Presidential Message
Hello SPP, it has been a difficult month already. Our hearts have been with so many of our members and families abroad as we marked the October 7th anniversary of the Hamas attacks in Israel. Children and families in both Israel and Gaza continue to experience unimaginable suffering, harm, and loss, as the war has expanded in the Middle East. It seems we are no closer to a resolution or ceasefire, despite many calls to safely provide humanitarian aid. The European Paediatric Psychology Network (EPPN) and SPP have been organizing educational materials, links to resources, and information on how you can help, in efforts to support our members, students, and families affected by the ongoing war. More to come soon.
We have also witnessed the devastation of hurricanes Helene and Milton within days of one another. Many families have lost loved ones, their homes, and livelihood across Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas. We recognize so many of you are continuing to care for others, while also being personally affected by this disaster. For those who wish to contribute, please donate to a disaster relief fund or simply reach out to those you know with a helping hand or an offer of comfort. It will take some time for recovery efforts, but we will support each other through it.
Board Business: It’s been a bit quieter for the board since the APA convention, but we’re still working hard on several activities. It seems we’re always planning new continuing education sessions, appointing SPP members for committee and liaison positions, and preparing for another terrific SPPAC. In the coming months, we’ll also be working on the 2025 budget; inviting submissions for SPP grants and awards; seeking nominations for SPP elections; and encouraging APA Fellow applicants. We are lucky to have a wonderful board and amazing support from EDI to do this work.
Fall Virtual Conference: The Fall Virtual Conference was recently hosted by the SPP Science, Practice, and Education Committee and focused on transforming health through clinical translational research. Drs. Christine Chambers, Idia Thurston, and Lori Wiener were standout speakers and shared their successes in improving outcomes in pain, health disparities, and oncology. Many thanks to FVC 2024 Chair, Dr. Allison A. Stiles, and FVC 2024 Co-Chair, Dr. Katherine Darling, for organizing this terrific event!
SPPAC 2025: It’s hard to believe, but preparations are well under way for our next SPPAC planned for April 3-5 in Phoenix, AZ. As you know, we extended the submission deadline last week due to hurricane Helene. SPPAC Chair, Dr. Lauren Harrison, and SPPAC Co-chair, Dr. Colleen Cullinan, have done a wonderful job identifying exceptional plenary speakers to fit our conference theme: Moving Forward with Hope: Advancing Health Equity in Pediatric Psychology through Science, Practice, and Advocacy. Thanks to all of you who submitted your work and a big thanks to those of you who offered to review submissions. We couldn’t do this without you!
New Members of the APA Fellows Committee: We had so many qualified applicants for vacancies on the APA Fellows Committee this year. After careful review by the committee members, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Gerald Koocher will serve as chair, and Dr. Diane Chen will join as a new committee member. Both will serve three-year terms and help us support pediatric psychologists who have made unique and significant contributions to the field. Congratulations to both, and please check out this announcement for new fellow applications!
APA Apportionment Ballot: Each year the APA apportionment ballot determines the number of representatives SPP will be allotted on APA Council. This is a very important vote that affects our voice in APA business and advocacy efforts. We currently have two council representatives, and it’s critical that we retain them. On November 1 you will receive an email with election instructions and a link for voting online. The voting period will end on December 16 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Please vote on behalf of SPP to ensure we keep both of our council reps!
In closing, thank you always for caring for families, for making new discoveries, for training and mentoring students, and for raising your voices on behalf of everyone who needs it. Please reach out to me or the board with any thoughts, suggestions, and questions on how we can make things better for you and SPP.
Warmly,
Cindy Gerhardt
SPP President