaining the depth and connection that define our in-person community.

SOAP’s strength has always been its people, a community committed not only to advancing science, but to improving care in meaningful and measurable ways. The work underway across the Society makes it clear that we are not simply generating ideas; we are building systems that deliver them.

I look forward to seeing many of you in Montreal.

Ron George, MD, FRCP
President, Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology

BOARD STATS 
  • To date, there are 51 SOAP State Representatives, and we continue to work towards securing a representative from each state.  SOAP State Representatives will provide a key contact in each state to help us reach a broader audience, as SOAP strives to meet its mission to provide safe and equitable care for women and newborns everywhere. If you know someone who is interested in becoming a SOAP State Representative, please contact SOAP HQ.  
COMMITTEE STATS 

Annual Meeting and Live Events Committee 

Education Committee

  • Teacher of the Year Award nominations closed January 5, 2026

Diversity Committee 

  • Diversity & Inclusivity Mentored Grant applications closed March 19, 2026
    • Applications are currently under review

Governance Committee 

  • Terms for committees began January 1 and end on December 31.

Intersociety Committee  

  • Support of EAGLET study

Member Value Committee 

  • Join one of the fifteen Special Interest Groups. To see a full list of the Special Interest Groups visit the SOAP website.
  • Call for content for the Spring Newsletter closed March 30.

Research Committee  

  • Research Network Symposium held in conjunction with the 2026 SOAP Annual Meeting in Montreal will be held Friday, May 1 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm EST in Fortifications at Le Westin Montreal Hotel
  • Journal Club Classic was held Mar 11 at 3pm EST. Hosted by Dr. Nadir Sharawi, presented by Dr. Alan George featuring Dr. Robert Gaiser, “Epidural Lidocaine Versus 2-Chloroprocaine for Fetal Distress Requiring Urgent Cesarean Section.”
Finance Committee 
  • Combined net assets for SOAP and the SOAP Endowment were $6.7M as of April 31, 2025

SOAP Headquarters 

  • Download the SOAP Educational App!
  • Log into the SOAP Community! We’re happy to invite you to join the official SOAP online community platform at TradeWing! The platform has many of the features members requested.  
    • Add [email protected] to your safe sender's list so you can receive announcements from SOAP Community. 
    • View the full list of features and frequently asked questions.