President’s Message

Abstract

I am honored to be the 2021 President of the Association for Vascular Access (AVA). The strength and heart I see in the membership, staff, and Board of Directors is awe-inspiring. I am so fortunate to be surrounded by a dynamic group of leaders—from the Board of Directors and staff, membership that includes industry partners and predecessors/past leaders that blazed the path to bring us to the success our association has today.I know we are all trying to find strength in this time of uncertainty and vulnerability as a global community. As our lives shift in response to the current pandemic, I am certain that AVA will prevail, strengthen, and expand. We are an association that is resilient, passionate, and nimble.We have seen in this pandemic that vascular access specialists all over the world can make and have made big differences in clinical care for all patients, from the ones who are sick with COVID-19 issues to the ones who are on the sidelines as non-COVID-19 patients. This supports the AVA mission as vascular access specialists work to lead health care by protecting patients and providers to improve lives.In 2020, we had a most amazing and successful annual AVA Scientific Meeting in the virtual format. We adapted to huge challenges almost overnight (or at least it felt like that) and saw high numbers for attendance and engagement. I want to acknowledge and thank our industry partners that willingly accepted the change and showed their support.It is impossible to predict how events will unfold in the near and far future, but I believe that AVA is a constant in this uncertainty.Be certain that AVA will tailor approaches to provide valuable content, education, and networking opportunities. AVA will keep using various virtual platforms to meet, see, and connect us all. Through our social media feeds, webinars, and podcasts or through publications such as JAVA and Intravascular Quarterly, AVA will continue to meet demands for education and information about the latest and best in vascular access.Be certain that we will focus on accelerating our growth strategy and build on the strength of our association. I am excited about expansion plans for our current committees, education, and virtual platforms. With the active collaboration of the Board of Directors and AVA staff, there will be work to ensure we meet the goals in our strategic plan.Be certain that, as President in 2021, I will work to ensure we stay connected across the globe, continue to expand our networks to learn from each other, and keep the AVA vision in full view: a world with safe vascular access.Finally, my call to action to you, the membership, is to stay involved and let us know what AVA can do to improve and how to provide the best education, communication, and information.The year 2020 may have tried to knock us down and out, but we have persevered, and I know we will come out stronger in 2021 and beyond. Be certain that we will navigate this novel, crazy situation and time together—virtually for now, hopefully in person soon—as best as we can.Stay safe and healthy everyone.