Full Steam Ahead!

By Brenda Debastiani, MBA, CRA, FAHRA

Happy Spring! The AHRA CLIMB meeting in San Diego was amazing! While we have not quite made it back to pre-pandemic number of attendees, we were pleased with our numbers this year, and the energy was great! The weather was not quite as warm or dry as we had hoped, but that did not suppress our excitement to get together in person with our AHRA friends. The feedback from attendees was positive, and the venue was simply beautiful. The AHRA Spring Design Team, AHRA staff, and Conference Managers did an excellent job, and I cannot thank them enough for all of their hard work. Also, we were so pleased with the 18 exhibitors and 2 sponsors, Numed and Bayer. Their partnership to ensure success is so appreciated.

Two weeks after returning from CLIMB, the AHRA Board of Directors spent several hours holding our spring virtual board meeting. Committee chairs prepared reports for the Board, sharing their SMART goals, challenges, and successes. We were very impressed by their hard work. On the financial front, the AHRA remains strong and watchful to ensure that our future remains bright. As we are celebrating our 50^th birthday this year, and we are committed to keeping the AHRA on the right track to be here for another 50 years!

We are now “full steam ahead”, focusing on the AHRA’s 2023 Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, this July 9-12, just a few months away! Gifted keynote speakers and guest speakers, all hand-selected by the AHRA Annual Design Team, have been invited to present information that will prepare imaging leaders to learn, thrive and be rejuvenated. (Remember, you cannot fill others’ cups if your cup is empty.) Recharging your “management batteries” is essential to successfully leading others. AHRA founders, past presidents, and current and next generation leaders will NOT want to miss our 50^th anniversary celebration in Indy! We will leave the annual meeting with a new sense of energy and vision gained from attending this special event.

The great news is that Indianapolis is centrally located to most areas. Once you get there, the city is very walkable. I have had the pleasure of visiting Indianapolis a couple times, including last year when my husband and I drove there from Morgantown so that I could do an Indy Racing Experience. To steal David Fox’s word, WOW! That ride was amazing! (You couldn’t wipe the smile off of my face all day!!) You don’t want to miss all that Indy has to offer including great networking with AHRA members and superb educational offerings!

On a personal note, I am still maintaining a “better work-life balance, which has been one of my goals. When friends and family visit my husband and me in Florida, we have enjoyed taking them to the beach (my happy place), teaching them how to play pickleball and bocce ball, and sharing our active community with them. It has been very easy to remain more physically active, as who can stay inside of the house when it is beautiful outside? I can’t wait to see you all soon at the AHRA annual meeting! If you have any questions, please reach out! Brenda.DeBastiani@braverahealth.com