Message from the SOCC Chair

Dear colleagues -

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Critical Care (SOCC) serves the community of Pediatric Intensive Care providers in the US and across the world with the overarching mission to enhance the health of critically ill children equitably and inclusively through education, advocacy, and professional support for a diverse, multicultural membership of pediatric intensive care clinicians.

Our role and interactions within the larger organization of the AAP aim to serve the best interest of our patients and communities and ensure a strong voice for pediatric intensivists in the greater pediatric community. The SOCC now has 1,600 members (and growing!), ranging from students to fellows to board-eligible/certified physicians, from academic centers to community hospitals, from those just starting on their careers to those who are retired – representing a rich network of individuals who care passionately about children.

The SOCC has several subgroups in Advocacy, Quality and Patient Safety, and Membership that are very active in their respective missions. At the annual AAP National Conference & Exhibition (NCE), the SOCC provides programming targeted to trainees and early career physicians. We offer ample opportunities for research presentations, awards in recognition of research excellence, as well as explorations of various career pathways through networking in an inclusive and supportive environment. The SOCC also advocates often in coordination with other councils and sections to develop policies that enhance the care of critically ill children along the continuum of illness and health. These policies cover a range of topics including recommendations on pediatric intensive care unit leveling and staffing, organization of intermediate care units, organ donation, and clinical care policies on determination of death. Lastly, we provide a professional home for pediatric intensivists everywhere through the annual recognition of distinguished career awardees and an established network of PICU Division Chiefs and Medical Directors from pediatric intensive care units spanning community and academic settings (PC3N).

Please join the AAP SOCC in our efforts to ensure the optimal care for critically ill infants, children, and adolescents. Please reach out if there are any efforts you feel SOCC should be involved in, and please get involved! The executive committee members of SOCC, our past chair Benson Hsu, subcommittee chairs, liaisons, and AAP staff manager extraordinaire Sue Tellez are here to serve you and answer your questions!

With gratitude,

Vijay Srinivasan, MBBS, MD, FCCM, FAAP
Chair, AAP SOCC
On behalf of the AAP SOCC Executive Committee
Vijay.srinivasan@choa.org