October 2025

Dear SOAP Community,

October marked another exceptional month for SOAP, showcasing the depth and influence of our community at the ASA Annual Meeting in San Antonio. SOAP’s presence was felt across the program, from thought-provoking scientific sessions to collaborative symposia, reinforcing our shared commitment to advancing obstetric anesthesia through evidence, equity, and innovation.

The SOAP President’s Panel, “The Obstetric Anesthesia Workforce: Evidence, Equity, and Evolution,” brought together members of our community to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping our specialty. The discussion highlighted ongoing data gaps, the importance of workforce equity, and the evolving expectations of modern peripartum care. It was a powerful reminder that defining and sustaining excellence in obstetric anesthesia requires both evidence and advocacy. A special highlight of the meeting was Dr. Lisa Leffert’s outstanding delivery of the SOAP/ASA Gertie Marx Lecture, a moment that celebrated her enduring leadership and scholarship in our field. Finally, SOAP’s Research Network Symposium, held in conjunction with ASA, was another major success. This year it featured a keynote address by Dr. Meghan Lane-Fall on implementation science. Her insights into translating evidence into practice matched perfectly with an afternoon of dynamic presentations, interactive discussion, and growing momentum for multi-center collaboration.

Together, these events reflected the best of what SOAP stands for: science that matters, a community that collaborates, and leadership that inspires. As we look ahead to our upcoming PEAK series and the 2026 Annual Meeting in Montreal, we carry forward this energy and commitment to bridge research and clinical care — ensuring that every SOAP initiative brings us closer to safer, more equitable maternity care worldwide.

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 

  • 2025 Annual Meeting Virtual Highlights Event recording available in the SOAP Learning Center for attendees for both Virtual Highlights and Annual Meeting.
  • Save the Date! The 2026 SOAP Annual Meeting will be held April 29 - May 3, 2026 at Le Westin Montreal in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
    • AMLE Curricular Subcommittee is working on the 2026 Annual Meeting theme and programming.

Education Committee

  • Fellows Webinar was held on October 8th. Hosted by Dr. Daly, featuring Dr. Joey Bryant-Huppert, “Epidurals, Ethics, and Expectations: Talking Risks & Benefits in Obstetric Anesthesia.”  The recording is available on Open Anesthesia.

Diversity Committee 

Governance Committee 

  • Call for Committee interest closed October 3 
    • Terms for committees will begin January 1 and end on December 31.
  • Nominations for the 2027 Ostheimer Lecturer closed October 3
  • DSA Nominations closed October 17.

Intersociety Committee  

  • COE Applications closed October 15
    • 29 Applications Received
      • 10 Recertifications
      • 4 Waivers
      • 15 New
  • Support of EAGLET study

Member Value Committee 

  • Fall Newsletter was published
  • Mark your calendars for the NEW SOAP PEAK: Professional Excellence Advancement Keys! This program will be a focused lecture series, allowing you to attend areas customized to your interests.
  • Join one of the fifteen Special Interest Groups. To see a full list of the Special Interest Groups visit the SOAP website.
    • Call for SIG Proposals closed October 5

Research Committee  

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.