July 2026

Let's build what matters!

As I begin my term as SOAP President, my hope is that our work together will be defined not only by activity, but also by measurable impact. We have an extraordinary opportunity to shape the future of obstetric anesthesia by improving the care our patients receive, investing in the next generation of clinicians and scientists and leaders, and strengthening the partnerships that allow our specialty to lead. This month, we are taking an important step forward with the launch of the SOAP Obstetric Anesthesia Quality & Safety Presidential Task Force, led by an exceptional group of experts. Working closely with the ASA, AQI, and other stakeholder organizations, our goal is straightforward: to translate evidence into meaningful improvements in maternal care. I'm equally encouraged by our growing culture of philanthropy, because every investment in SOAP expands our capacity to educate, discover, innovate, and create lasting impact. Thank you for being part of this journey. Now, let's get to work.

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

BOARD STATS 
  • Launched the SOAP Presidential Task Force for Obstetric Anesthesia Quality & Safety, bringing together national experts to collaborate with ASA, AQI, POQI, and other stakeholders on transformative improvements in maternal care. 
  • Welcome new board members:
    • Dan Katz, MD – Vice President
    • Brandon Togioka, MD – Secretary
    • Ioannis (Yanni) Angelidis, MD – Director with Less than 15 Years in Practice
    • Aria Shafai, MD – Director from Community Practice
    • Alex Butwick, MD – Director from Academic Practice
    • Phil Rubin, MD – Annual Meeting and Live Events Committee Chair
  • 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
  • The SOAP State Representative Program expands the Society's reach by connecting members with local leaders who promote best practices, strengthen collaboration with Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs), and advance safer obstetric anesthesia care across the country. 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 

  • The 2027 SOAP Annual Meeting will be held in Palm Springs, California, May 20-23, at the Westin Rancho Mirage.
  • Main Stage Podium Presentation proposals for the SOAP 2027 Annual Meeting closed July 31

Education Committee

  • View the latest episode of the Painless Push Podcast: Postpartum Pain
  • A new infographic translation for Labor Epidurals: Arabic and Yiddish
  • Fellows Webinar was held July 8. Hosted by Drs. Jaime Daly and Emily Naoum, featuring, Dr. Lindsay Warner, “Maternal SUD and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome”

Diversity Committee 

Governance Committee 

  • Terms for committees began January 1 and end on December 31.
  • Fred Hehre nominations closed July 20.

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 

  • 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.