Following My Boss’s Advice

By Dave S. Partridge, CRA 

My first AHRA Annual Meeting was in Boston in 2004. My boss thought I should join AHRA and go to their annual meeting. He said it was a great way for a new leader to learn and network. For me, it sounded like a great excuse for my wife and me to go to Boston. I am very glad that he was right.

I met the friendliest group of people with so many of the same problems I was struggling with at work. Instead of going to Cheers just to see the bar, I had a beer with a new friend I met while picking up my registration packet and found out how I could get through to a nuclear medicine employee that was making my job more challenging. Instead of just enjoying a relaxing round of golf at a course I had never played during the Sunday morning tournament, I learned a new way to track employee productivity. Two great lessons and I hadn’t even been to a session yet!

The variety of educational sessions was amazing. The help in improving so many things I was doing as a brand new leader was invaluable. Since then I have been amazed at how many times I have had a question or issue and I’ve known immediately who will have the answer for me: it is someone I have met in AHRA.

I may have gone the first time for the trip and to follow my boss’s advice, but I return because of the people and value of the learning. By the way, we went on a duck boat tour, saw Shakespeare in the Park, walked by Fenway Park, enjoyed a party at the Boston Aquarium, and went to Cheers so I think I was right about it being a nice getaway for my wife and I too.

See you in Washington!

What was the first Annual Meeting you ever attended? Send your story to Kerri Hart-Morris (khartmorris@ahraonline.org), and it could be published here too!

Dave S. Partridge, CRA is the director of imaging at OhioHealth Neighborhood Care in Columbus, OH. He can be reached at David.Partridge@ohiohealth.com.