President's Message

In my last message, I spoke to you about leadership through collegiality. This month, I wish to update you on the collegiality of our CIS colleagues who met in Chicago for an annual Leadership Retreat where we collectively worked together on the strategy of the Society for the next five years. As you may remember, we asked you back in June to complete a membership survey to assist in guiding the direction of the Society for the coming years. We reviewed every comment from that survey, and thank you for taking the time to provide us your input. I know we have sincere and caring members of the CIS who value what we are doing for clinical immunology and science.

Back in 2018, the CIS leadership met and established the 2018-2023 Strategic Plan. As we discussed the direction of CIS for the next five years, we felt that the six pillars established in 2018 of Communication, Partnerships, Membership, Innovation, Education, and Advocacy are solid stakes to continue our work as a Society. While we have met many of the goals established in 2018 to support these pillars, we must always improve and progress. Among the many new strategic tasks set to accomplish our goals in the next five years are a few particularly important strategies that we will be implementing immediately.

Communication

We will continue to communicate with you, our members, transparently and openly through email and social media.
Enhanced social media presence
Regular updates to the membership with Society updates
Work to ensure CIS representation in a high quality journal
Update the CIS Diagnostic Laboratory Directory

Partnerships

We are seeking innovative ways to partner with other organizations like ASPHO, NICER, the Histiocyte Society, ISSAID, JMF, and IDF to provide opportunities and education for CIS members.

Membership

Invigorate the listserv with contributions from the CIS committees and leadership; the VUS and Early Clinical Immunologist (ECI) listservs will be combined with the popular PIDD listserv
Establish a mentorship program for early career immunologists
Develop abstract awards at the annual meeting
Create member resources like slide sets to facilitate learning about clinical immunology
Promote free trainee membership
Highlight the work of CIS committees during the Annual Meeting and on social media

Innovation

Work with the Diversity & Inclusion Committee to establish diversity and inclusion holistically across the Society
The leadership will reach out to established podcasts in clinical immunology to participate as guest speakers
Continue to reimagine the benefits and offerings of the Society to grow with membership needs
Establish awards and grants that honor pioneers in clinical immunology
Pursue expanded initiatives to raise funds for the CIS Foundation

Education

Your feedback told us that that the 2023 Annual Meeting was a huge success, and we also heard your feedback about balancing the basic science with more clinical and practical aspects. The Program Committee is working to incorporate additional topics to provide more balance in the daily sessions.
Based also on your feedback, we will incorporate the pre-conference into the full meeting as an “Education Session” for 2024. More information to come.
Continue to advance and innovate the training of fellows and early career immunologists through dedicated CIS sponsored schools
Pursuing pre-conference educational sessions with AAAAI & ACAAI
Continuing partnerships with other organizations for ECI webinars

Advocacy

Refresh current advocacy resources on the CIS website
Establish relationships with IDF and other organizations regarding lobbying issues and advocating on the Hill
Create Practice Considerations manuscripts (ex: Management of Down Syndrome)
Establish position statements related to healthcare reimbursement and payer advocacy
Work with the Investigators of CIS Committee to promote the advancement fo clinicians and scientists inthe field of Clinical Immunology

I am excited to take on the work of this updated Strategic Plan with you all. As always, the door is always open. I may even show you my “Doctor/Immunologist” shirt.

Please reach out with any questions or comments at any time.

In collegiality,

Elie Haddad, MD, PhD

CIS President