Enrich your life through HFMA: being a member of HFMA has enriched my life in so many ways - From the Chairman

Healthcare Financial Management, Oct, 2003 by David P. Canfield

Knowledge that I've gained from my fellow members and from HFMA educational programs has helped me advance in my career. The networking opportunities have been invaluable. And, as I've said, I've made many friends through HFMA.

Paul T. Graham, FHFMA, CHE, CPA, can vouch for HFMA. He's administrative director of finance at Eastern Health System, Inc., in Birmingham, Ala., and a 10-year member of HFMA as well as past president of HFMA's Alabama Chapter.

"HFMA membership has been among the most beneficial learning experiences of my career. Information on industry developments can come from varying sources, but HFMA's approach is undoubtedly the most concise, relevant, and timely in the market today," says Graham. "HFMA realizes that excelling in this industry requires a wide range of topical expertise, and its programs and publications are planned with this in mind. I always leave HFMA programs with practical and valuable ideas that are readily applicable to my everyday responsibilities."

Not only do HFMA programs help members gain new job skills, but along with many other HFMA activities, they provide great opportunities to network. Let Paul explain.

"At both the state and national levels, the network of friends and colleagues that I have developed through active participation in HFMA leadership has been priceless to me," Graham says. "I truly believe that the level of information exchange in this industry is unique in the business world of today and HFMA is the primary facilitator of this process. HFMA to me is a community of individuals throughout the country with whom I feel fully comfortable in discussing career opportunities and pressing industry issues."

Friendships also are an important result of becoming actively involved in HFMA.

Graham says, "The opportunity to build lasting friendships with similar individuals in similar circumstances is what truly makes HFMA personal to its members. From personal experience I've found out that at HFMA events, I am among people I consider to be my peers, my colleagues, and most importantly, my friends. This has never been more evident to me than when I experienced personal and family hardships over the past several years. It amazes me how many sincere calls, notes, and cards I received from individuals I would never have met had it not been for HFMA. Thousands of HFMA members across the country can echo this sentiment."

That's great testimony, Paul. I can't emphasize enough how important the friendships are that you can make through HFMA. When you become involved in HFMA, you join a family. We all have so much in common and can easily and willingly support one another.

HFMA: it's personal.