The Fun Starts in Anaheim!

By Jason Scott, CRA, FAHRA

The AHRA Annual Meeting is my “Super Bowl.” I always mark my calendar to make sure I am attending this wonderful event. I look forward to all the excitement, educational sessions, and best of all, the networking and camaraderie that make the Annual Meeting such a fun event! This year’s Annual Meeting at the Anaheim Convention Center is no exception.

First of all, Anaheim is such a fun city, and AHRA attendees will be just blocks away from Disneyland. Discount tickets, including Twilight hours after 4:00 PM, are available to attendees and can be purchased at a special AHRA rate. Keep in mind that the discounted Disneyland tickets must be purchased before you arrive in Anaheim and before July 7 at 9:00 PM PST. Many other attractions, including Knott’s Berry Farm, Legoland, and Universal Studios Hollywood, are just a short drive away.

There are many special events that kick off the first day of the Annual Meeting:

• The 18th Annual Imaging Classic Golf Tournament, held at the beautiful Black Gold Golf Club, benefits the AHRA Education Foundation.
• If you’re not a CRA…what are you waiting for? Register to take the CRA Exam Workshop to gain helpful tips and pinpoint what you need to study.
• You can also sign up for the 2017 Executive Leadership Program, which is a one-year program that kicks off with a four hour workshop on Sunday and continues throughout the year with monthly mentoring sessions over the phone. This program is designed to help you handle the daily challenges of our profession.

I am very impressed with our presenters at this year’s Annual Meeting. We have three fabulous keynote speakers who are sure to energize and entertain us. The AHRA Leadership Institute is proud to once again present the Basic Management Track, specifically geared for imaging professionals taking on new positions, opportunities, and challenges. Exhibitor symposia will be offered throughout the conference to help us learn about current imaging topics. And finally, there is a plethora of breakout sessions designed to educate imaging leaders on how to succeed in the many challenges facing us today.

Over 150 vendors will fill the Exhibit Hall. This is a great way to view the latest imaging technology and equipment with many leading manufacturers. The Exhibit Hall will be open Monday-Wednesday, and free lunch will be served.

Finally, it wouldn’t be the Annual Meeting without a fun party, right? Join us for AHRA’s SoCal Beach Party on Wednesday night! Put on your most radical beach wear and dance the night away under the stars. Enjoy authentic SoCal food and drink while we wrap up another successful AHRA Annual Meeting.

Don’t have the budget to attend this year’s Annual Meeting? Why not apply for an Annual Meeting scholarship? Not sure how to justify going to the Annual Meeting to your boss? Take advantage of AHRA’s justification materials. I have personally leveraged both the scholarship and justification opportunities and have had great success by attending every Annual Meeting since 2009!

As Chair of this year’s AHRA Annual Meeting Design Team, I guarantee everyone will leave more empowered to successfully lead your departments to even greater heights. I hope to see all of you at the 2017 AHRA Annual Meeting. After all, THE FUN STARTS IN ANAHEIM!

Jason Scott, CRA FAHRA is the chief patient experience officer and director imaging/respiratory/neurodiagnostics/wound care at Witham Health Services in Lebanon, IN. He can be reached at jscott@witham.org.