Networking ‘with a little help from my friends’

On Sunday mornings, I listen to my local rock radio station’s “Breakfast with the Beatles” show (yes, that dates me). Thanks to the internet, my Gen Z daughter — a college student in Boston — can also stream it. Despite our wildly different musical tastes, our shared love of the Beatles is a special way to stay connected.

Our HFMA network provides each of us with a similar connection, which is personally and professionally meaningful in ways other organizations simply cannot provide. I often call the HFMA network our secret sauce because it isn’t manufactured. It comes from our collective strength, shared experiences and commitment as engaged members and volunteers. The colleagues, mentors and friendships I’ve built through HFMA are unmatched anywhere. And they are precisely why Network is a core pillar of my 2025–26 HFMA Chair theme, Lead Now (Learn, Embrace, Aspire, Deliver, Network, Opportunity and Will).

Because of our HFMA connection, members show up for one another. Whether it’s helping a friend or family member navigate services at a colleague’s organization, resolving a challenging billing or payer issue or exploring a career opportunity, we know we will always get the benefit of a response.

We are navigating an extraordinarily challenging environment, and because we know there is no simple, overarching solution, networking and peer learning have become more important than ever. HFMA supports this dynamic by creating spaces where members can connect and share what’s working and what isn’t. Through HFMA’s chapters, online communities, virtual roundtables, emerging leader programs and executive councils, members are supported at every career stage to learn from one another.

HFMA’s policy team in Washington, DC, extends our network even further. Their strong relationships with federal and state stakeholders ensure HFMA members receive clear, practical guidance grounded in what’s happening where care and finance meet. By collaborating with agencies, associations and key partners, HFMA ensures our voice is represented where it matters.

There is strength in numbers, and our network —with 141,000 members— amplifies our collective voice, helping us to lead the industry at a time when healthcare needs informed and connected leaders as never before.

I’m inspired by the creative ways HFMA leaders help members build sustainable relationships ensuring success.

For example, the Northern New England Chapter spans Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. While these are relatively small states, consider that it’s a nearly eight-hour trip from the northernmost part of Maine to the southern tip of Vermont. Then consider that this year these Chapters hosted 13 standalone networking events across all three states, making it easier for members to connect locally. That’s a testament to HFMA’s powerful impact at the Chapter level.

I encourage you to harness the full value of your HFMA network by intentionally building and fostering relationships with others. These connections will bolster your career and enhance your organizational value.

Our HFMA network prepares us to lead with resilience, clarity and courage. It elevates our profession and fuels the innovation needed to move forward.

After all, we all “get by with a little help from our friends.”

And with HFMA, we have 141,000 friends helping us.