PIDS Foundation Feature: An Update from the Chair

Differentiating PIDS from the PIDS Foundation is often confusing. When I joined the Board several years ago, I struggled with the simultaneous integration and sometimes puzzling differentiation of the two entities.

The PIDS Foundation exists to carry out the education and research mission of PIDS through funding of fellowships, summer research experiences for trainees, and other educational offerings. We also have the honor of recognizing our colleagues’ achievements through our Society awards, including the Walter T. Hughes Distinguished Physician Award and the Young Investigator Award. In other words, a significant portion of what we accomplish in advancing pediatric ID through PIDS is funded thanks to your generous support of the PIDS Foundation.

This year has been busy and there are quite a few updates to let you know about.

First, we continue to be grateful for the support we receive from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. We recently extended the agreement that supports the St. Jude/PIDS Fellowship Award in Basic and Translational Science. St. Jude also provides what is needed for the annual St. Jude/PIDS Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Conference, still the only pediatric ID-specific meeting in North America.

Second, we continue to receive individual gifts from members like you. Your gifts, both big and small, help us accomplish our goal of showcasing pediatric ID to a new generation of physicians, pharmacists, and advanced practice providers. As you are able and have interest, we would love to talk with you more about how your financial gifts can be used to advance our common desire to alleviate the world’s burden of infectious diseases.

Finally, each of you should have received details about our PIDS Foundation Annual Dinner, to be held during IDWeek 2024 in Los Angeles. We cannot wait to see everyone at the event, where we will honor our PIDS awardees and provide an update on the work of the foundation. Please get your tickets as soon as you are able (ticket sales end September 13).

Thank you for all that you do. If you have any questions about the work of the PIDS Foundation, IDWeek, or how your gift can make a difference in the work of our society, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at pidsfoundation@idsociety.org.