In my inaugural letter to society, I would first like to express my gratitude to the members for entrusting me to lead the SRU in 2026 and to past leaders for establishing the strong foundation of this beloved society that means so much to our profession. As I assume the honor of my professional career in taking the helm during this time of both opportunity and challenge, I am reminded and motivated by the words of Isaac Newton which I paraphrase: If I am able to see further, it is only because I stand on the shoulders of giants.

Among the tallest giants to whom I would like to express my sincere gratitude are Drs. Nirvi Dahiya and Mark Lockhart. Nirvi, our immediate past president, guided SRU through significant transitions with wisdom and grace. Nirvi is now rotating off the board, but his impact has been and will continue to be substantial. Mark Lockhart, our immediate past president, along with program committee chairs, Theodora Potretzke and Tara Morgan, delivered an outstanding annual meeting in Nashville—combining exceptional educational content with innovative programming and a memorable sense of community. Mark certainly elevated the “fun factor” with karaoke, a “honky tonk”, and many additional opportunities for our members to connect. Their efforts set a high standard, and we are excited to accept the challenge to bring that same energy to the Chicago meeting this year. We also welcome Shuchi Rogers as our new secretary, and this newsletter is the result of her hard work and dedication. She now joins Anne Kennedy (president-elect) and …  read more