President's Message: January 2025

Published in the January 2025 issue of the ISHA Voice.

"Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius."

- Pietro Aretino

Winter is upon us. I always think of winter as a time for reflection and comfort. I always think about slowing down and being more mindful about what I do. However, the realities of the season are more aligned with chaos. So much to do, so many things to remember, and so little time – such is the life of many of us.

There is an opportunity in winter through ISHA to connect, recharge, and reinvigorate us professionally with the ISHA Convention. I encourage you to come join us this winter to see how you can connect and refuel. Find a friend and come see us by plane, train, or automobile.

Convention this year lands on Thursday, February 6 and Friday, February 7. Two full days of programming that include something for everyone. There are nine different specialty tracks to preview on the online schedule located here. There will be sessions on content topics like pediatric feeding, aphasia, and literacy. There will be sessions on aspects of the workplace including working with assistants, utilizing interprofessional practices, and ethics. The schedule of speakers and topics is dynamic! Check it out.

Please join us for an evening honors presentation at 5:00pm on Thursday, February 6th. This is always an inspiring event with the wonderful work of our colleagues on full display. The keynote speaker at the honors presentation and scholarship fundraiser is Karen Dudek-Brannan who may be familiar to many of you as Dr. Karen. She hosts a great podcast called De Facto Leaders podcast. Come celebrate and be inspired.

Finally, the last day of convention provides an opportunity to attend committee meetings, learn with a second day of continuing education, and cheer on our future members as they take center stage the Knowledge Quest. Committee meetings provide members with the option to give in-person feedback. Your stories fuel the work of the association. Come and share those stories with our committees. Program highlights day 2 include the student-initiated projects. As a faculty member, I can attest to the enthusiasm students share with me when attendees visit their posters and talk with them about their projects. Finish off convention with the opportunity to cheer on students or test your own knowledge at the Knowledge Quest.
I hope each of you can rest and reflect during winter. I hope to see each of you at Convention to learn with you and from you. Then we can all be ready for the warmth and energy that comes with spring. Winter cannot last forever, and we can make the best of these cold days.

- Valerie Boyer, President