SEAHO Report - Fall 2019 - 30

SEAHO Feature Articles
commitments or "not enough time". I finally filled
out an application to serve as a faculty member
in the final weeks of 2016 - the worst year of my
life. I typed my application answers while sitting
in a hospital bed receiving yet another multi-hour
chemo treatment right after hitting the halfway mark
in my 6 weeks of radiation treatment. I hadn't been
able to work since August of that year, and I was so
desperate for a connection to the field and the people
and the passion that I loved. Cancer sucks, and I
craved the fulfillment of my job - of the joy that
comes with true mentorship, problem-solving, and
relationship-building.
It was a horribly ridiculous decision. What was I thinking? I literally wrote in the form "I am currently in the
hospital for intensive cancer treatment, but I am confident I will be healthy and fine by May." What?! THANK
YOU to the RELI co-chairs that year for not selecting me in my delirium.
Sheesh.
But it did make me think. When all my professional sustenance was stripped away from me, what did I reach
out for? I wanted to dialogue. To give back. To teach. To make genuine connections. And RELI was what
popped into my head. So, two years later - and appropriately healed for real this time - I applied again and was
honored to be chosen for the 2019 faculty team.
We consisted of 10 people: 8 faculty members and 2 RELI co-chairs who organized the whole shebang. Of the
8 faculty, each of us was assigned one of the ACUHO-I competencies as our main focus area and presentation
topic. I was assigned crisis management. Other topics ranged from facilities and occupancy management to
budgeting and supervision. We met over the phone, on video Zoom calls, in person for the first time at the
SEAHO annual conference, and then a few days before the participants arrived at the University of South
Carolina for the week of RELI fun. During that time we began to get to know each other as faculty members, as
diverse professionals with vastly different backgrounds and experiences, and as a team. We offered suggestions
and critiques for each other's presentations, and we shared ideas for cluster activities and motivational gifts.
Not one of us stood up in that room and presented without having incorporated the years of wisdom and humor
and experience offered by the full team.
When the 32 entry-level professionals officially arrived, the game changed. We
turned our focus fully to them. To that beautiful mentorship experience that has to be
intentionally cultivated to bloom properly. We danced and sang at roll call, we engaged
in lively discussion at our tables, and we played silly games at meal times and in cluster
groups. We also had deep conversations in one-on-one meetings, and uncovered
vulnerabilities, offered support, and motivated each other in group time. Each cluster
took on a personality of its own, some clearly gleaned from their faculty member's
arsenal of tricks.
For my cluster, we focused on our personal missions within our professional drive. What inspires and drives
us as both people and professionals? I provided them each with a MyIntent bracelet that we hand-stamped
SEAHO Report Fall 2019

SEAHO Report - Fall 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SEAHO Report - Fall 2019