President’s Letter from Deb Palazzi – Better Together: Building the Future of Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

As I reflect on the energy and connection we all felt at IDWeek, I am reminded of what makes our community extraordinary. The conversations in the hallways, the shared laughter after sessions, the mentoring moments over coffee—all of it reflected the very best of who we are. We are a society that leads with science, serves with compassion, and supports one another with genuine camaraderie. Simply put, we are better together.

As I begin my term as President of PIDS, I want to build on that spirit of togetherness. Our strength lies not only in our individual expertise, but in our collective resolve to advance the health of children through innovation, advocacy, and education. In the year ahead, my focus will center on three priorities that will strengthen our field and the Society that supports it: workforce and compensation, advocacy, and investment in the next generation.

First, we must reinforce the foundation of our specialty—our workforce. Pediatric infectious diseases physicians play an essential role in every dimension of child health, yet too often our value is under-recognized and under-compensated. PIDS will continue to advocate for fair and sustainable models that reflect the depth and impact of our contributions. Expanding upon the important groundwork laid by Bill and others, PIDS has engaged the University of Chicago Survey Lab to create a pediatric-specific workforce and compensation survey that fills critical gaps in prior data. Findings will guide a forthcoming PIDS white paper to help institutional leaders advocate for equitable compensation models and appropriate clinical FTE benchmarks.

Second, we are stronger advocates when we speak with one voice. To amplify that voice, we have established a PIDS Advocacy Task Force that will guide our priorities and strengthen our presence in state and national policy arenas. We will also launch advocacy training opportunities to empower members to be effective advocates for children’s health—whether in the hospital, the community, or in the offices of elected officials. And because collaboration multiplies our impact, we will work closely with key partners to align our efforts and ensure pediatric infectious diseases remains central to broader public health conversations.

Finally, we must invest in those who will shape our future. As we learned during our membership meeting at IDWeek, PIDS is financially strong and well-positioned for growth. This strength gives us the opportunity—and the responsibility—to expand our awards, grants, and educational programs, ensuring that we continue to cultivate excellence across all career stages. By investing intentionally in our early-career faculty, fellows, and other learners, we can nurture the creativity, curiosity, and leadership that will carry our field forward. Supporting these future leaders ensures that our Society’s impact not only endures but continues to grow for generations to come.

Every great accomplishment in our field—from life-saving vaccines to transformative care models—has been achieved through collaboration. That same principle will guide us now. As we move forward, let’s continue to connect, support, and inspire one another. Because when we compassionately bring our ideas and our voices together, there is no limit to what we can build.

Better together, always,

Deb