Note from the Associate Editorial Director: Ways to connect with your CDI peers

by Linnea Archibald

It’s hard to believe that the 2022 ACDIS national conference has already come and gone. A week ago, the ACDIS team was closing up shop at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, and getting ready to return to our respective homes.

There are a number of reasons I love the conference. The education, excitement, and straight up fun make the year-long preparation process completely worth the effort. My favorite thing about the event, however, is how it fosters connection between CDI professionals. Returning attendees seek each other out, connecting after a year apart. New attendees build relationships that will carry forward throughout their careers.

While the community is wonderful when we’re all at the conference, coming back to our home offices may feel like a bit of a letdown, heightening the isolation we may have already felt. The beauty of ACDIS though is that members have access to tools that help them connect with other members year-round.

First and foremost, connecting with your ACDIS local chapter or topic-based networking group is a great way to meet folks in your geographic area or within your specific CDI niche (e.g., pediatrics). You can find a complete list of upcoming chapter meetings in this edition of CDI Strategies along with contact information for the meeting organizers. Many chapters are currently holding virtual meetings, meaning you can join the community even if the nearest chapter would be too far away for a comfortable drive.

Secondly, ACDIS members have access to the ACDIS Forum. This platform allows users to post questions in a number of topic categories to get feedback from fellow ACDIS members. Plus, while you’re on the Forum, you may find existing topics and discussions that relate to your experience, and you can jump in with your own comments or advice.  

Third, volunteering for an ACDIS board or committee is a great way to build connections with other professionals and make a mark on the association. ACDIS has eight different boards and committees, each with a specific scope of work. Four of those groups will be opening for new members at the beginning of June, so it’s a great time to review the group descriptions and choose which you might want to apply to.

Fourth, for those in leadership positions, the ACDIS Leadership Council is a great way to network and collaborate with your peers. The Council exists to connect CDI leaders through personalized insight-sharing and networking experiences to forge relationships, advance strategic priorities, and illuminate trends. While applications for the Council don’t open till the summer, those who are interested can sign up for our alert list to receive notification about the application period.

Finally, don’t hesitate to reach out to the ACDIS team. We are here to serve you and are happy to connect you with peers whenever we’re able. We’re always just an email away.

Editor’s note: Archibald is the associate editorial director of publications and membership. Contact her at larchibald@acdis.org.