​A Message from PAAA President Magee DeFelice, M.D. 

I am honored to be your incoming president. I am truly grateful for the trust you have placed in me, and I accept this role with a sense of purpose, responsibility, and excitement for the year ahead.

 

I have had the privilege of being on the PAAA Board of Regents for almost 10 years now. In that time, our organization has made great strides to strengthen support for trainees and early-career allergist/immunologists. One of my top priorities this year will be to raise awareness for the charitable arm of the PAAA, the Pennsylvania Allergy Education Research Foundation (PAERF). Through educational and leadership opportunities, research funding, and our mentorship program, we want to ensure our junior colleagues feel empowered and inspired as they begin their careers.

 

Another key priority will be building on the strong academic foundation that our association is known for. Our field continues to rapidly grow in complexity and importance, and our regional conference has earned a reputation as a place where rigorous science meets practical insight. It is important to me that our meeting provides the opportunity to engage with world-leading experts in an approachable setting.

 

Finally, and most importantly, I want our association to continue providing a strong community–one that is welcoming, inclusive, and collegial. In a time when practicing medicine feels increasingly challenging, we need spaces where we can share knowledge, support one another, and remember why we chose this path.

 

I am grateful to the outstanding leadership that has come before me, the dedicated members of our board who volunteer their time, and our executive director and meeting manager who offer invaluable experience and support. I look forward to partnering with all of you to make the coming year productive and meaningful.

 

Thank you again for this incredible opportunity.

 

Magee DeFelice, MD

President, Pennsylvania Allergy & Asthma Association