Entering a New Chapter
By Anjana Kundu, MBBS, MD, DA, ABIHM and Rita Agarwal, MD, FAAP
As we welcome 2017, acclimate to a new administration in DC, Dr. Sabine Kost-Byerly introduces and welcomes a newly elected Executive Board and some new members to the Board of Directors. Dr. Kost-Byerly has paved the way for a strong and vibrant future, by laying down a robust foundation, keeping the members engaged, and inspiring us all. She has diligently worked to create a framework for pursuing productive liaisons with like-minded societies, who have overlapping missions and visions.
As we enter the next chapter of this organization, we aim to further these efforts and advance the mission of SPPM of providing better evidence based care for children in pain. In this edition, we include brief bios of the newly elected BOD of SPPM and encourage all to personally meet and greet them in Austin, Texas, during the Fourth Annual Meeting on March 2, 2017. Many of you who are new to this organization may not know that we would not exist as an organization, without Dr. Kost-Byerly’s tireless effort.
From formally creating a Special Interest Group on Pediatric Pain Management, to transforming the SIG into a Society, she wrote and re-wrote the bylaws, kept lists of members and interested potential members, generated the initial committees and kept us all moving forward and on track. We are endlessly grateful to her persistence and passion. There were many people who helped along the way, including Dr. Corrie Anderson who proposed the idea, but without Sabine, the organization would not be where it is now. As she comes to the end of her term as SPPM’s first President, we hope you will all join us in thanking her profusely.
The annual meeting is full of an exciting line up to feed your intellectual and academic appetites. The program chair, Dr. Stephen Hays from Vanderbilt University, Co-Chair, Dr. Scott Dingeman, along with the education committee, the research committee and the board of directors have prepared a very robust and engaging educational program. Check out Dr. Hays’ enticing preview of the educational program for the 4th Annual SPPM meeting in this edition of the newsletter. We promise a meeting that is replete with current scientific literature, engaging speakers, practical educational offerings, hands on workshops, exciting PBLDs, and a presentation of award winning posters. These will be the preview for the moderated poster sessions at the end of the day. Needless to say, the annual meeting is a wonderful opportunity to re-connect or meet new colleagues, network, contribute and to join committees.
In the wake of recent FDA’s MedWatch warning about the prolonged and repeated use of anesthetic and sedative agents, we have included an editorial commentary by Dr. Raeford Brown, Chair for the FDA Advisory Committee on Anesthetics and Analgesics. He discusses the impact it may have for all of us that are affected by this change.
Dr. Rita Agarwal, who also serves as the Section Chair for the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine (AAP SOA), provides an update and an excellent review of various initiatives that are taking place within this section. In addition to being educational activities, these are also opportunities for involvement and contribution to these initiatives.
It’s an exciting time in the growth of our young Society and we often receive questions from a lot of you enthusiastic folks about how to get more involved. We take this opportunity to share with you a “Frequently Asked Questions” section in this newsletter. We will also publish this on the SPPM website where the members can access it easily. As always, we encourage you to join and take an active role in the growth of your society, the SPPM. It’s great to see the increased visits and views of the Society’s Facebook page. It’s a great way to review updated information, news articles, upcoming events and news items or discussions on relevant topics. Please use this page to connect with your colleagues and friends, leave comments, suggestions, questions and start discussions.
We welcome your contributions to the newsletter in form of original articles, reviews, case reports or PBLDs. Pretty much anything, WE NEED YOU!
All SPPM Committees are open, so come, join, contribute and leave an impact. Committee times and locations will be on the SPA Mobile Meeting App, on the Meeting website and at the registration desk.
We look forward to seeing y’all at the Fourth Annual SPPM Meeting on March 2, 1017 in beautiful Austin, Texas. Please enjoy this edition of the newsletter, stay connected, and stay engaged!
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us at:
- Rita Agarwal, MD, FAAP: [email protected]
- Anjana Kundu, MBBS, MD, ABIHM: [email protected]
