Message from AHVAP President-Elect

Inspiring Healthcare’s Future Generations

In June, my daughter applied for and was accepted to an externship at a local hospital. This program focuses on providing aspiring healthcare professionals with a closer look into all care areas of a healthcare facility. This experience will allow her to spend one day shadowing various team members throughout the organization. She is scheduled to rotate through areas ranging from wound care to oncology, ICU to EVS, Supply Chain to ER, and everywhere in between. This will provide an exceptional look into how each department functions in the care of the patient and how each can work together to improve the health of the community they serve. To say I am proud of my 16-year-old is an understatement. But it comes with trepidation.

This trepidation does not stem from a mother’s perspective but rather from a nursing and healthcare professional perspective. The overall state of healthcare is in turmoil, and I don’t want her passion to be squelched by discussions around staffing shortages, supply shortages and doing more with less. These discussions are complex in nature for the most seasoned professional, let alone a high school intern exploring potential career paths.

And yet, it’s in moments like this—watching the next generation step into our world with fresh eyes and hope—that I’m reminded why we do what we do. It’s also what makes me incredibly proud to be part of AHVAP. It is an amazing collection of healthcare providers and industry partners who are committed to be part of the solution, a revolution, if you will. Together, we have the power to reimagine healthcare. Not just for today and the challenges we face here and now, but for future patients, the communities they will live in, and the future healthcare professionals, like my daughter, who will care for them. Through collaboration, evidence-based practice, and a shared sense of purpose, we can tackle the hard conversations head-on. But just as importantly, we must also turn our attention to those coming up behind us.

Remember, we all have a role to play in mentoring and inspiring the next generation—whether it’s through offering internship opportunities, sharing our stories, inviting students to observe our work, or simply making space for their questions and curiosity. By modeling resilience, integrity, and innovation, we can show them that even in the face of challenge, healthcare remains a profoundly meaningful and impactful calling. As healthcare leaders, let’s continue working together to transform healthcare—not just to survive the present, but to preserve the future. My call to action for fellow AHVAP members: Reflect on your role and the impact you can have in inspiring the next generation of healthcare leaders. You never know whose path you might influence!

Sincerely,

Anne Marie Orlando, MBA, RN, RCIS, CVAHP™, FACHDM, PNAP, FAHVAP
President-Elect, Board of Directors
AHVAP