Monday, May 19, 2025

President's Message - May 2025

By: Audrie Tornow, CHCP, FACEHP

It’s the May edition of the Alliance Connect, and I’m your host Audrie Tornow.

Hot off the press: The Alliance Compensation Benchmarking Survey has launched. This important data collection effort will take you 5-10 minutes tops, so I encourage as many of you to participate as possible. Please check your inbox for the email sent out on Thursday, May 15.

I’m hopefully these dates are already saved on your calendar, but if not here’s a quick list of upcoming events.

This Friday, May 23, is the deadline for #AIS25 Best in Class applications. Visit the Alliance website for details and while you have until 11:59 p.m. … don’t wait till then.
May 31, 2025, is the last day to register for the new, updated CHCP exam available in June.
June 16, 2025, is our next annual conference deadline. Abstracts for our 2026 annual conference are due. We’d love to have you be a part of the 50-year Anniversary celebration content.

🧏🏼If you are looking for something to listen to on your next walk or drive, tune into Episode 58 of the Alliance Podcast where Andrea Zimmerman, EdD, CHCP, sits down with Maura H. Davis and Ruth Adewuya, MD, CHCP to talk about professional successes, challenges and mentor opportunities as women in healthcare continuing education.

📗Or you can curl up and read Heather Ranels' article in the Almanac on integrating patient advocates into CPD.

📸 Did you know that we are collecting Alliance memories? I know you have pictures on your phone, I know I do. A special Dropbox has been created for submissions. Please consider sharing your memories with us.

Now if you’re thinking of fanny packs, Doc Martens, neon colors and scrunchies, you are in the right place. We’ve reached the 90s and I have so much to share.

In 1990:

Campbell's produced its 20 billionth can of tomato soup.
The Hubble Space Telescope was deployed into orbit on April 25, 1990.
September 13, 1990 a new TV police drama called Law and Order premiered.
But if you preferred the movies to the TV, matinee tickets only cost $3.50.

In 1991:

The Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database Access (or FREIDA) launched. It currently provides custom searches of more than 10,000 residency and fellowship programs to help students and residents find a match.
I started college at Rutgers University, and I’m really thrilled that hairstyles have evolved. I’ve included a photo my student ID, for your view pleasure in the transcript. 😑

In 1992:

The Mall of America — the second-largest shopping mall in the U.S. — opened in Bloomington, Minnesota.
On May 22 the final episode of Tonight Show with Johnny Carson aired.
And on November 3, Whitney Houston’s version of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” was released as a single on "The Bodyguard" soundtrack. The song spent 14 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and would win a Record of The Year Grammy two years later. 🤍

In 1993:

The IBM Simon was announced in November 1993, and while deemed a personal digital assistant it was considered to be one of the first devices that recognized as a smartphone. 📱
Movies of the year included "Jurassic Park", "Groundhog Day", "Sleepless in Seattle" and "The Fugitive".
Gas prices peaked at $1.11 per gallon.

In 1994:

🥚Eggs were 87 cents a dozen.
"The Condition of Education 1994" was published by the US Department of Education looking at 60 indicators regarding education in the U.S.
MIT News published an article about the potential for a future where micro-robots could one day assist in surgeries.
And the world series was canceled due to the Major League Baseball strike. ⚾

Before I sign off, I need you to know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so I encourage all of you to find a few ways to feed your soul in the upcoming weeks. Spend some time in the sunshine. 🌞 Plant some flowers or herbs. 🌷Check out the National Institutes of Health Emotional Wellness Toolkit and explore ways to build resilience, reduce stress, and more. When your battery is full, you can be present for the people in your world. I’ll look forward to seeing you next month.