Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research

 President's Corner

The 15^th Annual Meeting of the Society for Pediatric & Perinatal Epidemiology is rapidly approaching. The Board has been busily planning the meeting and is pleased to announce that two new sessions will be offered at the upcoming annual meeting. In particular, there will be a session devoted to innovative methods and analytic techniques, and a second session focusing on graduate training issues. The methods session will focus on innovative and promising new methodologies (study designs, data collection and analytic techniques) applicable for practicing reproductive, perinatal and pediatric epidemiologists. A session on training issues for the field will provide an opportunity for dialogue between students, faculty and potential funding agencies. The intent of the session is to stimulate discussion about the long-term planning needs for graduate training in reproductive, perinatal and pediatric epidemiology. A short survey is planned for early 2002 to ascertain much needed information on faculty involved in teaching and mentoring students interested in reproductive, perinatal and pediatric epidemiology. For those of you who look forward to the scientific papers and posters traditionally hosted at the annual meeting, you won’t be disappointed. There will be sufficient time allotted for these presentations. Please submit abstracts describing your research, innovative methodologies or training issues for consideration. If you need another reason to attend the upcoming meeting, consider the opportunity to witness first hand a slide show illustrating the milestones of the Society over the past 15 years. Check out the aging process for the longer standing members and the exciting infusion of our newer members! Join us for

As I enter the midpoint of my tenure as President, I am pleased to serve the membership and I look forward to hearing your thoughts pertaining to any aspect of the meeting and the future of SPER (gbuck156i@nih.gov). I look forward to seeing you in the dessert!

Our 2002 meeting will take place June 17-18 at the Marriott’s Desert Springs Resort, California. The meeting will begin at 5pm with a reception and poster session similar to previous years. However we will add a panel discussion concerning current and future training needs for reproductive, perinatal and pediatric epidemiologist. Information concerning registration and the program will be available in the Spring newsletter as well as on line at our web site www.sper.org.

SPER requests the submission of abstracts to be considered for oral and poster presentations at the Annual Meeting. As previously mentioned, we are

Nominations are being sought for President, Treasurer, and one Member-at-Large. The leadership and direction of the Society depends on our members so please consider serving in one of these roles and/or encourage a fellow SPER member to run. Detained information concerning each office and the nominations form is attached to the newsletter. Nominations are due by February 11^th. A slate of candidates will be presented to the membership for elections in March.

The Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research (SPER) requests papers for the Annual Student Prize Paper Award. This competition is open to graduate and medical students, postdoctoral fellows, medical residents, research trainees, and clinical fellows interested in reproductive, perinatal, and pediatric epidemiology. The winner of the award will present the selected paper at the 2002 meeting in Palm Desert, California.

An award of $250 plus expenses for travel, two days lodging, and SPER meeting registration will be given to the author of the selected paper. The paper should represent work in reproductive, perinatal, or pediatric epidemiology conducted as a student or trainee during the two years prior to the 2002 meeting. The paper must be written by the student/trainee and must be unpublished at the time of the meeting. The author may submit the paper simultaneously to the Abraham Lilienfeld Student Prize Paper competition of the Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER); however, if the paper is selected for that award, it will not be eligible for the SPER award. Authors do not have to be members of SPER to apply.

Students are also encouraged to submit their papers as abstracts, following the standard abstract submission guidelines (available at our web site <www.sper.org>) and the February 11 submission deadline. Abstracts of all accepted papers will be printed in the book of abstracts distributed at the meeting.

To apply for this award, please submit the following materials:

• Manuscript: submit four copies of the paper, which must be prepared according to the "Instructions to Authors" printed in the journal Pædiatric and Perinatal Epidemiology

• Include the following information on a removable face page: your name, telephone number, address, current position, a statement indicating when the work was completed, the name of your Department Chair (or Division Chief, etc.), and the name of the person under whose supervision the work was done

• A letter from the person under whose supervision the work was done, indicating your specific contribution

Papers must be received by MARCH 29, 2002. Send papers to:

Pierre Buekens, MD, Ph.D.
Maternal and Child Health
School of Public Health
University of North Carolina
Campus Box 7445
Chapel Hill, N.C. 27599-7445
Phone: 919-966-5981 Fax: 919-966-0458
Email: pierre_buekens@unc.edu

Applicants will be notified of the selection committee’s decision by April 19th.

The Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research (SPER) requests papers for the Heinz Berendes International Travel Award. The paper should represent work in reproductive, perinatal, or pediatric epidemiology, and research that concerns populations in developing countries is encouraged. To be eligible for this award, the applicant must not currently reside in the United States or Canada as a student, exchange scholar, or permanent resident. The winner will present the selected paper at the 2002 meeting in Palm Desert, California.

An award of $250 plus expenses for travel, 2 days lodging, and SPER meeting registration will be given to the author of the paper selected by the International Travel Award Committee. The paper must be unpublished at the time of the meeting. Authors do not have to be SPER members to apply for the award.

Applicants are also encouraged to submit their papers as abstracts, following the standard abstract submission guidelines (available at our web site <www.sper.org>) and the February 11 submission deadline. Abstracts of all accepted papers will be printed in the book of abstracts distributed at the meeting.

To apply for this award, please submit the following materials:

• Manuscript—submit four copies of the paper, which must be prepared according to the "Instructions to Authors" printed in the journal Pædiatric and Perinatal Epidemiology
• A cover letter that provides the name and address of your academic affiliation or research establishment and your country of residence in the previous six months

Papers must be received by March 29, 2002. Send papers to:

Germaine Buck, PhD
Division of Epidemiology, Statistics & Prevention, NICHD/NIH
6100 Building; Room B703,
6100 Executive Blvd.
Bethesda, MD 20854 (For express mail delivery use: Rockville, MD 20854)
phone: 301-496-6155
fax: 301-402-2084
email: buckg@mail.nih.gov

Applicants will be notified of the selection committee’s decision by April 19th.

In March 2002, the Society will elect a new President-Elect, Treasurer and Member-at-Large. The following guidelines describe eligibility for nomination and the responsibilities of each position. A nomination form is also included.

Eligibility

Any member of SPER may nominate herself or himself or any other member of the Society.

Responsibilities and duties

President-Elect

1. The officer serves a three-year term as President-Elect, President, and Past President.
2. The President-Elect works with the President to develop plans for the Annual Meeting and is in charge of selecting the Student Prize Paper Award recipient.
3. The President-Elect for 2002-2003 will become the President for 2003-2004. The President designs the program for the Annual Meeting, is in charge of Executive Committee decision-making, and selects the Heinz Berendes International Travel Award recipient. 
4. The President-Elect will remain on the SPER Executive Committee for a third year as Past-President, providing input to decision-making as needed.

Treasurer

1. The officer serves a three-year term; he/she is responsible for the organization’s finances. This includes maintaining the checking account, processing payments of dues and abstract submissions, completing financial reports and of a US Federal Income Tax return.
2. Maintains membership files, conducts annual membership renewal, and provides mailing labels for
   SPER activities.
3. Communicates with Prince Management company for the web-site maintenance and participates as a member of the Executive Committee.

Member-at-Large

1. Members-at-Large serve a four-year term; they are involved in the planning and decision-making of the Society’s annual meeting and its future direction.
2. The four Members-at-Large each chair one of the various committees of the Society. These committees currently include Membership, Nominations and Elections, Abstract Review, and Abstract Publication.

Questions?
If you have questions about the nomination process or responsibilities associated with each office, please contact Ken Schoendorf, MD, MPH at 301-458-4486 or kxs2@cdc.gov.

Name of candidate ________________________________      Degree(s) ________________

Current institutional affiliation(s)_________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Other pertinent background information___________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

A brief summary of the candidate’s ideas, projects, and interests for the future direction of SPER. (You may use a separate sheet of paper, but please be brief!)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Check the position for which you are nominating the candidate:

____ President–Elect       ____Treasurer       ____ Member–at–Large

Nominated by SPER Member (self-nominations are encouraged):

Name ___________________________________
Signature ________________________________    Date ________________

To nominate a candidate, please complete this form and send by mail, fax or e–mail by 
February 11 2002, to:

Ken Schoendorf, MD, MPH
National Center for Health Statistics
6525 Belcrest Rd., Room 790
Hyattsville, MD 20782
Phone: (301) 458-4486
Fax: (301) 458–4038
E–mail: kxs2@cdc.gov