 EDITOR’S NOTE  By Helen Colby, PhD, Editor-In-ChiefI hope everyone had as great a time as I did at SMDM’s Annual Meeting in Michigan! A huge thank you to everyone who helped make it happen, especially Brian J. Zikmund-Fisher and David Hotton, the awesome co-chairs of the event. I thought the addition of the Clinician Crosstalk sessions was especially impactful and hope to see more of those at Annual Meetings in the future. Starting with the next issue, you’ll notice a new format for the newsletter. We’re aiming to make it more user-friendly, with improved navigation so you can more easily find the news you are interested in. Stay tuned! FROM THE PRESIDENT – MEETING DEBRIEF  By Victoria Shaffer, PhD, President Dear SMDM community, It was wonderful to see so many of you at the annual meeting in Ann Arbor, Michigan. For me, there were many highlights of the conference, including a new short course on improv and science communication, the keynote address, and a social event to remember. As we transitioned to college campuses, one of the consistent pieces of feedback I have heard is that attendees love seeing other academic settings and learning about the unique features of each location. When our conferences are held in a hotel, I barely leave the building to take in much of the surrounding city. But holding our meetings on college campuses usually requires me to see multiple buildings on campus and more of the city’s sites as I move around town for various events. All of our parallel sessions and poster sessions this year were held in the Michigan Union, which was a beautiful space with dark wood, large windows, and ornate fireplaces in some of the rooms. It just exuded academia and science. Our plenary session was held in Rackham Auditorium, a beautiful Art Deco room that seats over 1,000 people and has a rich scientific history of its own. The University of Michigan recently celebrated the 70th anniversary of the announcement of the success of the polio vaccine. In 1955, researchers presented the findings from the polio vaccine trials, in Rackham Auditorium, which revealed that the vaccine was “safe, effective, and potent”. It brought me a lot of joy to listen to new scientific achievements and results from the latest research in such a beautiful setting with a rich academic story. I was also deeply moved during our afternoon in Rackham Auditorium. One of the (unplanned) themes that ran through my presidential address, the presentations from our award winners, and the keynote lecture was that, in addition to the celebration of our scientific work, we shared our “whys”, i.e., why we do this work. We talked about, named, and showed pictures of the people who inspired us and motivated us throughout our careers. Those personal insights in tandem with our rigorous science help to define what is special about our organization. We spend many volunteer hours engaged in mentorship and service because we enjoy and value the relationships we build throughout our careers alongside the scientific advancements. The Career Development Committee runs an amazing program during the Annual Meeting that includes a Speed Mentoring lunch event and a 1-1 Mentorship Program. Senior mentors in the society spend time with more junior members of SMDM, which creates a new generation of scholars who prioritize mentorship and service in their careers. I, myself, have been the recipient of generous mentorship at SMDM that has deeply impacted my scholarship and success. At my first SMDM meeting as a faculty member in 2009, I signed up for the 1-1 Mentorship Program and was paired with Brian Zikmund-Fisher (2025 Annual Meeting Co-Chair and Editor-in-Chief of Medical Decision Making and Medical Decision Making Policy & Practice). Our initial meeting for coffee turned into a two-hour brainstorming session, which led to many conference presentations, manuscripts, and grants over our 15 year collaboration to date. However, the only reason that I attended SMDM in the first place was at the encouragement of Angie Fagerlin (SMDM Past President), who I met in 2008 at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Judgment and Decision Making and the American Psychological Association’s Science & Leadership Conference. In addition to providing mentorship on all things related to science, including our own history of collaboration on grants and manuscripts, Angie also supported me in all other things related to life. One of the many things we talked about was trying to make room for both a happy family and a successful career. Essentially, Angie led a master class on how to adult in academia, and there were many others, in addition to me, that benefited from her experience and guidance over the years. We also cried about caring for dying parents while being parents and still having significant career responsibilities to manage. [I think we will need to call this class How to Adult in Academia 2.0. 0/10 do not recommend to others, but unfortunately it is a required course in life.] This, to me, is the heart of SMDM, and I was reminded about all of this at our Annual Meeting in Ann Arbor. I was inspired by and excited about the science presented at the conference, and I had a great time with colleagues and friends, new and old. SMDM is a great place to launch a career because you have so many people who invest in you, both personally and professionally. Likewise, SMDM is a great place to spend your time as a more senior member of the field because there are so many wonderful scholars to collaborate with and exciting new research endeavors to watch as the field advances. I will be looking forward to connecting with people throughout the year via Special Interest Groups, the October Business Meeting, and other webinars and short courses. And I am very excited to see you all in person again at the next SMDM meeting in Oslo!-Victoria ShafferTALKING ABOUT THE CLINICIAN CROSSTALK SESSIONS at SMDM2025 in ANN ARBOR  By Brian Zikmund-Fisher, PhD, 47th Annual Meeting Co-Chair At the 2025 Annual Meeting of SMDM that was held last month at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, we tried a variety of new things as a result of being on a university campus. Poster sessions were at lunch instead of first thing in the morning. A significant number of attendees took the low cost option and stayed in dorm-based housing. And, perhaps most significantly, we devoted the entire last half-day of sessions on Wednesday morning to “clinician crosstalk” themes, while at the same time throwing open attendance to these sessions to both the local community and interested parties online. I have to say: I had no idea how these sessions would go, since there was no template for these groups to work from. Our instructions had been simple yet challenging: To create the best opportunity for practicing clinicians to both learn from and speak to SMDM researchers about different topics. Not just discussion but interactivity was highly encouraged. I hope those of you who were able to attend and participate agree with me that these sessions turned out to be some of the best parts of the meeting. To take but one example, the #SDMIRL (Shared Decision Making in Real Life) session was almost entirely back and forth discussion among the session leaders and attendees (including a wide range of clinicians). The leaders organized the discussion around 3 challenging case studies, each of which highlighted both conceptual issues and practical challenges. We found common ground in desires for patient engagement and wrestled with what can actually occur in myriad clinical contexts. I left the session with a deeper appreciation for how few real-world decisions cleanly fit the SDM model that underlies many interventions and research designs. I also left it motivated to find approaches that can make a difference, even if they are obviously imperfect. As an example, earlier in the meeting, I had attended a presentation about the “Zip” method of engaging in a (limited) degree of shared decision making in only 2-3 minutes of a primary care visit. Perfect? Certainly not. A valuable approach that could support patient-centered care in some contexts? Absolutely. If you’re reading this and are wishing you had been able to attend, fear not! The clinician crosstalk sessions in Ann Arbor were recorded, and plans are underway to share these recordings soon. And, I know that there are discussions about including clinician crosstalk sessions in future SMDM meetings. I look forward to attending such sessions, and I hope to see you there. FROM OSLO MEETING CO-CHAIRS  By Emily Burger, PhD, and Torbjørn Wisløff, MSc, PhD; Co-Chairs of the 2026 Annual Meeting Hello SMDM members! As we wind down from an amazing few days in Ann Arbor, I want to remind you that we are hard at work behind the scenes planning our next meeting in Oslo (28 June – 1 July, 2026). We are thrilled to officially announce the theme for our 48th Annual Meeting: “Medical Decision Making in Uncertain Times.” This theme, which we first unveiled in Ann Arbor, is particularly relevant as we navigate an increasingly complex research landscape shaped by rapid advancements, shifting patient needs, and emerging global health challenges. As we gather in Oslo, we will explore how our collective expertise can improve decision making amidst these uncertainties. Of course, we also want to ensure you immerse yourselves in the local culture. Oslo offers a unique opportunity to unwind and explore during your stay. Take a stroll through the Nasjonalgalleriet (National Gallery), home to Edvard Munch’s iconic “The Scream,” or venture to the Akershus Fortress for a glimpse into Norway’s medieval history. For a relaxing afternoon, consider a walk along the Oslo waterfront or indulge in the culinary delights at the Mathallen food hall, where you can sample an array of traditional Norwegian dishes and international cuisine. As we prepare for this collaborative gathering, we remind you of the SMDM Ambassador initiative. We are still seeking enthusiastic members to aid in promoting the meeting across Europe and beyond. As an Ambassador, your role is crucial in leveraging your networks to ensure diverse participation and suggesting meeting content relevant for all. This is an excellent opportunity to make a meaningful impact within our community while showcasing your expertise and fostering connections. If you’re interested, please reach out to us at Info@SMDM.org. Want to get involved or have meeting ideas? Send an email to your co-chairs, Emily or Torbjørn. Sincerely,Emily Burger and Torbjørn Wisløff UPCOMING EDUCATION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT EVENTS  Register by 15 July To Secure Regular Rates  Learn More SIG NEWS Click on the image for each SIG event below to register. SIG events are open to members and non-members alike, and registration is complimentary. MEMBER NEWS What have you been working on lately? This regular column is designed to encourage networking among SMDM members. It’s a great opportunity to share your activities, peak interest among members and identify potential collaborators. Submissions should be brief (300 words or less) and focus on current and future programs (rather than present findings).  By Petros Pechlivanoglou, PhD The Hospital for Sick Children The Decision Analysis in R for Technologies in Health (DARTH) workgroup in collaboration with the Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Minnesota Division of Health Policy and Management will be offering a workshop on cost-effectiveness and decision modeling using R August 27 – 29, 2025, both virtual and in-person at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto ON, Canada and at the University of Minnesota.Cost-effectiveness and decision modeling using R When: 27-29 August, 2025 Where: Online and two in-person options: Minneapolis, MN (University of Minnesota) Toronto, Canada (Hospital for Sick Children). Workshop Topics August 27: Decision trees and Markov models August 28: Microsimulation modeling August 29: Sensitivity analysis Submit Member News for Issue 3 of 2025 |
