Commitment to Advocacy and Professionalism

I write today as the result of being at a professional meeting these past few days.  There were some wonderful presentations that were made, but the presence of health education professionals, from all practice settings, was noticably absent.  Sure, there were a few there, but individuals who worked hard to put together their presentations were clearly disappointed when  there were only one or two additional individuals in the audience, other than the team of individuals who prepared the presentation.

I know there has been a lot of discussion about the “fragmentation” of our profession and the fact that there are so many professional organizations. There have been several (I hesitate to use the word “numerous”) attempts to “merge” various professional organizations so there might be one “overarching” organization that would represent all health educators. Without trying to enter into that particular debate, unless those who may take the time to read this “espistle” and decide to respond, I am distressed that when a state, regional, national, or even international meeting is held in the “back yard” of some of our health educators whom we know are “out there,” and those individuals don’t attend the meetings, even to interact with a few “hearty souls” who have opted to submit abstracts for presentation consideration, I wonder what is really happening with the profession?

Given the fact that there is strength in numbers, and that we just learned that health educator was “heard” by the government in terms of health education as a profession, and we will remain listed in the Standard Occupational Classification System, I feel it is important that we, as professionals, take every opportunity we possibly can, to get together and discuss issues of mutual concern.

At this particular meeting, I learned that in California, there is a statewide meeting that is similar to what we try to do at the AAHE national convention when we have the meeting of Chairs of Health Education Programs.  In California, it appears they have a similar meeting for Health Education Program Chairs who are in California. What a great idea!  I would like to see similar meetings occur in other states as well.

The above notwithstanding,  I think if we are truly going to advocate for the profession, as is listed as one of the competencies that should be practiced by health educators, taking the time to attend professional meetings (better yet, submitting abstracts for presentation consideration), as well as trying to coalesce health educators within states (or areas if the state is just too large), is something we should strive to achieve.

I know there are a myriad of reasons for not attending national meetings, but those reasons become a lot “thinner” when all one has to do is get into a car and drive a few miles to interact with other health educators.

I will apologize “up front” if this message is perceived in other than a positive way, which is what I really want to convey.  I enjoy interacting with my professional colleagues who work in the multiplicity of settings in which we find ourselves working.  In our diversity lies our strength.  I hope each and every one of us will consider not having that second cup of Starbucks (or whatever your beverage preference),  and consider putting those monies into a “savings account” so we can each take advantage of professional meetings that may be in our “back yards.”

I hope to see many of you in 2009.

Larry