by Emily Lowther, president, MHSCN board of directors

Spring has arrived in Minnesota, bringing longer days, warmer temperatures (we hope!) and – in a typical year – the final steps in planning for MHSCN’s spring conference. As we all know, however, the past year has been anything but typical.

During this extended time of physical distancing, connection has become more important than ever. At MHSCN, we have worked to fulfill the need for professional connection by embracing digital education and networking. Our 2021 calendar includes virtual education and networking events, with topics based on the interests expressed by our members. We hope that you will find these opportunities to learn and connect with peers from across the state valuable.

I am especially looking forward to our next MHSCN Member Connect virtual networking event on April 22, which will feature a presentation by Dr. Tyler Arvig, R3 Continuum associate medical director, on how we can move forward after experiencing COVID fatigue and burnout, followed by time for discussion and reflection. For me, this session comes at the perfect moment, when we are over a year into the pandemic’s challenges but unsure of what the future holds.

Our 2021 virtual events are open to members and guests, with members receiving the added benefit of free registration. Members also have access to our new MHSCN video library, where you can revisit our programming at your convenience.

Our members are the heart of MHSCN and we always want to hear from you about how we can best meet your needs. Please share your ideas, suggestions and topics of interest. We look forward to working together to provide meaningful points of connection in 2021.