About SOPE

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Since its formation in 1975, the Society of Pediatric Echocardiography (SOPE) has provided a forum for education, collaboration, and networking to the community of pediatric and adult cardiologists, fellows, and sonographers with a specific interest in the practice of pediatric and congenital echocardiography.

SOPE is an independent organization whose mission is to maintain and promote excellence in the echocardiographic examination of every fetus, infant, child, and adolescent as well as an adult with congenital heart disease. In addition, SOPE is committed to optimizing the training of pediatric echocardiographers and sonographers, having participated in the development of guidelines and standards for the nomenclature of cardiac septal structures as well as physician training in pediatric, fetal, and transesophageal echocardiography.
 

In collaboration with the American Society of Echocardiography, the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, and the IAC Echocardiography, SOPE assists in the establishment and promotion of universal standards for the nomenclature and orientation of two-dimensional transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography as well as contrast and fetal echocardiography.

 

MISSION 

To provide a unique environment for the pediatric and adult congenital echocardiography community to collaborate with other imaging societies to promote networking, education, advocacy, research, and program development.

 

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Society of Pediatric Echocardiography (SOPE) is to maintain and promote excellence in the ultrasonic examination of the heart of every fetus, infant, child, and adolescent, as well as the adult with congenital heart disease. In addition, the society shall offer guidance in the education and training of  pediatric and congenital echocardiographers and sonographers.  
 

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF THE SOCIETY OF PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

A Message from SOPE Leadership 

 

Dear Members and Friends of the Society of Pediatric Echocardiography (SOPE),

 

We hope that all of you have found some time to relax this summer with colleagues, friends and family. On behalf of the SOPE board, we would like to highlight some of SOPE’s recent events and call your attention to some exciting initiatives. First, we want to thank all of you who celebrated being part of the SOPE community at our SOPE social in Portland during this June’s ASE Scientific Sessions. Although it’s always great to ‘see’ everyone on our many virtual SOPE events, connecting in person was such a treat! We’ve included some pictures from the SOPE Social in this Newsletter (page 9), with more to be posted on the SOPE website and shared through our SM sites. Unfortunately, it will be a little longer until our next in-person SOPE social, which will be in Nashville during the 2025 ASE Scientific Sessions.

 

SOPE’s Education Committee hosted two wonderful Fellow’s Bootcamp virtual sessions this summer, the first an intro to scanning and knobology, and the second a special whirlwind tour of cardiac nomenclature led by the esteemed

Dr. Tal Geva of Children’s Hospital Boston. For those who may have missed these sessions, you can find a link HERE (SOPE members only). Stay tuned for September’s session on POCUS on September 24th (4th Tuesday of the month). And also, on the educational front – please try to attend the ASE 3rd Annual Virtual Echo in Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease Experience on October 26-27. We are sure this course will be as enlightening as the prior 2 have been. Registration (asecho.org).

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We also want to highlight the efforts of Dr. Shiraz Maskatia and all the members of our newest SOPE PACI Committee who in rapid time organized a SOPE-sponsored Pediatric Advanced Cardiac Imaging (PACI) match. The first Match recruitment period is in full swing, creating a common, standardized process and timeline by which categorical fellows can apply for PACI fellowships at almost two dozen programs nationwide in a transparent, equitable process. See page 6 of this newsletter for more PACI details.

 

Finally, for those of you who would like to be more involved with SOPE (including fellows), this month we will open up applications for members to join our SOPE committees. We will also be recruiting two SOPE Board members, a Physician Secretary and a Sonographer-At-Large for annual terms to begin in January 2025. Physicians and sonographers who have been actively involved in SOPE committees are especially encouraged to apply for these Board positions.

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With gratitude to all our SOPE family,

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Sarah Hayson, Sonographer Chair

Beth Printz, Physician Chair