Associate Director's Note: Thanksgiving prompts thoughts of generosity

We all have much to be thankful for. Here at ACDIS, we have a wonderful staff dedicated to serving our CDI membership and a growing membership base that has exceeded 4,000 members.

In the coming weeks you’ll likely hear about the various ways ACDIS plans to expand its offerings for its ACDIS members—from increased CDI Journal publications and format changes to theme-based quarterly membership calls, and more. It’s our way of saying thanks to all those who have steadfastly supported the ACDIS community and continue to work towards the advancement of the CDI profession.

From time to time, ACDIS highlights the generous endeavors of its members. This week, I’d like to call your attention to a new feature in the CDI Journal dubbed “Off the Unit,” launched in the October 2014 edition. In the first segment of this occasional feature, Melanie Halpern, RN-BC, MBA, CCDS, CCRA, CDI manager at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, talked about her experience with the International Surgical Health Initiative (ISHI). After the ISHI lost contact with their Ghana physician administrative representatives, Halpern connected the group with a colleague and fellow CDI specialist who was a Ghanaian national and helped rekindle volunteer efforts there.

We know how generous and kind-hearted ACDIS members are. So many of you find a way to not only give 100% on the job but to help others in your communities, as well. It may be volunteering your time at a local soup kitchen or food shelter. It may be serving as a Big Sister or Big Brother to a troubled or lonely child. It may be serving as an administrative liaison for a non-profit in your vicinity or helping your own hospital organize its volunteer giving efforts.

Big or small, your efforts (both in CDI and “Off the Unit”) matter and we want to hear about them. If you know someone who should be featured for this new segment, email ACDIS Editorial Director Melissa Varnavas at mvarnavas@acdis.org.