In their addresses to the assembly, both the outgoing and incoming Association of VA Hematology and Oncology (AVAHO) presidents laid out the challenges and opportunities for the growing organization. Nearly 500 people attended the meeting, which was held in Denver, Colorado September 15 to September 17. Next year the meeting will be held in the Chicago area September 28 to 30, 2018.
As Mary Thomas, MS, CNS, AOCN noted, it is a challenging time to provide care at the VA. Public scrutiny and criticism, coupled with both understaffing and difficulties in employee retention at most facilities has left many health care providers feeling overwhelmed. Amid the challenges of working within the VA and for vulnerable veteran patients AVAHO provides its members an "essential opportunity to support each other" Thomas insisted in her farewell address. "One of our strategic goals is to enhance the value of the group for our members and to broaden our base by offering other functions and activities," Thomas added. "There is something for everyone.
Over the past year AVAHO has hired a part-time executive director to focus on the business and operations of the organization, proactively hired an accounting firm to ensure that the financial processes are done properly, and developed a formal relationship with the National Association of Veterans Research to increase access to clinical trials to improve clinical research. Thomas also highlighted a new relationship between AVAHO and an organization that develops continuing education programs. These programs will be available at VA hospitals throughout the country. "As a result of these relationships," Thomas told Federal Practitione r, "we have the ability to step up to the plate to assist the VA to be a more active partner in clinical research--that's really, really exciting."
Russell "Rusty" Crawford, B Pharm, BCOP, struck an upbeat note as he closed the meeting. Noting the significant progress made during Thomas' tenure, Crawford also laid out a more ambitious goal to "make AVAHO the authoritative expert on cancer care for veterans," he said "Our patients are unique and don't fit into a National Comprehensive Cancer Network box."
Mark Klein , MD, an oncologist at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System and an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis was named president elect.
