It’s hard to believe that it has been 20 years since the tragedies in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.  We all got up to go to school or work and didn’t realize our lives would be changed forever. Remember to cherish every day, hug your kids, your partner, and tell them how much they mean to you. Tell your co-workers or friends how thankful you are that they are there to support you.

With the heavy stuff out of the way, I’d like to turn my attention to our chapter.  I was excited to see the turnout for our first in-person social event since the golf tournament.  I saw many familiar faces and a lot of new faces.  If you were in attendance, I hope you made some meaningful connections during the networking portion of the event. As always, we appreciate your feedback on the event, so if you haven’t filled out the survey, please do so. We’re continually looking for ways to increase your engagement and hope that shifting meeting locations and times will allow you to participate.  For example, our October meeting to learn more about the certifications and designations that you can earn through IFMA will be a morning meeting.  I value your input and welcome any suggestions you may have to increase member engagement.

Over the past few months, we’ve seen a few new faces join the chapter. Please help these new members feel welcome at our events and continue thinking about ways in which you can engage prospective members. The board and the membership committee can answer any questions that guests or prospective members may have.  If you know anyone interested in joining, I’d love to chat with them about the chapter and what we can offer.  We have an amazing group of individuals in this chapter. We have a tremendous amount of talent and experience in the chapter, and we need to share those resources with colleagues to ensure we’re providing value to the community.

I’m excited to have our Second Annual Summit and Gala coming up. If you feel comfortable attending with the protocols in place and haven’t registered yet, please be sure to do so through the IFMA Charlotte website. Registration closes on September 9.

Travis Dodson
American Board of Pediatrics
President 2021-2022