June 2025

Dear SOAP Community,
What an incredible honor it has been to serve as President of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology. Over this past year, I have witnessed firsthand the remarkable strength, dedication, and compassion that define this extraordinary community.

SOAP’s mission — to improve the quality of care and outcomes for birthing persons and their babies everywhere — has never been more vital, and it has never been more vibrant. Our society continues to grow in reach, expertise, and impact, uniting clinicians, researchers, and educators in a shared commitment to safe, respectful, and equitable peripartum care.

What truly makes SOAP so special is its people: colleagues whose passion and humanism shine through every patient interaction, every research breakthrough, and every act of mentorship and advocacy. Together, you embody a community that leads with both heart and mind, dedicated to advancing maternal and neonatal health on a global scale. As we look ahead, I am filled with gratitude and optimism, knowing this mission is in the hands of such talented and deeply caring professionals. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving alongside you.

With sincere appreciation,
Heather Nixon, MD
President, Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology

BOARD STATS 
  • To date, there are 51 SOAP State Representatives, and we continue to work towards securing a representative from each state.  SOAP State Representatives will provide a key contact in each state to help us reach a broader audience, as SOAP strives to meet its mission to provide safe and equitable care for women and newborns everywhere. If you know someone who is interested in becoming a SOAP State Representative, please contact SOAP HQ.  
COMMITTEE STATS 

Annual Meeting and Live Events Committee 

  • Next meeting: May  21, 2:00pm Eastern
  • The 2025 Annual Meeting April 30 – May 4, 2025, in Portland, Oregon was a success! 
    • Over 800 individuals in attendance
  • 2025 Annual Meeting Virtual Highlights were held June 9 & 10, 2025. 
    • 54 individuals in attendance.
  • Recording available in the SOAP Learning Center for attendees of both Virtual Highlights and Annual Meeting
  • Paint Portland “Party with a Purpose” Fundraising Event at the 2025 SOAP Annual Meeting. Check out our Alumni Showdown Winners!

Education Committee

Diversity Committee 

Governance Committee 

  • The Call for Committee interest will launch in September. Terms for committees will began January 1 and end on December 31. 

Intersociety Committee  

Member Value Committee 

  • Mentoring Excellence Award recipient was announced at the 2025 Annual Meeting
    • Manny Vallejo, MD 
  • Mark your calendars for the NEW SOAP PEAK: Professional Excellence Advancement Keys! This program will be a focused lecture series, allowing you to attend areas customized to your interests.
    • November 13, 2025 – Quality Improvement
    • February 5, 2026 – Education
    • June 25, 2026 – Career Advancement
    • August 27, 2026 – Research
  • Join one of the fifteen Special Interest Groups. To see a full list of the Special Interest Groups visit the SOAP website.
  • 2025 SOAP Fundamentals Registration Launched June 23, 2025.

Research Committee  

  • Research Survey Request Spring Cycle closed March 1. The committee is currently reviewing applications.

Finance Committee 

  • Combined net assets for SOAP and the SOAP Endowment were $6.7M as of April 31, 2025
  • “Party with a Purpose” Benefit was a success!  The winner of the Alumni Showdown Challenge were:
    •  1st Place: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine - $3,350
    • 2nd Place: Stanford University - $1,220
    • 3rd Place: Brigham and Women's Hospital - $600

SOAP Headquarters 

  • Log into the SOAP Community! We’re happy to invite you to join the official SOAP online community platform at TradeWing! The platform has many of the features members requested.  
    • Add [email protected] to your safe sender's list so you can receive announcements from SOAP Community. 
    • View the full list of features and frequently asked questions.