President's Message
It is an honor to serve as the President for the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy & Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) for 2023-2024. This Academy is my professional home, and I am amazed by the commitment of the members to the organization’s vision and mission. Thank you for your membership, and thank you to those who provided extra engagement through the AACPDM Board of Directors, Committees, Councils as well as the engagement of our Special Interest Groups (AACPDM SIGs).
I would like to acknowledge the efforts of many people who made the 2023 meeting, “Winds of Hope” a success, in particular Drs. Bhooma Aravamuthan and Theresa Sukal Moulton (Scientific Program Committee Co-Chairs), our meeting sponsors and so many of you who submitted abstracts and led Preconference courses. If you did not attend the meeting, or you would like to view some of the content again, we are pleased to announce an on-demand option! This year you can view the top scored abstracts for the Gayle G. Arnold, Best Adult Paper, and Promising Career Awards, as well as all posters and General Sessions by visiting here: https://www.aacpdm.org/events/2023/registration/on-demand-content. If you attended the meeting, the content will be free to view. For non-registered attendees the content is available for $99 for members and $199 for non-members.
Planning is already underway for the next meeting in Quebec City Canada, October 23-26, 2024. The theme for the 78th AACPDM Annual meeting will be Translating Discoveries. I am confident it will be an outstanding meeting and I hope that you are able to join us.
Over this next year, members will receive important newsletter and email updates about AACPDM undertakings and initiatives as we further focus on efforts on realizing our strategic plan. Please watch for membership renewal emails around the end of November. Member benefits for 2024 include the opportunity to apply for research grants, travel scholarships, and involvement with the newly envisioned mentorship program and transformative practice award, among numerous other opportunities.
My journey with the Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine Community began in Chicago many years ago, and it was an honor to take the role of President in Chicago for this distinguished organization. Thank you for the work you do to advance the health and well-being of all individuals with cerebral palsy and other childhood-onset disabilities.
M. Wade Shrader, MD
AACPDM President, 2023-24