Message from AHVAP Executive Director

Claiming Our Seat at the Executive Table

Dear AHVAP Members and Partners,

As Executive Director of the Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals (AHVAP), I have the great privilege of working alongside some of the most committed, visionary professionals in healthcare today. Our members are not only advancing the art and science of healthcare value analysis—they are transforming the way healthcare systems make strategic decisions, mitigate risk, optimize cost, and, most importantly, protect patient outcomes. And yet, despite our critical contributions, there remains one key challenge many in our profession still face: earning and sustaining a seat at the Executive Table.

Healthcare today is more complex, interdependent, and rapidly evolving than ever before. Executive teams are under pressure to make real-time decisions that impact everything from financial solvency to supply chain continuity to clinical quality and patient safety. That’s why it is imperative that healthcare value analysis professionals are not simply seen as operational contributors, but as indispensable strategic partners. Our voices must be present where decisions are made—not after the fact, but in the planning stages, at the core of innovation, policy, and investment.

So how do we, as value analysis professionals, secure and maintain that vital seat at the table? It begins by cultivating what I call an "executive toolbelt"—a diverse and evolving arsenal of skills, knowledge, and leadership capabilities that enable us to both demonstrate and deliver value at every level of the organization.

The Power of Being Indispensable

Indispensability is not a title—it’s a reputation earned through consistent, strategic impact. Leaders who are viewed as indispensable are those who anticipate needs before they arise, who come to the table not just with data but with insight, and who can translate complex operational realities into executive-level strategies. Being indispensable means showing up prepared, aligned to organizational goals, and positioned to influence outcomes.

For value analysis professionals, that means connecting our work directly to the key performance indicators (KPIs) that matter most to senior leaders: cost reduction, clinical outcomes, patient safety, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation. When we can clearly articulate how our analyses and decisions directly support these imperatives, we elevate our role from behind-the-scenes support to strategic leadership.

Build a Broad and Deep Toolbelt

To be truly effective at the executive level, we must intentionally build our professional toolbelt. That means moving beyond a narrow scope of knowledge and embracing a more interdisciplinary approach. Yes, clinical expertise and supply chain insight are essential—but they must be complemented by a fluency in finance, leadership, data analytics, negotiation, policy, and even marketing and communications.

Consider this: would a Chief Operating Officer (COO) or Chief Financial Officer (CFO) be content with a limited view of operations or finance? Of course not. Similarly, healthcare value analysis professionals must be expansive in our thinking and relentless in our pursuit of continuous improvement.

This is why AHVAP continues to invest in advanced educational programming, micro-credentialing, and leadership development initiatives for our members. We are committed to helping you build a skillset that not only opens doors—but ensures you are invited in, respected, and heard.

Sharpening the Professional Saw

In Stephen Covey’s "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," the final habit is perhaps the most vital: Sharpen the Saw. It’s a call to lifelong learning, self-renewal, and professional growth. In a world where disruption is the norm, and where healthcare is constantly adapting to new technologies, regulations, and patient expectations, this habit is not optional—it’s essential.

Sharpening your professional saw means actively seeking out opportunities to learn, grow, and challenge yourself. It means earning new credentials, attending conferences, engaging in professional dialogue, mentoring others, and staying on the cutting edge of best practices in healthcare delivery and value analysis.

It also means engaging with AHVAP—not just as a member, but as a leader, a contributor, and an advocate. Your participation in our association doesn’t just benefit your personal growth—it advances our collective credibility and influence within the broader healthcare ecosystem.

The Time is Now

There has never been a more critical moment for healthcare value analysis professionals to rise. With ongoing challenges in the global supply chain, persistent workforce shortages, evolving regulatory expectations, and increasing demand for value-based care, the expertise of AHVAP members is not just helpful—it’s mission-critical.

Securing a seat at the executive table isn’t about ego. It’s about ensuring that decisions are made with the full context of quality, cost, safety, and patient experience. It’s about embedding value analysis principles into the DNA of healthcare leadership.

So I encourage you—step forward, speak up, and be bold in claiming your seat. Bring your insights. Expand your skillset. Strengthen your voice. And know that AHVAP is here to support you every step of the way.

Together, we are not just part of the conversation. We are leading it.

In Service,

 

J. Hudson Garrett Jr., Ph.D., MSN, MPH, MBA, FNP-BC, IP-BC, PLNC, VA-BC, LTC-CIP, CIC, CPPS, CAE, CAIP, CPHQ, CVAHP™, 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