Dear SOAP Members:
I hope you have renewed your SOAP membership. If you have not yet renewed, I hope you plan to do so soon. We have so many new offerings planned for 2022, you won't want to miss out!
Board of Directors STATS
ASA Committee and Editorial Board Nominations – Open through January 15, 2022
ASA is now accepting committee and editorial board applications for the 2023 term. Applications are open through January 15, 2022. We encourage interested SOAP members to self-nominate as it is a way to amplify your voice, shape important narratives and elevate the visibility of Obstetric Anesthesia. Beside the three specific OB-related ASA Committees (Committee on Obstetric Anesthesia, Educational Track on Obstetric Anesthesia and Abstract Review for Obstetric Anesthesia), please consider the other committees which relate to your non-OB anesthesia interests and career goals. For a full list of all committees and editorial boards visit the ASA website. References are required as part of the application and SOAP Board members are happy to assist in this process. Simply contact a member of the SOAP Board, provide them your qualifications and credentials for the committee to assist them in creating a strong recommendation for you, and please add them as a reference when submitting your application.
Renew your SOAP Membership
I want to remind you to renew your commitment to SOAP by renewing your 2022 SOAP membership. SOAP has added a multitude of new member benefits. In order to continue to create new member benefits, 2022 membership dues will increase by a modest $10 for Active and Associate members. Please use the discount code provided with your invoice before December 31 to receive 2021 rates. If you signed up last year for the 3-year renewal term, you do not need to renew, but you can continue to make donations to the Endowment Fund and renew your discounted subscriptions. SOAP HQ will reach out to those members.
#MemberMonday
We want to highlight our members! Our members are what makes SOAP a strong organization. Every Monday we have been featuring a member in our #MemberMonday social media posts. Please complete a Member Highlight form so we can spotlight you on a future #MemberMonday.
2021 Successes and Looking Forward to 2022
As we prepare for the holidays and the year-end I want to recap the amazing successes we’ve enjoyed in 2021:
- Highest membership in SOAP ever – over 1,800 members
- Governance restructure focusing on transparency and creating avenues for additional member involvement
- Creation of Special Interest Groups to allow you to connect with like-minded colleagues
- Recommitment to SOAPs diverse and inclusive environment
- Hosting the 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting and Japanese Symposium which was attended by over 900 attendees from 30 countries with 268 live presentations over 4 days.
- Creation of patient education infographics
The SOAP Board is excited for 2022 and the ability to offer more member benefits:
- Mentorship Academy which will provide a myriad of member resources to improve your career and skills.
- The opportunity to meet in person at the 2022 Annual Meeting in Chicago, May 11-15 with the Virtual Annual Meeting Highlights in June to accommodate our members travel preferences.
- Adding an additional educational offering in the Fall – with the launch of the Fall Forum.
- Creation of a Media and Publication Response Team to respond on behalf of Obstetric Anesthesia to erroneous or misleading information.
Committee STATS
Annual Meeting and Live Events
Register for upcoming webinars using the links below:
Education
- December SIMOM, “Peripartum Hepatic Rupture” was published on the website as part of the monthly action plan.
- The December Fellows Webinar Series was on “From the American Revolution to the Maternity Ward: A History of Obstetric Anesthesia”
Intersociety
On Dec. 7, Vice President Kamala Harris hosted a Summit at the White House to mark the first-ever federal Maternal Health Day of Action. The Vice President issued a nationwide Call to Action to both the public and private sector to help improve maternal health outcomes in the United States. Ambassador Susan Rice delivered closing remarks.
As part of the Call to Action, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is releasing a new report estimating that 720,000 more people would gain Medicaid postpartum coverage if states act, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposes establishment of a “Birthing-Friendly” hospital designation and issues guidance to states on how to provide Medicaid coverage for a full year postpartum.
To learn more about the Summit and its initiatives, please access the White House Briefing Statement.
Member Value
Plans for the NEW Mentorship Academy are underway and will include opportunities for members to advance their career by accessing experts.
