Message from AHVAP Executive Director

Together, We Rise: Building the Future of Healthcare Value Analysis Through Unity, Collaboration, and Respect

Dear AHVAP Members and Partners,

The energy coming out of the 2025 AHVAP Annual Conference and Industry Partner Expo was nothing short of extraordinary. Over several days, hundreds of healthcare value analysis professionals, industry partners, and thought leaders gathered with a shared purpose — to learn, connect, innovate, and advance the profession we all care so deeply about. From the first keynote to the closing session, there was an unmistakable sense that something powerful is happening within AHVAP — a movement toward greater professionalism, collaboration, and leadership across the healthcare value analysis ecosystem. I would like to thank our Conference Committee, Executive Leaders Fellow Volunteers, the Board of Directors, and Team AHVAP for their exceptional work in supporting this year’s conference.

Our conference theme this year, “Catalysts for Change,” came to life in every conversation, breakout session, and networking event. We witnessed value analysis professionals from across the nation share breakthrough strategies for improving quality outcomes, optimizing costs, and building stronger interprofessional partnerships. Our 77 industry partners brought cutting-edge innovation, helping us see how technology, analytics, and evidence-based practice can shape the next era of value-based healthcare.

But perhaps the greatest takeaway wasn’t found in a single presentation or exhibit hall conversation — it was found in the spirit of collaboration that defined this year’s gathering. The AHVAP community is stronger than ever, united by a shared belief that our collective work makes healthcare safer, smarter, and more sustainable for the patients and caregivers we serve.

The Power of Unity in a Transforming Profession

As AHVAP continues to evolve as the leading voice for healthcare value analysis professionals, one truth has become abundantly clear: we are stronger together. The work we do is not easy — it demands courage, integrity, and resilience. We navigate complex supply chains, manage competing clinical and financial priorities, and advocate for decisions that balance innovation, safety, and fiscal stewardship.

In this demanding environment, it is vital that we lift each other up rather than tear each other down. Healthy debate and professional dialogue are essential to progress, but personal criticism, divisive commentary, or gatekeeping only weaken the very profession we are trying to elevate. Each of us — whether a clinician, supply chain professional, or industry partner — contributes a unique and valuable perspective to the field of value analysis.

Our diversity of experience is our greatest strength. It fuels creativity, challenges assumptions, and drives innovation. When we engage one another with mutual respect and shared purpose, we don’t just strengthen AHVAP — we strengthen the entire healthcare industry.

Leading with Professionalism and Respect

One of AHVAP’s founding principles has always been professionalism — the belief that healthcare value analysis is a recognized and respected discipline grounded in evidence based practice, ethics, and excellence. As leaders, we have a responsibility to model this professionalism in every interaction — with our colleagues, our industry partners, and the organizations we serve. Professional conduct means maintaining integrity, honoring confidentiality whether pricing or PHI, and engaging in constructive communication. It means recognizing that disagreement does not equal disrespect and that differences in approach can coexist within a shared commitment to better outcomes.

AHVAP’s Standards of Professional Practice were created precisely to guide us in this effort. These standards affirm our collective responsibility to uphold transparency, collaboration, and mutual respect as the foundation of our professional identity. They remind us that every action we take reflects not only on ourselves but also on our colleagues, our employers, and our association.

Our Shared Mission: Improving Healthcare Together

At its core, the work of healthcare value analysis is about improving healthcare — for patients, for providers, and for the systems that sustain care delivery. Whether we’re evaluating new technologies, optimizing processes, or aligning stakeholders around a shared goal, our impact reaches far beyond product decisions or contract terms. We influence the quality and safety of patient care every day.

As we return from the 2025 Annual Conference in Grapevine filled with ideas and inspiration, each of us must carry forward the momentum of collaboration and kindness. Let’s choose to be champions for one another, celebrating achievements, sharing best practices, and mentoring the next generation of value analysis professionals. Let’s model the same respect and teamwork that we expect from our industry and clinical partners.

AHVAP’s strength lies in its members — in YOU. Your expertise, dedication, and compassion continue to redefine what’s possible in healthcare value analysis. By working together, by supporting rather than competing, and by aligning our efforts under AHVAP’s shared mission, we can continue to move our profession forward with integrity and unity.

As we turn toward 2026, the holiday season, and beyond, AHVAP will continue to expand opportunities for professional growth, research, and leadership development. From the AHVAP Certification Center to new micro-credential programs, mentorship initiatives, and expanded industry collaboration standards, we are investing in the future of this profession. But success depends on each of us doing our part — not only in our hospitals and health systems but also in how we engage with one another. The most powerful legacy we can leave as healthcare value analysis professionals is a culture of respect, collaboration, and shared purpose to provide for our patients and caregivers.

When we unite around that vision, we amplify our voice, our influence, and our impact — creating a stronger, more resilient profession and a safer, more accessible and productive healthcare system for all. So let’s keep the spirit of the 2025 AHVAP Annual Conference alive. Let’s lead with purpose, work together with respect, and remember that our shared mission is far greater than any one of us alone. We will be opening the call for Speakers and Posters for the 2026 Annual Conference in the coming weeks. We look forward to receiving your submissions!

Together, we are AHVAP Strong — and together, we are changing healthcare for the better.

Regards,

J. Hudson Garrett Jr., Ph.D., MSN, MPH, MBA, FNP-BC, IP-BC, PLNC, VA-BC, LTC-CIP, CIC, AL-CIP, CPPS, CAE, CAIP, CPHQ, CVAHPTM, ICE-CCP, CPXP, CMRP, CDIPC, FAOM, FACDONA, FAAPM, FAPIC, FNAP, FACHE, FSHEA, FIDSA, FAHVAP
Executive Director and Executive Vice President
Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals (AVHAP)
Chief Credentialing Officer
AHVAP Certification Center
Certified Association Executive