Picture by Paola RodriguezAttendees listening to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure’s keynote handle at Well being Journalism 2022.
Board President of AHCJ
Some 500 individuals gathered in Austin, Texas, two weeks in the past for AHCJ’s first in-person convention in three years. Primarily based on my observations and each remark I acquired, it was an incredible success.
Trepidation about socializing after pandemic isolation? It evaporated. The standard high-energy collegiality pervaded the four-day convention, which featured two area journeys, 47 panel discussions and workshops, two dinner receptions, and the annual awards luncheon.
Whereas attendance was decrease than our final convention in Baltimore, which attracted 800 individuals, it was better than anticipated contemplating excessive airfares and virus uncertainties. Though the exact quantity isn’t but accessible, the convention appeared to have extra first-time attendees than ever. They packed the room on the first-timers session on Thursday.
AHCJ’s signature occasion for freelancers, PitchFest, was absolutely subscribed, with 47 writers pitching their story concepts to 21 editors from 16 publications, together with AARP, MindSite Information, WebMD, and Kaiser Well being Information. “Writers and editors have been enthusiastic, and we have been all so glad to fulfill in individual once more,” Jeanne Erdmann, chair of the Freelance Committee, mentioned
AHCJ took steps to forestall COVID-19 transmission, requiring proof of vaccination and booster pictures to enter the occasion. Masks have been additionally required, and so far as I might inform, everybody complied.
It paid off. Solely 4 individuals who attended the convention reported testing optimistic afterward – three attendees and the partner of a type of attendees. That strongly means that there was little or no unfold of the virus at this convention. Because of all!
Among the many convention highlights:
- The keynote speaker, Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure of the Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid companies, took open-ended questions from reporters for the primary time, speaking with us for about 40 minutes. Take a look at her full speech.
- In a separate Q&A session, Robert Califf, M.D.,M.A.C.C., commissioner of the Meals and Drug Administration, made headlines together with his commentary that “misinformation is our main reason for loss of life.”
- At a roundtable discussion through the luncheon, 4 specialists in ladies’s reproductive well being ready reporters for the top of abortion rights in lots of states. Their prescient feedback got here simply two days earlier than the media would report that the Supreme Court docket was poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, based on a leaked draft of the choice.
Earlier than the convention, AHCJ’s Board of Administrators held its twice-yearly assembly, additionally glad to see one another exterior the Zoom bins. I lastly received to fulfill our latest board members, Christine Herman and Sebastián Martínez Valdivia. The board heard updates about committee actions, funds (nonetheless sturdy), membership (holding regular) and the seek for a brand new govt director (making progress). In a transfer that I believe many members will welcome, the board approved the employees to barter a contract to rebuild AHCJ’s antiquated web site.
In case you missed the occasion, sure classes, or simply need to refresh your reminiscence, listed below are some assets:
Many because of everybody who made the convention a hit, together with AHCJ’s ace employees, the audio system who traveled from afar to share their data, and each convention attendee, who introduced sensible questions and hearty spirits to Austin.
See you subsequent yr!
