By Michael L. Grignon, LMSW, CCM, MBA

I am going to say somewhere around 100. That’s how many friendships I have made or nurtured through AOSW conferences. My first conference was not all that long ago, and I still remember the first AOSW member I met in person, the “new member welcome breakfast,” and the first session I attended. I don’t have enough space to list all the ways these friendships have motivated, inspired and empowered me. I am both a better social worker and a better person because of them.

AOSW conferences have not just provided friendships and broadened my network, but they have also provided me with knowledge and ideas that I have brought back to my organization, adding to my value as a social worker and helping to improve the lives of the people I serve. Throughout my career, those populations have been diverse and I have delivered social work services in many different capacities. AOSW conferences provide me with the education I need to excel across those roles, as the conference typically has offerings on topics such as management and leadership, program development, research and more.

Participating in AOSW conferences has also given me a chance to grow my skillset as a presenter and public speaker. My first foray was as a poster presenter. I remember standing in front of my poster casually chatting with attendees as they asked me questions and shared their thoughts. My second experience as a presenter was as a member of AOSW’s Advocacy Committee where I co-presented with several members, some of whom I had met for the first time at a previous conference.

I wish I could tell you I still do not shake a little at the start of a presentation, but I would be lying. However, the confidence I gained from the opportunities to speak at a national conference has been invaluable. The roots of these opportunities were in the friendships I had formed at previous conferences.

I have also attended the two AOSW virtual conferences, in 2020 and 2021. I know some members are disappointed to not be in person in 2024. I am, too. There are many people I am going to miss seeing and I am especially going to miss the opportunity to serve as an ambassador to members, exhibitors and sponsors in my presidential year.

However, life is about balancing needs and priorities. Having a virtual conference eliminates member costs such as airfare and hotel stays and minimizes out-of-office time due to travel. Further, attending an in-person conference may prove a disproportionately greater burden for our members newer to the field with lower salaries and our members who serve rural communities, from where flights are often more expensive and require connections, which often become stressful. By minimizing these barriers, we are expanding accessibility to the conference and to the exceptional programing for all our members.

I am looking forward to the 2024 conference. I am looking forward to learning and growing. I am looking forward to meeting some new people to work with to continue to advance the mission of AOSW and to continue to advance the profession of oncology social work.

So… are you going? If you are, please find me on Whova, the conference app, and say “Hi.” Ask me a question. Tell me something about who you are and what you want to get out of the conference. Let’s discuss how we can work together to make AOSW better and better!