APSHO, JADPRO, and JADPRO Live: Making Sense of the Alphabet Soup
By Andy Guinigundo, MSN, RN, CNP, ANP-BC, FAPO, Vice President of APSHO
It is all very confusing, frankly! I can join “APSHO,” but I can write for or read “JADPRO.” I can attend “JADPRO Live” either in person or virtually unless there is a global pandemic happening in which case, it will only be virtual. Yes, correct. What? You can join APSHO to get a subscription to JADPRO and also receive a discount to attend JADPRO Live. Huh? I have also heard the terms Harborside, BroadcastMed, and most recently Conexiant. [insert hand smacking forehead emoji here].
Pause. Rewind.
Yes, indeed, it can be very confusing. Did you ever visit an old hospital that has had countless additions and refurbishments? You know the type. They often have colored tile lines on the floor and the information desk person says something like, “Oh, to get to ICU, follow the yellow line until it intersects the purple line, turn left there. Follow the purple line until it dead ends. Pick up the red line on the right. You’ll pass the cafeteria. Go through the kitchen and that’s where the ICU is.” This is very similar to the first paragraph of this blog.
Let’s set off trying to demystify some of this.
APSHO is the Advanced Practitioner Society for Hematology and Oncology. The key word here is “society.” APSHO is a professional society. A professional society, also known as a professional association, professional body, or professional organization, is a group of people who work in the same profession or industry. The group's purpose is to advance the profession, the interests of its members, and the public interest.
Some specifics about OUR society. Advanced practitioners (APs) are physician assistants, pharmacists, and advanced practice nurses including NPs, CNSs, and others. Others can join but participation in functions such as voting can be limited. Full members of the Society elect a Board of Directors. The Board of Directors in turn elects the Executive Board which is comprised of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Lisa Kottschade, APRN, MSN, CNP, FAPO, is our current President. The work of the society is carried out by the Board, but also the many committees made up of member volunteers. The eight standing committees in APSHO are currently Awards and Recognition; Communications; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Education; Membership; Professional Development and Leadership; Research and Quality Improvement; and our newest committee, Radiation Oncology.
What then is that all familiar name “JADPRO”? JADPRO is the Journal of Advanced Practitioner in Oncology. While JADPRO is the official journal of APSHO, and additionally, members comprise some of the editorial board, and some of the authors, it is a separate entity from APSHO. Historically, the journal slightly pre-dates the society. The two are implicitly linked in that the original publishers of the journal helped to establish the society along with the founding AP members. Who was this publisher? Harborside, which was acquired by BroadcastMed and is now known as Conexiant. More than publishing APSHO’s journal, Conexiant provides administrative support, sales, and other vital services contracted for by APSHO. The APSHO Executive Director, Wendy Vogel, MSN, FNP, AOCNP®, FAPO, and the brand-new Education Director, Heather Koniarczyk, MSN, APRN-CNP, AOCNP®, are employed by Conexiant. The relationship between APSHO and Conexiant is a very symbiotic relationship.
Finally, what then is JADPRO Live? Well, think about the journal in all its glory presented in a live format by experts like the pages of your favorite novel brought to life on the silver screen. That is JADPRO Live! As the name implies, the conference is also an entity owned by Conexiant. Again, a very symbiotic relationship exists. The conference planning committee is comprised of your Board of Directors, the Education Committee, and other APSHO members, in addition to a whole team from Conexiant. The speakers are often APSHO members. APSHO business is held during the conference. Shameless plug: the APSHO Membership meeting will take place at 5 pm on Thursday, November 14, at the Gaylord Texan directly preceding the Welcome Reception at JADPRO Live 2024. The conference would not happen without Conexiant due to their expertise in logistics, sales, and planning. That huge exhibit hall? Those gigantic pharma displays are those companies investing in JADPRO Live to connect with APSHO members and other conference attendees. APSHO members’ posters are at JADPRO Live and the Conexiant team works with volunteer members to ensure the high caliber and respect that these peer-reviewed abstracts deserve.
I hope that this is now more clear than mud. Anyway, your Board of Directors is glad you are a member of APSHO and hope to catch you in person or virtually in November at JADPRO Live!