SER President’s Message
I can’t believe that fall is here – I don’t know about you but the summer really flew by. Students are back in school (or about to return) and pumpkins and holiday decorations fill the store shelves. I’m not quite ready for the holidays. Feels like the annual meeting was just yesterday. The 2025 annual meeting was record setting with more than 1,600 registered attendees in # workshops, # symposia, # oral abstract sessions, and # poster presentations! Yes, you read that number correctly – 1,600! Even with last minute cancellations, budget constraints, grant terminations and all the many challenges we faced in the first half of the year, we still had record attendance at the meeting. Based on the feedback we have received, the annual meeting was a huge success. Many thanks to the society members for supporting the meeting, the SER board and Sue Bevan and her team.
So, what’s next? We have many exciting things going on this year. The call for interest in serving on SER committees just ended but the call for participation in the SER mentoring program is still open. And, of course (drum roll please . . .) the upcoming mid-year meeting! If you have not attended the mid-year meeting, or you somehow missed that we even have a mid-year meeting, you have been missing out. The meeting is entirely virtual and best of all – it is FREE! I know, how great is that? These days not many things are free, so just think what a great value your annual membership is. Not only do you get this nifty newsletter for free, but you also get to attend the mid-year meeting for free. Yup, more networking, fantastic breakout sessions, plenaries, and student training opportunities all for free. The only way it could get better is if we gave away prizes at the annual meeting. Wait – we are! Not only is the mid-year meeting free but you might win a prize for best poster or best something-er other. You can’t win if you don’t enter so be on the lookout for the announcements for abstract and symposia submissions.
The SER website is finally getting a refresh. It’s out with the old, um, perhaps I should rephrase. It’s time to get rid of(?), set aside(?), retire(?), put to rest(?) – it’s getting worse by the minute! – the older, more mature, more experienced website and in with the new-er, hipper, less mature website. The refreshed website will have a new look, be more user friendly, and have more bells and whistles. Stay tuned for more information in the upcoming months.
The stereotype that mechanics’ own cars are often in disrepair is a common one and I think that stereotype can be applied to epidemiologists. We spend a lot of time in epidemiology on response rates. We give lectures on response rates, discuss response rates at journal clubs, conferences, seminars, grand rounds and in elevators. We calculate and recalculate response rates. We argue over how to calculate them – in person and in journal reviews. We write entire manuscripts, editorials and commentaries about response rates: how they should be calculated, how to interpret them, how to increase them, trends in response rates, historical perspectives on response rates, sensitivity analyses for response rates, the impact of response rates on study results, etc. We groan, moan and bemoan them. It is amazing how much time and effort we spend on them. We are willing to spend hours on response rates and are willing to do anything to increase them – except spend the time to actually take a survey! SER has sent emails asking you to complete a very short survey (only 5 minutes) and our response rate is well – let’s just say if we were to try to publish our results, AJE would reject the manuscript within minutes for our truly abysmal response rate . . . so please help us. Please take 5 minutes and complete this survey on how you have been impacted by recent changes in federal policies. Many thanks in advance for your cooperation. Take survey here.
During the spring, many members of SER were frustrated at our perceived lack of advocacy. While many organizations were releasing statements regarding various aspects of actions taken by the federal government that greatly impacted science and academia, SER was silent. Members emailed, texted and pleaded with us to “do something, anything for God’s sake”. Well, we finally did something, but it wasn’t much – fell far short of what many members wanted us to do. But why were we silent? There were several reasons for our response, or rather lack thereof, that cannot be summarized here. But the most important reason is that the SER by-laws expressly limit and prohibit these types of activities. However, we have convened an ad hoc advocacy workgroup (yep, another workgroup) to review our current policy on advocacy and explore how advocacy could be incorporated into SER. I will keep you updated on the progress of this workgroup since I will be chairing this group.
As I begin my 2025–2026 term as your President, I am deeply honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve. This role is not just a privilege—it’s a responsibility I embrace with gratitude and determination. I invite you to share your ideas, your concerns, and yes, even your frustrations. Your voice matters, and together, we can shape a future that reflects our shared values and aspirations. I look forward to collaborating with each of you as we continue to grow our society, elevate our field, and pursue excellence in all that we do. Our mission—to improve the health of our nation and the world—is more urgent than ever.
In moments when it feels like we’re pushing uphill against gale-force winds, carrying burdens that seem too heavy to bear, let us remember: this work matters. It is vital. It is transformative. So keep going. Stay focused. And never give up.
Wendy N. Nembhard
SER President