2026 MAD-ID and SIDP Meeting: Harnessing Organizational Synergies for Clinical Education, Networking Opportunities

The upcoming MAD-ID and SIDP 2026 annual meeting in Orlando marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of infectious diseases education and collaboration. For the first time, 2 long-standing organizations in infectious diseases pharmacotherapy are joining forces to create a unified, forward-thinking conference designed to serve a broad and growing professional community. The meeting reflects years of momentum within the field and a clear response to the needs of clinicians, researchers, and pharmacists seeking a more inclusive and engaging forum.

The Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists (SIDP) President Erin McCreary, PharmD, BCIDP, FIDSA, senior director, Infectious Diseases Strategy at UPMC, clinical assistant professor of Medicine at University of Pittsburgh, emphasized the importance of this collaboration.

“This is significant, because you're taking 2 organizations that have long standing history in the infectious diseases and pharmacotherapy space, and they're merging together to create a new meeting,” she said.

The goal is not only to combine resources, but to create a space that is accessible, affordable, and innovative. By bringing together bench researchers, clinician scientists, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic experts, and antimicrobial stewardship professionals, the meeting aims to foster cross-disciplinary dialogue that reflects the complexity of modern infectious diseases care.

This new event also represents a natural evolution for SIDP, which has experienced rapid membership growth in recent years. The latest numbers show the organization has over 22,400 members.

“Seeing that membership growth, and seeing what we represent globally…we realized it was the time to launch our own meeting,” McCreary said. Historically, SIDP hosted smaller, one-day sessions alongside larger conferences, but the demand for a dedicated, comprehensive gathering has become increasingly clear. Partnering with MAD-ID, which has a nearly three-decade history of hosting pharmacist-driven meetings, provides a strong foundation for this new venture.

The 2026 meeting will feature a diverse and thoughtfully designed program. Attendees can expect a blend of plenary sessions, workshops, and interactive classroom-style learning. Topics will span gram-positive and gram-negative infections, microbiology collaborations, antimicrobial stewardship, and cutting-edge pharmacotherapy. Notably, the conference will avoid scheduling competing sessions, ensuring all participants can engage with the same core content together.

Among the highlights are 2 pre-meeting workshops focused on OPAT/COpAT practices and HIV care—areas that often receive limited attention in broader conferences. Additionally, the introduction of “classroom” sessions will offer a more hands-on experience, encouraging active participation and practical skill-building in smaller group settings.

A central focus of the meeting is the development and support of early-career professionals. “Trainees are the heart and soul of what we do. They're literally our future,” said McCreary, underscoring this commitment.

The meeting will provide numerous opportunities for trainees to present research, network with peers, and connect with leaders in the field. With more than 30 travel grants available, the organizers are making a tangible investment in the next generation of infectious diseases specialists.

By creating a space specifically tailored to trainees and young clinicians, the meeting aims to foster long-term professional relationships and mentorship opportunities. These connections will become invaluable as clinicians advance in their careers.

As anticipation builds, the 2026 meeting is positioned not just as a new conference, but as the beginning of a lasting tradition. They have plans to unveil a permanent name and brand for future iterations, and organizers hope this event will soon be an important gathering for the infectious diseases community.