August 2026

Let's build what matters!

Hello SOAP!

This month, I’m especially energized by the progress we are making on several priorities for the year ahead, and by seeing ideas begin to translate into action. Our Presidential Task Force on Obstetric Anesthesia Quality & Safety has brought together outstanding teams around its initial projects, while we continue to engage closely with ASA and the Anesthesia Quality Institute on how SOAP can help define meaningful obstetric anesthesia quality measures, with a longer-term goal of integrating those measures directly into clinical workflows. We are also supporting researchers in their ambitious, high-caliber research proposals that can change maternal care, including two proposals being submitted for competitive funding this cycle focused on maternal morbidity in labor and delivery. And our growing culture of philanthropy is making this work possible in very tangible ways: supporting investigators, developing future leaders, and extending SOAP’s impact. This is the SOAP that I am excited for us to keep building: ambitious in what we take on, collaborative in how we do it, and relentlessly focused on impact! 

Grace Lim, MD, MSc, MBA
President, Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology 

BOARD STATS 
  • Philanthropy highlight: Overview of Foundation Successes
    • SOAP/FAER Mentored Research Training Grant recipients since 2023 – 2
    • Diversity & Inclusivity Mentored Grants Mentor/Mentee pairs since 2023 – 5
    • Gertie Marx Research Competition Awards since 2010 – 45
    • SOAP/Kybele International Outreach Grant recipients since 2011 - 16
    • Donate to the Endowment Fund
  • SOAP Membership is at an all-time high! SOAP has surpassed 2,500 members! This reflects the strength and momentum of our community, and the value of bringing together clinicians, investigators, educators, and partners committed to advancing obstetric anesthesia and improving maternal care.
  • Presidential Task Force on Obstetric Anesthesia Quality & Safety: The Task Force, led by Dr. Klaus Kjaer, has made strong early progress in bringing together teams around its initial quality and safety initiatives. SOAP is also engaging with ASA and the Anesthesia Quality Institute (AQI) to explore next steps in developing meaningful obstetric anesthesia quality measures, with a future goal of enabling integration into electronic health record platforms such as EPIC.
  • Advancing high-impact maternal health research: SOAP is supporting two proposals being submitted for competitive funding this cycle, both focused on important questions related to maternal morbidity and care on labor and delivery units. These efforts reflect SOAP's commitment to supporting rigorous, collaborative research capable of informing and improving clinical practice.
COMMITTEE STATS 

Annual Meeting and Live Events Committee 

Education Committee

  • Fellows Webinar was held August 12. Hosted by Drs. Jaime Daly and Emily Naoum, featuring, Dr. Rebecca Himmelwright, “The Critically Ill Parturient: Thinking Like an Obstetric Intensivist.”

Diversity Committee 

Governance Committee 

  • Call for Committees opens September 1
  • Terms for committees began January 1 and end on December 31.

Intersociety Committee  

Member Value Committee 

  • Call for Content for the SOAP Fall 2026 Newsletter. Deadline: September 2
  • Join one of the fifteen Special Interest Groups. To see a full list of the Special Interest Groups visit the SOAP website. 

Research Committee  

Finance Committee 
  • Combined net assets for SOAP and the SOAP Endowment were $6.7M as of April 31, 2025

SOAP Headquarters 

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