Call for Volunteers: 2025 Opportunities

Volunteer with SHSMD to Make a Lasting Impact on Health Care

Join your peers in helping members anticipate and prepare for the future by contributing your knowledge and expertise in volunteer activities. SHSMD affords you the opportunity to put your leadership skills and talents to practice while gaining new insights from and developing a broader network with other experts in the field. Some of these initiatives involve teamwork, others involve independent contributions. Please read the descriptions below.

SHSMD is accepting volunteer requests to engage with us in a variety of initiatives. Please sign-up below for the opportunities that interest you the most and help us learn more about you. We will try to connect you with your preferred activity choice, but if it is not available, we will reach out to you with other opportunities. NOTE: Volunteers will be notified by March 2025 of any requested assignments.

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Volunteer Leadership Opportunities for 2025:

Conference Planning Committee
Conference Committee and Track Leader
Digital Engagement Volunteer
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Committee
Education and Editorial Advisory Board
Executive Strategies Task Force
Member Community Ambassador
Member Engagement Task Force
Micro-Volunteering
Recognition and Scholarships Committee

Conference Planning Committee (1st – 3rd Quarter 2025)

This committee supports the staff in the development and implementation of the education portion of the annual conference, SHSMD Connections and/or other virtual conferences. Committee members representing various disciplines comprise committee “tracks” and review all proposals received under their assigned area from the annual Call for Proposals. The goal is to make selections that deliver a first-class educational experience for members. Volunteers who have previously served on this committee may be selected to serve on the executive team or as track team leaders. Committee members attending the in-person conference may serve as session moderators and/or hosts for networking events.

If you are selected for this committee, we will assign you conference tracks that best align with your role and expertise. Tracks may include the following:

• Marketing
• Digital Engagement
• Communications and Public Relations
• Strategic Planning and Business Development
• Innovation and Cross-Disciplinary topics
• Other: Physician Strategies, Analytics, DEI, Population Health

This volunteer opportunity is recommended for:

• Team players who can commit to the rigorous schedule of this committee. There is a significant time commitment from February to May, which includes reviewing proposals by set deadlines, actively participating on conference calls, and spending time following up on proposals and speakers.
• Those who attended SHSMD Connections in the recent past and are planning to attend SHSMD Connections 2025, in Dallas, TX, October 12-15, 2025.

Conference Committee and Track Leader

This volunteer opportunity is recommended for members with:

• Strong industry knowledge as demonstrated by tenure in the industry and/or active national involvement in market trends
• Commitment to the volunteer role as demonstrated through past history of participation and verbal understanding of the obligations
• Team consensus-building attributes as demonstrated by position and/or past roles as a volunteer
• Willingness and ability to manage the multiple positions of the track and move the group to a place of agreement about the topics
• Ability to coordinate and lead multiple conference calls with your track team and provide deliverables to the Conference Executive Committee by set deadlines, participate in calls with the Conference Executive Committee, and represent team’s views during the final review process
• Interest in SHSMD’s success: While there are some personal goals that may be met through the networking in SHSMD, the leader must have the interest of SHSMD front and center and be a credible representative of the organization. This will be demonstrated by going the extra mile in creating the best possible educational event for the membership.
• Willingness to provide expertise throughout the year as needed.
• Previous attendance at SHSMD Connections and planning to attend SHSMD Connections 2025.

NOTE: A track leader’s organization cannot submit a proposal under that specific track.

Digital Engagement Volunteer

Support SHSMD’s strategic initiatives around digital engagement, contribute to new resources or test new approaches. 

Volunteer will either become part of the Conference Planning Committee under the Digital Engagement Track or they will be assigned to the Education Committee where they assist in planning digital-focused courses such as the social media series, our marketing or digital communications credential. 

Volunteers will also be asked to use their social media skills to promote conference and all education events.

This volunteer opportunity is recommended for:

• Those developing or implementing digital strategies in hospitals/health systems.
• Consultants providing hospitals/health systems with digital expertise.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Committee

This committee will promote, review the criteria, applications, and the selection of recipients for the SHSMD Student and Diversity Enrichment Program. This committee will also contribute to SHSMD’s initiatives to enrich its culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB), helping SHSMD DEIB within and for SHSMD members, the organization, and the field. This task force will review best practices and help implement new initiatives.

Including: 

DEIB Mentor Volunteers (Independent): These individuals will support SHSMD’s new DEIB mentorship program, helping to guide others through the process and serve as a mentor resource.

Commitment: Independent volunteer work and online meetings approximately 3 times per year, plus a final debrief call. Independent, detailed review of applications, scoring criteria and other materials between calls.

This volunteer opportunity is recommended for:

• Those with a passion for and with experience in implementing successful DEIB initiatives.
• Former DEIB Education Opportunity recipients.
• Members with a commitment to confidentiality.

Education and Editorial Advisory Board

This committee will review performance of SHSMD education and content offerings and make recommendations to enrich the society’s content portfolio, leveraging best practices in education and content delivery.

Select committee members will review selections for SHSMD Education Online Courses and related offerings to support member professional development and expansion of knowledge resources. Others will review content prior to member distribution, supporting SHSMD’s growing pool of resources. All committee members will contribute content ideas and work closely with SHSMD’s editorial and education staff. Members will also be asked to help audit courses and promote all online programs through their social media network.

This volunteer opportunity is recommended for:

• Members representing the different professional disciplines of SHSMD, with varying experiences and roles
• Professionals with strong content knowledge in health care strategic planning, business development, marketing, public relations, communications, and digital engagement
• Those with writing and/or editorial experience, including practical digital pieces such as case studies, tools/templates or guides, and/or blogs
• Industry thought leaders with connections to other expert information sources and contributors
• Members who have served as faculty or who possess experience in adult education and have a high interest and experience in education best practices
• Members with a strong overall knowledge of SHSMD publications, content, and educational offerings, including SHSMD Education online courses and webcasts, SHSMD’s Bridging Worlds and SHSMD ADVANCE™, and SHSMD Connections Annual Conference

Commitment: Quarterly conference calls, independent review of materials between meetings, and periodic independent review of courses and content materials.

Executive Strategies Task Force (Independent)

Provides key inputs to senior leader SHSMD programming, including recruiting participants and speakers or thought leaders. The task force helps facilitate senior executive engagement at conferences and online and contributes to the identification of key topics for the Futurescan publication.

Commitment: One kickoff call in Q1 plus several hours of independent volunteer time approximately 2-3 times in the first half of the year.

This volunteer opportunity is recommended for:

• Thought leaders and visionaries with a thorough understanding of transformative issues facing SHSMD members
• Executive-level members with leadership expertise in the strategy disciplines (strategic planning, business development, marketing, and communications)
• Those connected to industry thought leaders who might serve as guest speakers/panelists
• Members planning to attend SHSMD’s executive events

Member Community Ambassador (Independent)

As a Member Community Ambassador, you'll be the friendly face guiding fellow members through their questions. You'll dive into unanswered inquiries, research solutions, and connect members with the information they need.

What you'll do:

• Respond to member questions in a timely and informative manner
• Conduct research to find the most accurate and helpful answers
• If an answer isn't readily available, escalate the question to the appropriate expert
• Foster a positive and supportive community environment

This volunteer opportunity is recommended for:

• Members who enjoy helping others and have a strong sense of customer service
• A resourceful problem-solver with excellent research skills
• Members with a passion for clear and concise communication
• Those who thrive in a collaborative online environment

If you are interested in being a Member Community Ambassador or Micro-Volunteer fill out this survey.

Member Engagement Task Force

Task force members will welcome and engage members and work with staff to develop member initiatives and engagement ideas. Assist in planning the 2025 Annual Conference new member orientation (in-person and virtual). Support online member meet-ups and/or ignite MySHSMD discussions.

Commitment: Attend quarterly calls, some independent work between meetings, and attend SHSMD Connections 2025.

This volunteer opportunity is recommended for:

• Those with a strong overall knowledge of SHSMD offerings.
• Members who have an interest in helping new members navigate their membership.
• Those planning to attend the 2025 Annual Conference in Dallas, TX.

Micro-Volunteering (Independent)

Based on your background and interests, micro volunteering affords you the opportunity to be involved with SHSMD projects on a short-term basis. It may include activities like reviewing a new resource, helping plan a new event, leading or commenting on a discussion, or helping others learn.

Including:

• Beta Testers: As SHSMD and the AHA pilot new offerings, technologies, and programs, members’ perspectives will be critical. Volunteer beta testers may be called on throughout the year to help evaluate, test, and/or provide feedback, and even serve as an early adopter for others to follow.
• Member Mentor Volunteers (Independent): These individuals will support SHSMD’s mentorship program, helping to guide others through the process and serve as a mentor resource. Learn more here

Commitment for Beta Testers: A few hours of review time annually.

Commitment for Member Mentor Volunteers: Commitment to participate in outreach to mentees, promotion of the program.

Recognition and Scholarships Committee

Committee members participate in the review of criteria and applications and the selection of recipients for the SHSMD Rising Star Award and SHSMD Connections conference scholarship.

Commitment: Monthly or bimonthly calls between February and July, plus a final debrief call. Independent, detailed review of applications, reports, résumés, letters of recommendation, scoring criteria, and other materials between calls.

This volunteer opportunity is recommended for:

• Members with a strong overall knowledge of SHSMD offerings.
• Members representing the different professional disciplines of SHSMD, with varying degrees of experience and seniority.
• Those who have been SHSMD members for at least five years.
• Society members who have attended SHSMD Connections at least twice.
• Individuals with prior committee experience.
• Members with a commitment to confidentiality.
• Former SHSMD Rising Stars recipients.

Sign Up

Other volunteer opportunities may be announced throughout the year. We look forward to hearing from you!

Note: Volunteers sign a confidentiality agreement and may be asked to sign an intellectual property ownership agreement. SHSMD does not pay travel expenses for volunteer participation.