By Ruth Akers, RN, BSN, MS, FAACVPR | News & Views

Last January, we quietly ushered in the Year of the Rabbit. With the pandemic largely behind us, we faced 2023 with positivity and deftness while our reopened cardiac and pulmonary rehab centers once again gained stability. Much focus was placed on moving our programs forward and growing our volume back to pre-COVID-19 numbers.

As we enter 2024, we welcome the Year of the Dragon. The dragon is the most powerful symbol in Chinese culture, representing strength, courage, creativity and innovation. The dragon’s energy is infused with flexibility, adaptability and growth. Based on the Chinese zodiac, 2024 promises to be a year of great potential and opportunities to challenge oneself, personally and professionally.

For the last few years, most of you have fought to survive and then rebuild your rehab centers. As those operations have stabilized, isn’t it time to become a “dragon” and challenge yourself as a CR/PR professional and as member of AACVPR?

Change happens in our industry when proactive people get involved, and many of you have been active in AACVPR for years. In 2024, I encourage you to up the ante.

• If you’ve been sitting on an AACVPR committee, set your sights on chairing one!
• If you’ve participated in letter-writing campaigns from one legislative session to the next — Thank You! — but consider deepening your commitment by showing up for Day On The Hill  (DOTH) in March!
• If you’ve been a constant presence at the AACVPR Annual Meeting, graduate to presenter! There’s still time to submit a session proposal for this year’s event!
• If your practice has been using a novel approach that could potentially help peers, team up with News & Views to showcase it. Or better yet — submit it for the Linda K. Hall Innovation Award!

And if you’ve already made an impact via servant leadership over time and across projects, make this the year to celebrate your accomplishments! 

Master and Fellowship Program

Did you know that your good works at the national and regional associations could elevate you to the level of Master or Fellow within AACVPR? Many of our professionals do amazing things every day but never take credit for them.

As an example, while attending the Annual Meeting in Wisconsin this past fall, I happened to be chatting with a fellow member. I knew that he had done incredible work during the COVID years to continue to keep membership within his group engaged. He created ways to offer the affiliate conference and chapter meetings as a virtual option by partnering with vendors to sponsor the events, and he was key in the planning of each one of them. He has worn several hats at the affiliate board level, assisting in strategic planning, communications and education during a very difficult time for many cardiac rehabs across our state; and he has held every executive board position at one time or another. He participates in AACVPR committees and has attended ALF (the Affiliate Leadership Forum). Professionally, he has done multiple poster presentations and was part of a group effort that submitted for the innovation award.

All while working his day job in cardiac rehab.

I asked him, “Is this the year you will apply for your fellowship?”

I was surprised by his reply, which was, “Do you think I would qualify for that?”

Many of you are “dragons” and don’t even realize it. Your contributions to your affiliate societies, as well as to the national association, qualify you for consideration. The application process opens in February. Show us what you have achieved and apply for the Class of 2024 AACVPR Masters and Fellows.

Channeling your “inner dragon” will give you power and will showcase your strength and creativity. Choose this year to be that person! Be the catalyst for change.

Go ahead, and ROAR.

Ruth Akers has worked in cardiac rehabilitation for 38 years. She currently serves as Director of Cardiovascular Imaging Services and Cardiac Rehab Services at Bryn Mawr Hospital and Main Line Health in Newton Square, Pennsylvania. Akers also is Secretary of the Board for AACVPR and the volunteer editor of News & Views.