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First-Timers Relay Their Experiences at #NAMSS24

By Teddy Durgin

NAMSS members will agree that there is nothing quite like attending each year’s NAMSS Educational Conference & Exhibition. But the biggest thrill for many? Attending their first one!

The most recent one, the 48th, was held in fall 2024 in Denver. In part one of this two-part feature, we spoke with a number of members who attended the Colorado event thanks to being recipients of the NAMSS Annual Conference Scholarship. Here, in part two, we gauge the sentiments and experiences of NAMSS members who were indeed attendees for the first time ever.

Among the first to reply was Miguel Medrano, medical staff services manager for IRIS Telehealth. Medrano was there representing what he describes as “an amazing team that manages the privileging process of all our providers to meet The Joint Comissions standards.” As such, he is a self-described “people person” as “my job as a manager is to oversee and assist the team so they can be successful in keeping their projects on track.”

So, it’s no surprise when asked “What was your favorite memory of attending your first NAMSS Educational Conference & Exhibition?”, he answered, “Getting to meet all the new people! I got to meet so many amazing medical staff professionals (MSPs) from all over the country doing similar work as me. It is really inspiring to see so many of us together in the same place who understand the same lingo and work we do. We are all looking for ways to improve our industry, and this is the place where those ideas for improvements begin. I am extremely excited to return next year to meet more amazing people.”

The networking opportunities also were the highlight for Shauna Macarages, MHA, CPCS, the director of medical staff services for HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital. She explains, “The credentialing realm is very small, and I had the opportunity to meet with associates in person who I had only communicated with via email or by phone. I was also able to connect with old friends with whom I began my credentialing career but had since moved on to new roles. Additionally, speaking with others about where they were traveling from, what their roles were, and how their processes differed from our own … it always gets me thinking how we can best improve our current processes by listening to how others perform similar processes.”

Equally enthusiastic after attending for the first time was Heather A Lizardi, medical staff coordinator for the University of New Mexico Health System. She says she got the most out of “attending the state leaders luncheon. I was very fortunate to attend and be able to connect with MSPs from several different states as well as NAMSS leaders. Collaborating and hearing more about other state chapters while making valuable connections was an incredible and enlightening experience!”

One other first-time attendee who went on record about his experiences was Jay Citron, who works for MDVIP, a national network of doctors with a focus on personalized primary care medicine. His official job title is senior quality improvement specialist within MDVIP’s medical initiatives department. Looking back at his first-time experience now weeks removed, he admits that the memories still put a smile on his face. “The attendees were so friendly,” he recalls. “Over the course of the conference, it was so easy to network and make small talk with other attendees. I had a sense of belonging. We all ‘got each other.’”

Now that they have one under their belts, what advice would each of our interviewees have to any member reading this who will be attending their first conference next year in Portland, Oregon? Macarages was quick to answer: “I would say to make sure to experience all of the events that NAMSS organizes. Take advantage of the raffles, meet all of the people at the exhibits tables, talk to new people, and make connections.”

She added, “Also, don’t forget to take advantage of where you are! NAMSS chooses these cities on purpose, so don’t forget to make time to explore them. I made it a point to eat at a different and local staple restaurant each night, and it did not disappoint!”

Citron concurred, further noting, “The advice I have to any member reading this who will be attending their first conference is to be open to the experience. Embrace the chance to learn from both the speakers and the attendees. Build from the connections and the education of the conference. The NAMSS Educational Conference & Exhibition is such a rewarding experience.”

Medrano urges future first-timers not to get overwhelmed with the multiple presentation sessions. “There is a lot of learning going on at the conference,” he says. “Even though the presentation materials are available digitally, my advice is to make sure to bring a notebook to take notes of the important takeaways you learn from the presentations. Also, you will indeed meet many great people. Make sure you bring a business card and a friendly smile to say ‘Hello!’”

Finally, already a cheerleader for the association and its programming and outreach, Lizardi’s words of wisdom included: “Make an effort to attend as many workshops and meet ups as you can. I attended a few in the exhibit hall, one of which was the DEI Task Force Fireside Chat and had the privilege of speaking to several seasoned MSPs. The networking opportunities were incredible. In an effort to network even further, I highly recommend volunteering with your state associations and any NAMSS task force!”