Giving Thanks - A Season of Gratitude
Thanksgiving and the winter holidays have always been my favorite time of year. They are very likely to be different for all of us this year. Personally, Patrick and I will stay to ourselves, forgoing trips to see both families, and missing out on the celebrations, warmth, and belonging that normally accompany the season.
What is not different this year is the overwhelming feelings of gratitude and caring that I feel personally for family and friends, and professionally for all of you, the AUPHA community, the Board of Directors, and our team of dedicated staff members.
I am very grateful for the opportunity I have to work with our talented team at AUPHA - our VP & COO Jaime Stephens, Director of Finance Liza Assefa, Director of Membership Chris Sanyer, Manager of Meetings Jason Walker, Certification and Assessment Manager Mark Ryan, and Office and Program Coordinator Lena Dixon. They are wonderful and caring colleagues, and I am proud of the excellent work we’ve accomplished as a team over the past nine months.
As someone who served on the AUPHA Board during the mid to late 2000s, I appreciate how much time and work is involved in this level of service, in addition to one’s full time job. It is an honor to serve on the Board with our 15 elected AUPHA Board members, and exciting to be working hand-in-hand with them on the implementation of the 2020-2023 AUPHA strategic plan. We are fortunate to have them leading our governance and focused on our mission, vision, and values. I sincerely thank them for their service to AUPHA.
Speaking of the 2020-2023 strategic plan, I am still amazed, and overwhelmed with gratitude, that we have had nearly 140 AUPHA members volunteer to work on various initiatives across the four pillars of the plan. This extent of engagement and level of service across our membership is unique, invaluable, and inspiring. Thank you!
I have been a member of this community for 25 years. Our meetings have always been my favorite events to attend; and, like so many of you, I’ve always felt like my AUPHA colleagues are “my people,” my “tribe,” my “go to” community. I am grateful for your collegiality, friendship, and kinship. I am fortunate, honored, and humbled to lead and serve AUPHA as your President and CEO.
Finally, I am in awe of healthcare heroes across our country and the world. Like all of you, I have close colleagues, friends, and family members in clinical and other patient care environment roles. Their dedication, compassion, and resilience is inspiring to us all. We owe them a debt of gratitude akin to those who, throughout history, have risked and often given their lives in service to our country and humanity.
I hope all of you have meaningful and fulfilling holidays and a peaceful winter break. Please be safe and stay healthy. Thank you for being my colleague and friend.
Dan