PIDS Foundation News: 2022 Letter from the Chair

As 2022 draws to a close, every major news outlet is treating us to a “year in review.” (Anybody else a fan of NPR’s 50 Wonderful Pop Culture Things?) In the spirit of the season, I offer you 5 Wonderful PIDS Foundation Achievements from the past year.

1. We funded innovative research that has the potential to ultimately change the way we understand the diseases that affect children and the ways we can prevent them. Our ability to offer awards to fellows and young faculty was due in large part to the ongoing generosity of Stanley and Susan Plotkin and Mike Pichichero and his family.
2. We committed to increasing the diversity of our profession. In partnership with the American Pediatric Association and with support from Sanofi Pasteur, we announced our first Research in Academic Pediatrics Initiative on Diversity (RAPID) Scholars – Ana Quintero and Marisa Orbea (the announcement was in the May 4 newsletter, near the end).   
3. We supported initiatives to promote vaccine confidence, focusing on education of members, our colleagues in primary care, and physicians-in-training:
   • The Vaccine Education Fund, created by Marty and Bev Myers, sponsored a podcast that addressed the polio case identified in New York and strategies to combat vaccine hesitancy.
   • CoVER, our web-based vaccine education program now includes 19 modules and moved to a new, user-friendly learning management system.
   • A new edition of The Vaccine Handbook app, compatible with iOS and Android devices, was released.
     • CoVER and The Vaccine Handbook app continue to be offered free of charge through unrestricted educational grants to the PIDS Foundation from GlaxoSmithKline; Merck & Co., Inc.; Sanofi Pasteur US; Pfizer, Inc.; Seqirus USA, Inc.; and Valneva USA, Inc.
4. We invested in programs to strengthen the peds ID workforce. In the last newsletter, PIDS President Buddy Creech talked about the SUMMERS Program and meetID, initiatives to introduce students and pediatric trainees to careers in our profession. These programs are funded by the Foundation in collaboration with Sanofi Pasteur.
5. We celebrated. In October, 350 members and friends of the Society gathered in Washington, D.C. for the PIDS Foundation dinner.
   • We honored 4 extraordinary colleagues for their scientific achievements.
   • We recognized the 2022 recipients of the Walter T. Hughes Distinguished Physician Award and the PIDS Young Investigator Award.
   • We rejoiced at the opportunity to reconnect with friends and colleague in-person for the first time since 2019.
   • We were finally able to properly introduce our fellows and young faculty to the “extended family” we enjoy through the Society.

One hundred and seventy-five members made financial contributions to the Foundation this year. Additional members contributed time and talent. The PIDS Foundation is extremely grateful for all the effort and support you have demonstrated in 2022. With additional support … your support … imagine what we could accomplish in 2023!

It is easy to donate when you renew your PIDS membership, or at pidsfoundation.org. Maybe you are entering a new phase in your career and wondering how you can continue to be engaged with PIDS. If you are looking for a different way to contribute—maybe a novel idea or a suggestion for how the Foundation could better serve the needs of the Society—reach out to me at Kristina.bryant@louisville.edu.

The Foundation needs you. Let’s talk.