First, let me start by congratulations to Cole Teague on the beginning of his year as President of NEHES. NEHES is in a strong position because of the years of leadership provided by our board members, past and present. Secondly, thank you to the NEHES board and membership for the opportunity to serve as the NEHES President-Elect for 2021. I hope that I am able to deliver the same strong leadership of the past board members to the NEHES organization, and membership, both active, and supporting.

The past year has certainly been a challenge, not only for NEHES, but also for healthcare engineering as an industry. The coronavirus pandemic began in earnest in March 2020, throwing nurses and doctors in the news headlines across the country and around the world. While healthcare engineers were not making headlines, we were making many changes that allowed our organizations to safely treat the more demanding patient needs. NEHES pivoted quickly during this time, cancelling our Spring Seminar in 2020 and transitioning to a virtual Fall Conference. By all accounts, the virtual conference was a challenging undertaking by NEHES but widely viewed as a success.

Looking forward into 2021 with the roll out of the coronavirus vaccine, we look forward to a return to normal. It is my hope that NEHES can provide an in-person Spring Seminar and Fall Conference based on the situation we find ourselves in with the pandemic. We would also ask our membership for help expanding membership in NEHES. Now more than ever, NEHES can be a vital resource for education and communication within the healthcare engineering community. I ask our membership to spread the word and encourage membership within your organizations. Happy New Year to all and hoping 2021 is one to remember.

Dann M. Boyer, CHFM
2021 NEHES President-Elect