V37 N1 / 2022 ©2022 American Medical Writers Association. All rights reserved. ISSN 2163-5315 AMWAJournal.org 60 What an exciting time for the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) as we make the 2022 Spring issue of the AMWA Journal accessible on the new digital platform! My sincere appreciation goes to the AMWA Journal Editorial Team, AMWA Staff, and the volunteers who put in count- less hours to help deliver such an outstanding publication. Congratulations on your efforts in helping the organization to continue to evolve. As I think about volunteers and how they impact orga- nizations like AMWA, I can’t help but reflect on my own tra- jectory as a volunteer. Looking back on my life experiences, I’ve always had the desire to help others and to do good. Over the years I’ve volunteered for causes I was passionate about: children, education, health advocacy, communica- tion, and so much more. As I grew in my field and more career opportunities became available, AMWA seemed like the perfect fit to hone my leadership skills. It wasn’t long after I started dedicat- ing time at the chapter level that I recognized this to be true. My passion grew, and I knew that I needed to do my part in “promoting excellence in medical communication,” and contributing to the development of educational resources. I soon began serving in various capacities throughout the organization, recruiting members to AMWA, and encourag- ing others to volunteer within the organization. The more I served, the more my leadership skills grew. One key takeaway that has resonated with me over the years, is that leadership and volunteerism are connected. Many people develop leadership skills through volunteer- ing, and good leaders recognize the value of volunteers. FROM THE PRESIDENT Building Leaders One Volunteer at a Time AMWA NEWS Katrina R. Burton, BS / 2021–2022 AMWA President AMWA’s governance structure highlights the strategic alignment of AMWA volunteers and staff. President Chapter Advisory Committee Chair At-Large Directors Treasurer Immediate Past President President-Elect Secretary Special Committees, Councils, Commissions, Task Forces, and Work Groups Deputy Director Staff Chapter Officers Chapter Advisory Committee Nominating Committee Constitution and Bylaws Committee Budget and Finance Committee Overview of AMWA Governance Structure Chairs Line of communication Key Executive Director Officers AMWA Board of Directors http://www.amwajournal.org AMWAJournal.org 61Building Leaders One Volunteer at a Time According to a 2016 study surveying the impact that volun- teerism has on the success of individuals in the workplace, 80% of hiring managers and those who have influence over hiring managers, indicated that those with volunteer experi- ence move more easily into leadership roles. For the past 2 years, AMWA, similarly to other organiza- tions and associations, had to pivot to ensure we continued to deliver on our mission, vision, and priorities. We held virtual conferences in 2020 and 2021, continued to provide excellent educational resources, supported chapters and the important work generated by our committees throughout the pandemic, and grew our membership. This would not have been possible without the positive and hard work of our volunteers. Volunteers help deliver vital programs and services while supporting the overall functionality of the organiza- tion. AMWA volunteers are the heart and soul of this organization, and we are always looking for great leaders to grow with AMWA. I know you recognize the value that you bring to the field as a medical communicator. I also hope that you under- stand what you can bring to the organization as a volunteer. The chapter level is a great place to break ground and help build your leadership skills. It also can be a pathway to lead- ership at the national level. Whatever you do outside of your busy and productive schedules, I hope that you will con- sider becoming an AMWA volunteer. After all, we are meant to leave organizations such as AMWA better off than how we found them. ➲ If you are interested in becoming an AMWA volunteer, please contact your local chapter or the AMWA member- ship team at membership@amwa.org. www.amwa.org/knowledge_builders Knowledge Builders Build your knowledge on a specific medical communication topic through a variety of elements designed to create an engaging educational experience. Listen to a narrated slide set Engage in exercises Access the handout Review the reading list Note what you learned Explore AMWA Online Learning and get ready to L.E.A.R.N. http://www.amwajournal.org