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Dear colleagues:
Next month, thousands of us will meet in our nation’s capitol for the nation’s largest gathering of allergist/immunologists and related healthcare providers interested in advancing the science and practice of allergic and immunologic diseases.
The 2009 AAAAI Annual Meeting features approximately 375 sessions led by nearly 870 speakers and moderators. We are presenting over 1,000 abstracts through the Featured Poster Session and Reception, 34 late-breaking abstracts, 29 Oral Abstract Sessions and a number of poster sessions throughout the course of four days.
Our Washington, DC, location gives us the opportunity to invite you to a timely scientific health forum coordinated by the Academy’s RSLAAIS Assembly: “The Environment, Public Policy and Human Health Emerging Trends.” This important discussion will address emerging health trends, the impact of environmental policy and the role of allergist/immunologists in shaping environmental medicine. Keynote speaker for the forum is Paul R. Epstein, MD, MPH, Associate Director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School. AAAAI panelists include David B. Peden, MD, FAAAAI, Jeffrey G. Demain, MD, FAAAAI, and Congressman Steven L. Kagen, MD, FAAAAI. This event takes place on Friday, March 13 in the prestigious Cannon Caucus Room on Capitol Hill. Registration is easy and there is no charge to attend.
In support of two of my presidential initiatives, I would like to invite you to the Presidential Plenary Session, “Food Allergy: Where Things Stand in 2009,” and a special symposium on “The Science of Alternative Medicine in Allergy: A Tribute to Stephen Straus, MD,” both on Saturday morning.
Finally, I hope you will join me at the AAAAI’s Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Education and Research Trust (ART) Gala on Saturday evening. Country music star Trace Adkins and his wife, Rhonda (both advocates for food allergy research and legislation) will be my guests. Those in attendance will have the rare opportunity to be part of an intimate concert, as Trace has volunteered to provide the evening’s entertainment.
The very latest news and useful links related to the Annual Meeting can be found within this issue of eNews.
Committee Restructuring
In addition to the myriad of great educational opportunities, the Annual Meeting is an active time for committee involvement within the AAAAI.
Last fall, we spoke with you about the need to streamline the Academy’s 104 committees. Based upon a thorough and careful analysis, feedback from members and staff liaisons, and review of organizational charts of several larger professional societies, it was determined that the AAAAI would function most efficiently and cost-effectively with about a 50% reduction in the number of committees and task forces.
Working toward this goal has been challenging, but productive. Input was gathered from all interest section leaders and various committee leaders. Many of you, our members, also offered constructive feedback as the process unfolded.
There was no doubt that reorganization was necessary. However, the importance of committees and member involvement was and remains at the forefront of all decision-making.
As always, our leadership encourages your input to help guide us through the remainder of this task and other steps taken to strengthen the AAAAI and help us achieve our strategic goals and objectives. If you would like to comment on this or any other issue, you can e-mail me at president@aaaai.org. I may not be able to personally respond to all e-mails, but you can be sure that each will receive the attention of the Executive Committee.
The Annual Meeting will be my final act as AAAAI President, although I will continue to work on completing the initiatives that I set forth last year. It has been an honor to serve in this role and a privilege to work with so many dedicated members of the Academy Staff, Board of Directors and interest section and committee leaders. Thank you for placing your trust in me and the Executive Committee.
Although the coming year is likely to prove as challenging as the last, we have many accomplishments to be proud of and new outstanding initiatives to look forward to. I am confident that incoming President Paul Greenberger will guide the organization with integrity, ingenuity and proven leadership and our specialty will continue to serve the public and especially our patients in an exemplary manner.
Sincerely,
Hugh A. Sampson, MD, FAAAAI
AAAAI President
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