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Map out your year and consider how you can contribute in 2025

| | January 27, 2025

Map out your year and consider how you can contribute in 2025

When I was a teenager, my father once accused me of being a procrastinator. I responded at the time, “Dad, I am not a procrastinator, I prioritize all my tasks. It’s just by the time a task is a priority, it is the last minute.”  Over the years I have improved my planning considerably.

January is an excellent time to map out your year. I actually look two years ahead, knowing that things will likely change.  It is also important to manage our own most valuable commodity, time.  As a result, it’s vital to get dates on your calendar early so you don’t miss any important deadlines or events – personal or professional. Years ago, I made the decision to become active in the College, and it’s paid off every year since then.  Not only have I enjoyed the benefits and the education, I have also enjoyed the opportunity of fellowship and to know and work with colleagues across the country; I’ve also found many ways to contribute to our broader specialty through ACAAI. These opportunities have enriched my life.  Consider becoming involved with the College this year – whether it’s attending a conference or webinar, joining a committee, or applying to become a member of the Board of Regents.

One of the best things about an organization like ACAAI is the range of activities, each with a different focus and level of time commitment. You can devote as little or as much time as fits into your schedule.

Here a few things coming up:

Coding Update webinar – Feb. 5 at 7:30 pm CST. You’ll get a review of recent ICD-10 and CPT code changes plus new 2025 Medicare physician fee schedule rules. Register now

Apply for a Foundation Community Grant – The Allergists’ Foundation is seeking applications for projects that will focus on novel/innovative ideas to address challenges faced by community practicing allergists in the US and Canada. Letters of Inquiry are due Feb. 17.

Serve on the Board of Regents – If you’ve been a College Fellow for three years or longer, consider applying to be a member of the College’s Board of Regents. If you’ve already served a three-year term on the Board of Regents, consider applying for the positions of vice president or treasurer. The application deadline is Feb. 17.

Contribute to compensation and practice financial data – Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) is collecting allergy-specific compensation and practice financial data. It’s important that our members contribute to this knowledge. Upload your reports to MGMA and get free access to the results, including how your compensation and wRVUs compared to other allergists in 2024! Best of all, no data entry is needed to participate. The deadline is Feb. 21.

And save the date for these:

Allergen Extract Mixing Course – This hands-on workshop on May 17 in Chicago is geared to train physicians and allied health professionals on how to appropriately mix allergen extracts for use with their patients. Registration opens Feb. 1.

ACAAI committee applications– Committee service is an easy way to get involved in the College and network with peers. Applications open March 1.

ACAAI Annual Scientific Meeting – Join us in Orlando Nov. 6-11 for the premier allergy/immunology meeting of the year! Registration opens this summer.

The College benefits from the rich tapestry of our members. Consider how you can contribute in 2025 – to benefit your personal goals, the College, and most of all, your patients. As I said in my speech when I became ACAAI president in October, in the final analysis, you are the College, and I serve and support each one of you in your work.

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