Dear APA members,
I hope everyone is doing well during this busy, fun and reflective time of year. I’m a last-minute holiday shopper and have much work to do in the next few days! Hopefully, I’ll pull it off, please wish me luck!
Here are some brief APA updates:
- Pediatrics Academic Societies (PAS) meeting planning is ramping up. I’m grateful to all the APA members who have contributed behind the scenes to ensure that the meeting will be successful! From serving on the PAS planning committee, to submitting, reviewing and selecting abstracts, workshops, and scientific sessions, APA members made significant and meaningful contributions. For example, approximately 40% of accepted workshops are led by APA members this year. The APA will continue to have a strong presence at PAS reflective of our priorities and values. I’m grateful to everyone’s efforts. Stay tuned for more details!
- Despite the headwinds we are facing in academic pediatrics, our membership is booming! Currently, we have approximately 2,050 members. The APA hasn’t had over 2,000 members in more than 25 years! This includes 1,945 individual members and over 100 residency members. Overall, 25% of our members are trainees! This is simply an incredible achievement. I hope we can continue to grow our membership! Please tell your friends and colleagues how the APA has impacted your career and encourage them to join, regardless of their specialty where they will find community, collaboration, and leadership opportunities. We are stronger together! And… please don’t forget to renew your dues. Here is a step-by-step guide to renewing. It’s on my to do list as well!
- The APA was mentioned in a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions post and listed in a statement from leading Medical, Health and Patient Advocacy Groups on a recent CDC Vaccine Meeting. We will continue to advocate and join statements from medical organizations to support children and families. I’m grateful to our Public Policy and Advocacy Committee Chair, Dr. Maya Ragavan for her bold advocacy leadership.
- Please be on the look-out in early 2026 for the next APA Election. We had a tremendous outpouring of members applying for our open positions. It speaks to their commitment to the APA and willingness to enter the arena despite their hectic professional and personal schedules and the myriad of challenges we are all facing. It’s this type of selflessness and commitment that makes the APA so special.
As we continue to celebrate the APA’s 65th birthday this year, fun fact, do you know when the APA first began to have pediatric hospitalists? Well there isn’t one specific date, but the Inpatient General Pediatricians SIG first gathered in 1992! The APA co-sponsored the first pediatric hospitalist meeting in 2003 and the Pediatric Research in Inpatients Settings (PRIS) collaborative launched in 2004. We love our pediatric hospitalists (I’m married to one!) and we hope that all pediatric hospitalists will see the APA as their academic home.
As always, please reach out to me anytime with your ideas, suggestions and/or concerns.
Finally, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season with your family and loved ones.
Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and fulfilling New Year!
Sincerely,
Arvin Garg, MD, MPH
President
Academic Pediatric Association
