Why Should I Join SOAI?

Join the SOAI today.  Enhance your career by helping children.

Advocacy

We actively engage in state and federal advocacy for the needs of allergy specialist pediatricians. We are continuing our advocacy efforts to reduce the cost burden and extend the shelf life of epinephrine auto-injectors for children with food allergies. SOAI advocated to improve pediatric drug and device laws with the FDA bill recently signed into law strengthened the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, the Pediatric Research Equity Act, and the Pediatric Medical Device Safety and Improvement Act.

Education

Our section leads the way in education by offering a free online course, Managing Allergies and Anaphylaxis in the Clinic and Beyond, which is designed to build skills and efficacy for the general practicing clinician in the diagnosis and management of children with allergies.

We collaborated with the AAP sections, like the Section on Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine (SOPPSM) to develop a Patient Education booklet, Childhood Asthma and an online course, Optimizing Asthma Care.

We have also collaborated with the Council on School Health (COSH) to develop an allergy and anaphylaxis e-learning resource to educate general pediatricians and primary care providers on collaborating with patients, families and schools to create effective allergy management and help prevent allergy-induced anaphylaxis in schools. SOAI, along with the SOPPSM, holds a section meeting at the Annual AAP National Conference & Exhibition to further discuss new & emerging concepts, recent advances, gadgets and gizmos and more.

Engagement

Section members have the exclusive privilege to contribute to the section's Synopsis Book: Best Articles Relevant to Pediatric Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (a published supplement to Pediatrics), we have an active ListServ, newsletters and a Visiting Professor Program (VPP).

Chitra Dinakar VPP provides grants for Pediatric Allergists/Immunologists to visit institutions with accredited Pediatrics residency training programs for one to two days. The Visiting Professor provides lectures, discusses clinical problems, and assists in introducing procedures that may enhance the allergy/immunology training of pediatric house and attending staffs.  The grants provide the Visiting Professor with an honorarium and reimbursement for travel, lodging, and meal expenses.

Section Awards and Grants

• Bret Ratner Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Research Award (Presented biannually on even years)
• Jerome Glaser Distinguished Service Award (Presented biannually on odd years)
• Annual Travel Grant Awards to National Conference & Exhibition (6 available)
• Annual Outstanding Abstract Awards (5 available)