Your October Update from Our President
It's been another busy month for the Society and there's a lot still to come for our intensive care community.
It's been three months since the last SOA and work is well underway on our State of the Art 2027, which returns to the ICC Birmingham from 29 June to 1 July 2027. While I will have handed over the Presidency by then, I am delighted to be continuing my involvement as Strategic Director for the event.
For me, SOA has always been about more the nine streams of education. Whilst these are available virtually and can be watched in our own time, there is huge merit to attending in person. It's a rare opportunity to bring our multiprofessional teams together, share new ideas and reconnect with colleagues from across intensive care. It's also the ideal opportunity for the whole team look at the new equipment and medication that our industry partners demonstrate - all under one roof. It's clear from your feedback that coming in person creates a wave of enthusiasm that continues back into clinical work. New for 2027, we are also expanding the SOA experience with a Pre-Congress day on 28 June, including a dedicated programme on sepsis and a full day for resident doctors. There will be significant discounts for members for this and if you are attending the whole of SOA in person.
I am particularly excited about the opening plenary, When Crisis Strikes: From Extraordinary Rescue to Extraordinary Response, which will see one of my first registrars (now 20 years ago!) Wing Commander Toby Elkington share the remarkable story of parachuting onto one of the world’s most remote inhabited islands to help care for a critically ill patient.
And, importantly, abstract submissions are now open! We want SOA27 to showcase work from across our community, whether that is groundbreaking research, how your team works, or a small change that has made a real difference to patient care. There are three overarching categories this year: Research and Practice, Critical Care Tales and Rising Star. I really encourage you to submit your work before the 15 February 2027 deadline.
Early Bird tickets are now available with the significant membership discounts for 9 streams of education (or 72hrs!) available to watch afterwards for up to 6 months. I talked last month about the importance of our membership and the value it provides, and this is another tangible example of that. I do want to take this opportunity to remind us all of how important SOA is for the whole intensive care community but its continued success does depend on people coming together and attending it. I hope we will see many of you in Birmingham.
GIVE24, is now underway, and I'm delighted to be taking part. Like so many people involved with the Society, I give my time as a volunteer because I believe in the difference our work makes, from education and research to wellbeing, patient and family support, and shaping national policy. But to continue this work, and to do more of it, we need your support. Intensive care never stops. It runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. So, for GIVE24, I've challenged myself to run for 24 minutes a day, for 24 days. I'm an enthusiastic but slow runner, so this will certainly be a challenge! I hope you'll consider sponsoring me, or getting involved in your own way, to help us continue making a difference for our intensive care community.
Another highlight is the latest Annual Law Review from our Legal and Ethical Advisory Group (LEAG), which is now available in JICS. This is always an important read, bringing together some of the key legal developments relevant to intensive care and helping us consider what they mean for our everyday practice. I would strongly encourage you to take the time to read it.
Alongside this, there is plenty more to explore this month, including our Resident Doctors Takeover of ICS Cast, JICS Education and new patient resources, as well as updates from our patient and professional advisory groups.
As I approach the end of my term as President, I am increasingly conscious that so much of what the Society achieves happens because people choose to contribute. People share their research, teach, volunteer, participate in our groups, respond to surveys, support patients and families, and give their time and expertise for the benefit of the wider intensive care community.
So, my ask this month is simple: get involved in whatever way you can. Submit an abstract. Join us at SOA27. Share your feedback. Explore our latest education and resources. Support GIVE24. And continue to encourage colleagues to become part of the Society.
There is much to look forward to, and I am incredibly proud of the energy, expertise and generosity that exists across our community.
Thank you, as always, for being part of it.