President's Message November 2021

As much as I like Halloween, I must confess, I’m happy to see that it has passed so we can take a collective moment to anticipate a national holiday of giving thanks. There isn’t much money to be made in preparation for Thanksgiving, which is why the Christmas decorations are already for sale and we are urged to start buying presents early. But I for one, think Thanksgiving may be my favorite holiday due to its simplicity and due to the fact that this year, unlike last, we might be able to gather more safely with friends and family. Our understanding of the history of Thanksgiving is in transition, and while sorely needed, the spirit of the holiday is one that I hope we can preserve. It provides a way to pause and take stock of what we value, how far we’ve come, and what we’ve endured this year.

And so, with this in mind, I would like to thank everyone: members, sponsors and Riggs Enterprises for your support of the American Association for the History of Nursing. By being a member, you have demonstrated your commitment to advancing scholarship and providing a place where we can learn and grow together.  By registering for the conferences and workshops, you have given our scholars an opportunity to share their work with a supportive audience. Our scholars have given us a window into their work, have opened up new ways of thinking about nursing and health care and continue to keep us enthralled with their discoveries. And for those who have worked on committees, you have shown your commitment to keep the association alive by doing so many things that are not visible.  These activities include planning the next conference, making us more respectful of diverse points of view, reading abstracts, choosing award and grant recipients, working on the strategic plan, communicating our activities with others and maintaining our financial solvency. We’ve made tremendous progress this past year in spite of the disruption in our usual way of doing things, and I hope we can make some of these changes permanent.

Many thanks to everyone for all of your support and contributions this year.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy Holiday Season!

All the best,

Melissa Sherrod
President, AAHN, 2020-2022