March 13, 2020
Dear Member Colleagues,
As many of you have heard today, due to the rapidly rising public health concerns caused by the recent global outbreaks of the novel coronavirus and COVID-19, the 2020 Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Meeting has been cancelled.
Although we are disappointed that we will be unable to meet in Philadelphia, the APA supports the decision to cancel the meeting. Protecting the health of our patients, their families, and the broader public and preserving our own availability to serve patients within our institutions are important contributors to our national efforts to contain and mitigate this pandemic.
Answers to questions about hotel reservations and registration refunds can be found here or directed to info@pasmeeting.org.
We also support PAS’s decision not to convert the bulk of its programming to online modalities. We agree that supporting you and your families, students, residents, fellows and faculty during this time is best accomplished by canceling most events rather than adding additional stress and inconvenience through multiple days of expected online attendance.
The APA, however, is actively exploring virtual learning options for its Fellows Meeting, QI Conference, Scholars Program meetings, and perhaps other APA-specific events. We will confirm these plans as soon as we are able.
Through it all, the APA is here for you! Together with the PAS, we will pursue ways to highlight your scholarship and contributions to our thriving pediatric academic community, and we will keep you posted on these developments.
In the meantime, all APA members can utilize APA’s Online Community and Connect App to find and connect with colleagues you would have connected with at PAS. Members can friend each other, direct message each other, and post discussions and resources to the SIG groups. We hope our Online Community provides a sense of connection and network during this time.
You—our members—are what make the APA our cherished academic home. That is true whether an in-person conference occurs or not. This is an opportunity for us all to remember that the biggest, best gift we can give each other is ourselves. Safely reach out to your colleagues. Call your mentors and mentees. Set up local poster displays and (socially distanced) abstract presentations. Educate each other and the public. Advocate for public health. Take care of your patients, your institutions, your communities, and your families. Be the best version of yourself you can possibly be. When you do that, and when you see everyone around you doing the same, that is the APA. You are the APA. We are the APA.
Please let us know if you have any questions and/or how else we can support you.
Sincerely,
Paul Chung, MD, MS,
President
Academic Pediatric Association
