Greetings from the ISSTD Board of Directors,
We’re pleased to share this quarterly update, keeping you informed of key initiatives and milestones shaping the future of our Society.
The first quarter of 2025 brought exciting momentum—with meaningful engagement, steady growth, and a record-setting Annual Conference.
In Boston, we welcomed 466 attendees—exceeding our budgeted goal and growing our reach by 146 participants compared to last year. More than just numbers, the conference was alive with connection: SIGs and ROCs held meaningful gatherings, the Student and Emerging Professionals lunch was our busiest ever, and the Past Leaders Reception brought Past Presidents and former board members together with current leadership to share history, wisdom, and vision. These moments of shared experience are what make ISSTD so vibrant.
A heartfelt thank you goes to our dedicated staff, who worked tirelessly—nearly around the clock—to support the needs of attendees. With fewer onsite staff than usual and a larger crowd to manage, they went above and beyond to ensure a smooth and welcoming experience. If you’re reaching out to staff this week, feel free to share your appreciation.
We’re also grateful to everyone who contributed to our fundraising success at the conference. Thanks to strong participation in the Lucky Draw and Taste of Boston, we raised support for the Goodwin, Caul, and Fridley Funds. If you’d like to contribute to ISSTD’s future initiatives, donations are always welcome: Donate to ISSTD.
Putting Our Strategic Plan into Action
As shared in our December Board Brief, the 2024–2026 Strategic Plan continues to guide our work. Here are just a few highlights from this quarter:
- IDEA: The Board has formally approved ISSTD’s IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) Statement—a living document reflecting our commitment to inclusive practices and amplifying underrepresented voices in research and treatment.
- Membership & Engagement: ISSTD now has more than 1,800 members—our highest membership in over 25 years. This growth reflects the strength and reach of our community, as well as the success of recent engagement efforts. We continue to build upon programs like the Member Sponsorship Program and are actively working to welcome and retain new members. At the conference, we also connected with many attendees interested in getting more involved. If you’re curious about volunteering, we encourage you to visit our Volunteer Center and explore opportunities to get involved.
- Education: In collaboration with staff and committees, we’re strengthening access to ISSTD’s world-class training opportunities across a range of formats and communities. See below for updates on what’s ahead.
Advancing Education and Global Engagement
Our Australia-New Zealand Regional conference will open for registration in May and promises high-quality training alongside rich peer connection. The One-Day Ethics Virtual Seminar saw strong early registration, and the Chicago Regional Conference will open soon.
PTP courses are filling quickly, with new spring offerings available now. Our PTP remains one of the most impactful ways we deliver trauma-informed education year-round. Work is also underway to develop a culturally responsive PTP track created by and for clinicians in India. Led by professionals who live and work there, this initiative reflects ISSTD’s commitment to expanding access to training that resonates with local context and clinical realities.
We’re also refreshing and relaunching recorded content throughout the year. If you haven’t explored our Online Learning Center lately, it’s worth a visit—it hosts our robust webinar library, including both free and paid content.
Strengthening Systems and Support
Behind the scenes, the Board has remained focused on governance and long-term organizational planning. A short-term Executive Transition Task Force has been created to guide ISSTD through leadership succession planning in collaboration with current staff leadership. This ensures we remain proactive and thoughtful about the Society’s future direction and operational sustainability.
Additionally, the responsibilities of the Nominating Committee have expanded to better support the recruitment and onboarding of new leaders within ISSTD. This effort is designed to strengthen our leadership pipeline and create more opportunities for meaningful engagement throughout the Society.
Our Gratitude
We are deeply grateful to ISSTD’s remarkable staff—Mary Pat Hanlin, Casey Richman, and Jasmine Butler—for their ongoing dedication. As staffing returns to full levels, we appreciate your patience as the team works to respond to inquiries and support our community.
And to our volunteers—past, present, and future—your generosity is the heartbeat of this Society. Whether you’re leading a SIG, volunteering at a conference, serving on a committee, or lending a hand wherever it’s needed, we thank you. As fellow volunteers, we know how much dedication this work takes, and how much support you give.
We’re always eager to hear your ideas and feedback. Your voice helps shape where we go next.
With appreciation,
The ISSTD Board of Directors