May 5, 2023: Insights from President and CEO, Jana Williams

 May 5, 2023

Hello friends,

I am grateful to have joined the AAMS and MFI board and team and wanted to share some insights from my initial time here. I have spent a great deal of time listening and will continue to do so.  

I’m awed by the talented cadre of our small AAMS staff. Collectively, the current team has over 100 years’ experience in the association management space, and they are driven by your experiences, aspiring for positives at every turn. I bring new (ok, and old) observations and understandings from our unique community. Together, we aim to demonstrate the power of this combination across all aspects of our pursuits.  
 
I want to thank Life Link III for sharing and supporting Kolby Kolbet to serve as the interim President and CEO. While balancing his full-time position, and in a relatively short period of time, Kolby has brought stability, shored up expenses, championed continued legislative efforts, and sought reparation on many fronts.  In collaboration with a powerful and roll-up-their-sleeves kind of Board, Kolby set a course to refine this association now poised to address our dynamic environment. Kolby and the Board have also opened the door to possibilities, including a strategic review of MFI for an enhanced future. I am grateful for their continued support and guidance as I transition fully into the role. 
 
I am fresh off the CCTMC conference held this year in Denver by our colleagues at AMPA, ASTNA and I-CAPP. I am grateful for their welcome and the refreshing discussions we held regarding possibilities and potential future alliances. I was equally captivated by the clinical talent and emerging technologies present for our patients in need. The breadth of expertise of both the presenters and the attendees commanded my deep respect.  

Most recently, I spent a week at the annual Medical Transport Leadership Institute (MTLI). The students were eager, bright, engaged, and insightful. The faculty were well-versed, researched, humble, and ready. All MTLI faculty leave logos and agendas behind to create a powerful, interactive learning environment that I am certain benefits our industry.  It was incredibly rewarding to spend time with experienced and emerging leaders from all corners of our community, including non-members considering membership. They freely shared feedback to include challenges (like staffing and the IDR process), hopes (like concord and synergy), and expectations of what they need from this association.   

It is my sincere desire to be a unifying presence in our community. I endeavor to collaborate wherever possible and keep coming back to 2 words — common ground. I believe strongly that we all have more to gain by focusing on the mutual impacts we make and challenges we face, rather than focusing on our differences.  

My initial thoughts and vision center around rising pillars —

• Solvency: adding value and cutting cost where possible, without sacrificing quality.
• Advocacy: seeking additional ways to amplify your voices on challenges like reimbursement.
• Unity: collaborating wherever possible and bridging distances even across traditional lines.
• Safety: further spotlighting it as a cornerstone of all we do.
• Literacy: enhancing education, leveraging technology, and leading emerging thought dialog.
• Prosperity: adapting, evolving, and growing in the pursuit of a brighter future.

Thank you for indulging me this time to share. I am eager to continue listening and lead us on the path forward. I plan to provide regular updates ahead. I look forward to our next steps and finding ways for all of us to flourish long into the future.  
 
With great respect, 
 
Jana Williams
AAMS President and CEO