Research Committee Update

by Shahzad Shaefi, MD, MPH
Chair, SOCCA Research Committee
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA

Volume 36 | Issue 4 | Dec 2025

As Chair of the SOCCA Research Committee, it is a pleasure to provide an update on the Committee’s activities and progress. While not comprehensive, the following reflects the scope and momentum of work currently underway and highlights the engagement of a dynamic and proactive group of volunteers who have brought energy, structure, and a strong sense of purpose to the Committee’s efforts. Our work has been organized around clearly defined subcommittees, with an emphasis on projects that are relevant to members, feasible to execute, and aligned with SOCCA’s broader mission.
Several initiatives are actively underway. The Committee is currently collecting data for two survey-based projects: one examining approaches to venous congestion assessment using point-of-care ultrasound, including an upcoming survey focused on knowledge and utilization of VEXUS in the ICU, and a second survey addressing contemporary practice patterns and perspectives related to VV ECMO is being explored. In parallel, the Data Subcommittee has formalized a process for reviewing and supporting data and survey requests originating from SOCCA members, SOCCA committees and subcommittees, as well as external individuals and organizations. This structure is intended to improve transparency, ensure appropriate oversight, and facilitate efficient execution of projects that serve the Society.
We have also revived and activated the SOCCA Speaker’s Bureau, led by Jarva Chow and ably assisted by Nate Smischey. This growing resource allows members to catalogue and share their areas of expertise and willingness to present, enabling colleagues to more easily identify and connect with speakers for educational forums at the regional, national, and international levels. Beyond its practical value, the Speaker’s Bureau represents a tangible benefit for the membership by promoting scholarly exchange and increasing visibility of SOCCA expertise. The Research Committee is also exploring the development of a SOCCA-based forum to further support and coordinate speaking engagements alongside other Society offerings.
The Research Dissemination and Collaboration Subcommittee has worked closely with the full Committee and the SOCCA Board to expand recognition of scholarly work presented at the Annual Meeting. Beginning this year, there will be three Young Investigator Awards and three Best of Meeting Awards, with formal recognition planned during the meeting. In addition, efforts are underway to identify time within the meeting program for podium presentations of these prize-winning abstracts, reinforcing the Society’s commitment to showcasing high-quality research.
The Scientific Writing Subcommittee continues to advance several longer-term initiatives, including collaboration with other subspecialty groups, exploration of a Society-sponsored white paper, and delineation of work related to ICU billing. These efforts are being led by Mary Jarzebowski, Kate Rosenblatt, and Ken Shelton, with the goal of producing work that is both academically rigorous and practically useful to members.
I would like to thank all members of the Research Committee for their thoughtful contributions and sustained commitment. Particular thanks are due to our subcommittee chairs and taskforce leaders—Vikram Fielding-Singh, Domagoj Mladinov, David Douin, Michael Kiyatkin, Mary Jarzebowski, Kate Rosenblatt, Jarva Chow, and Nate Smischey—for their leadership and dedication.