President’s Message – August, 2026

Great to See You at AOHC — Here's What's Ahead This Fall

Dear SOCOEM Family,

I hope you are enjoying the final weeks of summer and preparing for a busy fall. It was wonderful to see so many of you at AOHC, and especially gratifying to connect in person with members I had not previously met.

Although summer may seem quiet, our team has been working diligently behind the scenes to develop an outstanding educational program for our Fall Conference in New Orleans at the end of October. I look forward to seeing you there and sharing an update on the progress SOCOEM has made through our collective efforts.

Here's what's coming up:
A Conversation with Dr. Dalia Nessim:

I recently sat down (virtually) with Dr. Dalia Nessim, Program Director of the OEM Residency Program at UT Tyler, for an excellent interview on the state of OEM residency training — the challenges program directors are facing today and where the specialty is headed in the years ahead.

"Funding remains the major obstacle facing OEM training."
It's a candid, thoughtful conversation, and I hope it leaves you engaged, motivated, and ready to help strengthen the training pipeline. The full interview is attached — take a few minutes to read it.

Website Refresh
As promised, we've been revamping the SOCOEM website into a resource-rich, easy-to-navigate hub for members and guests. It'll be live soon, and we'd love your feedback.

Upcoming Webinars
•  Radiation Safety: a timely look at occupational risks as nuclear power and alternative energy sources gain ground, alongside shifting regulations.
•  Pregnancy Accommodations & the New PWFA: a must-attend session on the latest under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

Fall Meeting — New Orleans
Registration will be opening soon for our fall meeting in New Orleans. Our team is working hard to line up speakers who are relevant to where the field is headed, so stay tuned — we can't wait to see you there.

Rassull Suarez, MD, MPH, FACOEM   
SOCOEM President