Note from the Editorial Manager: Show your gratitude, nominate someone for an ACDIS Achievement award

by Karla Kozak

I know it’s cheesy and probably a little overdone, but each year, as Thanksgiving approaches, I try to take a few minutes to embrace an attitude of gratitude. Fall is a busy time around here, and it’s easy to fall victim to feeling disgruntled, tired, and inconvenienced. In my opinion, that makes it all the more important to remember the things—and people—you’re most grateful for, today and all year long.

For me, it’s my team. I am so lucky that they’re always willing to lend a helping hand when the to-do list gets out of control, share a personal story (or pet/baby photo) when I need a laugh, or pick me up and dust me off after a hard day. When I’m undercaffeinated and overwhelmed, they make logging on to work in the morning feel like a privilege.

Do you have someone in your work life that makes you feel the same? If so, during this season of thanksgiving and appreciation, I encourage you to nominate them for an ACDIS Achievement Award. For just a little while longer, we’re accepting nominations for the following four awards:

• CDI Professional of the Year, which recognizes an individual with at least ten years of experience who stands out as a consummate representative of the best attributes of a CDI professional
• Accomplishment in CDI, which recognizes an individual who has made significant achievements as a CDI professional in their facility or within their broader organization
• Melissa Varnavas Spirit of Service, which recognizes an individual who has committed themselves to service by volunteering their time and skills to assist their peers and advance the CDI profession
• Diversity in CDI, which recognizes those organizations whose CDI departments are going above and beyond in creating a diverse and inclusive workplace

Winners will be honored during the 2026 ACDIS conference, and the CDI Professional of the Year and Melissa Varnavas Spirit of Service recipients receive complimentary admission to the conference. To learn more about the awards, click here. To nominate someone, click here. The deadline for nominations is December 12, 2025.

Looking to get involved with the 2026 ACDIS conference in a different way?

For those of you interested in contributing to the 2026 ACDIS conference in a different way, I also wanted to share that we’re still accepting applications to display a poster at the conference! Typically, posters outline a recent initiative, creative solution, or innovative undertaking. Past posters have covered cerebral edema, physician engagement, collaboration, social determinants of health, risk adjustment, and remote work—to name a few. Poster creators who attend the conference have the opportunity to earn ACDIS CEUs, and one creator per selected poster saves $200 on their conference registration.

To learn more about the posters, click here. Applying is easy, and you can do so until December 12 by clicking here.

From our ACDIS family to yours, wishing you a very happy and healthy holiday season. We are so grateful for all that you do for our community and for the profession.

Editor’s note: Kozak is the editorial manager of products and events for ACDIS. Contact her at karla.kozak@hcpro.com.