SIDP and MAD-ID Partnership Aims to Expand Access and Collaboration in Infectious Diseases Education

A new collaboration between the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP) and Making a Difference in Infectious Diseases (MAD-ID) is being positioned as a natural evolution for 2 groups that already share deep professional ties and a common mission focused on infectious diseases pharmacy education.

SIDP President Erin McCreary, PharmD, BCIDP, FIDSA, described the partnership as an “easy decision,” pointing to the overlap in leadership between the organizations and their aligned goals around pharmacist-led education and collaboration.

“I think it was honestly a no-brainer. I think MAD-ID is such an amazing organization…there’s a lot of overlap there already, and a lot of natural synergy and mission vision and goals,” McCreary said.

The partnership marks the first combined MAD-ID and SIDP meeting after nearly three decades of MAD-ID conferences. According to McCreary, 1 of the major priorities behind the collaboration was improving accessibility for members rather than adding another conference to an already crowded meeting landscape.

“I don’t think we need more meetings. I think we need more accessible meetings.”

McCreary noted that the joint event has attracted more than 800 participants through in-person and virtual attendance across meetings and workshops. Looking ahead, the organization hopes to further expand collaboration by bringing in colleagues from clinical microbiology and other specialties focused on optimizing pharmacotherapy.

As McCreary prepares to transition out of the SIDP presidency, she expressed confidence in the organization’s future leadership, highlighting incoming presidents Lisa Dumkow and Emily Heil as experienced and service-oriented leaders who will continue advancing the partnership and the society’s mission.

“I couldn't ask for 2 more exceptionally brilliant, wonderful, servant-hearted women to come into these roles,” McCreary said. “I think we have quite a good stretch ahead of us of incredibly strong leadership. The both of them have more than a proven track record of doing clinical research and leading professional organizations and of mentorship, and I have no doubt that the society and the meeting are in very, very good hands.”