November 21, 2023: Insights from AAMS President and CEO, Jana Williams

Hello friends,
 
It is fitting as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, a time of gratitude, that AAMS pauses to share our appreciation for you, the people who make our community extraordinary. 
 
First, we’d thank all who helped make The AMTC23 a memorable one. Like the more than 30 award finalists and winners to the allied organizations whose contributions demonstrate some of the best of our industry, we are grateful and honored to continue the rich history of the Air Medical Transport Conference tradition. 
 
Of course, a significant power outage left an impression, but the loss also illuminated (pun intended) the resolve and resilience of those in attendance. We could not have been more proud of those who pivoted to continue education, product showcases, and networking.  And while we may play with some light-hearted phrasing, we take our responsibility to address any gaps seriously. I am extraordinarily proud of the AAMS team for the efforts they are continuing to make in that regard.  
 
Recently, we launched "THE AMTC23 Illuminated: Bringing Education Out of the Dark" Virtual Series to provide a means for conference attendees to obtain the CE credits missed while The AMTC23 was literally in the dark. Attendees can earn up to 10 CE credits, nearly double the CE earned from attending the live sessions in-person. Over the next several weeks, AAMS will host live webinars as well as recorded sessions from those that were cancelled due to the power outage. AMTC attendees have access to these sessions at no additional cost. CE credits are available to AMTC23 attendees who purchased a Full Conference Registration or a One-Day Registration with CEs. The first live session was held yesterday, and will be available on-demand for those who were unable to attend shortly. Mark your calendars for the next live session - Improving Employee Retention: A Successful Program Through the Eyes of an Employee - on Thursday, November 30th at 1400h to take part if you are able. 
 
For our exhibiting companies, we recognize the lost face time due to the outage as well.  The AAMS team has begun connecting with each of the more than 120 exhibitors to better understand their specific impacts. We expect this to take some time and are grateful for the patience and grace being afforded us while we navigate these complexities. 
 
There were many positives coming out of Columbus. We cannot underscore enough how fortunate we were to have the AAMS and ACCT boards collaborate at AMTC, discussing sustainability of our industry and adding value to our members. We graduated more than 20 clinicians from the Critical Care Transport Academy (CCTA) who are ready to enter our workforce. We are also grateful for the AAMS board of directors who finalized the AAMS 2024 Strategic Plan at AMTC. You will see additional communication specifically on the strategic plan soon.  
 
As we continue to tally stats and review feedback, I'd like to share some AMTC23 numbers:

• 1254 total attendees (vs roughly 1400 last year)
•  126 expo booths in approximately 30,000 sq ft (vs 110 booths in approximately 40,000 sq ft last year)
• 25 valued event sponsors (vs 20 last year)

We remain grateful for your feedback. If you haven't yet had the chance, please take a few minutes to complete our conference evaluation or reach out directly at any time. We have already begun planning for AMTC24 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and we place great value on your input.
 
The public knows our industry for the lifesaving efforts and noble acts you endeavor each day. We understand it takes a village, and the Air Medical Transport Conference provides the gathering to highlight all facets of that honorable work. We called it The AMTC23 mostly to capitalize on the local flare and to showcase our great partners in Columbus, however The AMTC could be fitting every year because it is truly the one place where all aspects of our community come together—medical, aviation, transportation, regulation, manufacturing, maintaining, billing, sharing, serving, and leading.  
 
We hold our community members sacred and recognize the pressures everyone is facing. We know AAMS membership and AMTC participation are choices. However, we believe they’re also a 2-part commitment - half is the value proposition (what you get) and half is industry endorsement (what our community gets with your support). We are indebted to all who recognize that and continue to support the global effort. 
 
While there is much for AAMS to do ahead, we pause in gratitude for each of you. And one last piece of housekeeping…in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, you will be receiving your next issue of the Eye on Washington newsletter on Monday, November 27.
 
Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving with those you love and who love you!

With great respect, 

Jana Williams
AAMS President and CEO