By Dr. Colleen Morley, DNP, RN, CCM, CMAC, CMCN, ACM-RN, FCM

Thank you!  2 simple words but powerful ones.  

They speak of appreciation, of gratitude, of acknowledgment. They are universal. 

The CMSA National Conference just concluded in Las Vegas, NV on 6/30/23. And I wanted to say “thank you” again. 

Thank you to Sarah Timm, Amy Black and the entire CMSA team at Parthenon Management Group. You made it look easy and I know it was not. You are the gold standard of association management. 

Thank you to the incredible CMSA Board of Directors for your leadership throughout the year! I am honored to be associated with such a talented team! 

Thank you to the CMSA Foundation Board of Directors for your dedication to advancing the practice of case management through the support of building the evidence base of professional case management. 

Thank you to all the CMSA Committee Chairs/Co-chairs and Committee Members. Your hard work and volunteered time made an enormous difference to the success of this event and the overall success of our organization every day. 

Thank you to our MVD team and attendees! Our connection to you is a vital part of what we do, and we hope to continue serving your needs far into the future. 

Thank you to the Legacy Leaders Council/Past Presidents for your insight, advice, and guidance. It is an honor to learn from each of you. 

Thank you to the CMSA Chapter Leaders. You heard me say throughout the event that the chapters are the lifeblood of the organization and chapter leaders are the heart that pumps that blood. 

Thank you to our CMSA partners, sponsors, and exhibitors. Your support of the organization at both national and local levels is vital to our success; your support on individual levels, helping us care for our patients/clients/members is crucial and much appreciated. 

Thank you to all the speakers and presenters for sharing your wisdom and best practices to add to that evidence base of case management and show the world that case management contributes to excellent outcomes. 

But most of all, thank you to you...those who attended the event. Whether you were a first-time attendee, or this was not your first CMSA rodeo, each of you created a ripple that will continue. As my dear friend Brianna said (and echoed by Dr. Jean Watson), you never know who you will inspire and be inspired by. You all inspired me to be the best I could be. And I thank you for that. 

I hope to see you all in Providence, Rhode Island on June 4-7, 2024, for #CMSA2024. And by all means, spread the word and bring a friend or two! 

Are you ready to showcase your professional successes at #CMSA2024? Join us for a FREE webinar on Wednesday, July 19th, at 12pm Eastern. As case managers, we solve problems and affect change every day, but sometimes our colleagues are unaware of the incredible work we're doing. If you've been hesitant to submit a proposal to present, fear not! Our experienced case managers will demystify the application process and guide you step by step. Register NOW: https://www.pathlms.com/cmsa/courses/51286 Let's empower each other and make a difference together!

Bio: Dr. Colleen Morley, DNP, RN, CCM, CMAC, CMCN, ACM-RN, FCM, is the Associate Chief Clinical Operations Officer, Care Continuum for University of Illinois Health System, and the current President of the Case Management Society of America National Board of Directors.  She has held positions in acute care as Director of Case Management at several acute care facilities and managed care entities in Illinois, overseeing Utilization Review, Case Management and Social Services for over 14 years; piloting quality improvement initiatives focused on readmission reduction, care coordination through better communication and population health management. Her current passion is around improving health literacy. She is the recipient of the CMSA Foundation Practice Improvement Award (2020) and ANA Illinois Practice Improvement Award (2020) for her work in this area. Dr. Morley also received the AAMCN Managed Care Nurse Leader of the Year in 2010 and the CMSA Fellow of Case Management designation in 2022. Her 1st book, “A Practical Guide to Acute Care Case Management”, published by Blue Bayou Press was released in February 2022. Dr. Morley has over 20 years of nursing experience. Her clinical specialties include Med/Surg, Oncology and Pediatric Nursing. She received her ADN at South Suburban College in South Holland, Il; BSN at Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, FL, MSN from Norwich University in Northfield, VT and her DNP at Chamberlain College of Nursing.