Plenary Session 4 | Presidential Address

In an era where digital convenience often replaces personal connection, we risk losing something essential—true engagement. In this presidential address, we’ll explore the critical role that engagement plays in sustaining our identity as therapists, advancing our profession, and strengthening our organizational community. We’ll examine the growing disconnect in today’s online-first world, where face-to-face interactions, mentorship, and hands-on collaboration are often undervalued or overlooked. This loss is not only impacting our professional relationships, but also the therapeutic alliance we build with patients—an alliance rooted in presence, communication, and trust. Drawing from personal experiences and a career shaped by meaningful connection, I will share how every pivotal opportunity in my journey was sparked by intentional engagement. Together, we’ll reflect on the importance of evaluating the quality—not just the quantity—of our educational and professional opportunities, and how we can foster a culture of connection among students, early career professionals, and ourselves. This is a call to re-engage—with purpose, with people, and with the profession we love.