My first AABB Annual Meeting was a virtual one—in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2023 AABB Annual Meeting in Nashville was the first in-person meeting I was able to attend. As a first-time trainee, it felt intimidating—crowds of people in my field I did not know, being within a few inches of world-renowned experts, leaving some talks with both amazement and some confusion (so what did they do to the mice, knocked out what?!), and doubting if I would ever be ready to become one of them. Luckily this feeling did not last long. The following year, there were more familiar faces at the Annual Meeting, and thanks to being selected as an AABB social media champion, I felt more at ease around people I did not know.
Being a social media champion was not just about a few posts here and there; it was a journey. A new perspective to understanding what AABB meant to each one of us and what it offered. Working with AABB staff was one thing; appreciating their hard work and getting a peek at what is ahead was another! A very pleasant part of the journey was making completely new friends from different backgrounds. It was not just me hanging out with another friend from residency anymore; it introduced me to new people with unparalleled experiences. Our social media group of 8-10 people had immunohematology experts, physicians practicing at private and academic institutions, and fellow AABB members from far-away countries. A sprinkle of every kind to reflect the true AABB community. Celebrating how far we had come felt like true success.
And finally, I secretly enjoyed showing off as a social media champion. It allowed me to be more outgoing, to ask for a selfie with any random person, to go beyond my bubble. I was part of this huge movement, serving the goal of expanding our community to collaborate and provide better care supported by high-certainty evidence. I congratulate myself for saying “yes” to becoming a champion; it was truly a rewarding experience!