Start the year off right by maximizing your member benefits: whether you are an occupational and environmental health and safety student, new to the field, a seasoned professional, or retired, the best way to optimize your professional growth is to make the most of your membership. Here are some essential resources and opportunities to take advantage of in the coming year.

1. Build Community with Catalyst

Catalyst is the virtual hub of the AIHA community. By announcing upcoming events, hosting discussions on the members-only open forum, and providing access to your member dashboard and other online tools, Catalyst is a tremendous resource available to help AIHA members stay connected. The online community provides opportunities to gain visibility among your OEHS peers, learn and engage through discussion posts, and take part in online communities for research and volunteer efforts. Get started by signing in, creating your profile, and posting your first message.

2. Join the AIHA Mentoring Program

Mentoring allows you to support the future of OEHS by assisting in the development and professional growth of student and early career professional members. Participating as a mentor may also help you improve your communication, leadership, and management skills and enhance your knowledge of OEHS subjects.

Through the mentoring program, students and early career professionals match with seasoned and experienced OEHS mentors who assist them with preparing for interviews, developing career goals, hosting presentations, and building other professional skills. Mentor-mentee relationships can also bolster your networking circle and help foster leadership skills necessary for today’s workforce. The new Qooper online platform supports one-step enrollment, algorithm-based matching, mobile accessibility, calendar syncing, and online chat and video call capabilities.

As January is National Mentoring Month, now is an excellent time to find or become a mentor!

3. Participate in AIHce EXP

A great opportunity for OEHS professionals to network, attend education sessions, and earn CIH certification maintenance (CM) points is by participating in AIHce EXP. The 2022 conference can be attended either virtually or in-person at the Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to educational programming, the conference is a chance to meet colleagues and OEHS industry experts, attend the CareerAdvantage Fair, and participate in the American Industrial Hygiene Foundation (AIHF) Fun Run.

If you haven’t been to AIHce EXP before, you can join the Personal AIHce EXP Liaison (PAL) Program, which pairs first-time participants with experienced AIHce EXP attendees for a memorable and fulfilling conference experience.

Take advantage of your membership discount and register today for AIHce EXP 2022.

4. Join a Volunteer Group

2022 may be the year that you join one or more of AIHA’s nearly 60 volunteer groups. Including technical, special interest, and working groups, these communities are vital to helping AIHA achieve its mission and vision. Approximately 2,500 AIHA members, ranging from students to retired professionals, volunteer their expertise by creating educational material, developing guidelines for good OEHS practice, drafting statements to contribute to public policy debates, collaborating with allied organizations, and participating in other activities. Joining a volunteer group can help you develop your leadership skills, network, find a platform for your research, earn CM points, and help sustain and develop healthier workplaces.

In addition to the benefits and opportunities listed, AIHA membership also comes with access to award-winning publications, including The Synergist and the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, discounted publications, and AIHA University courses.

Make the most of your membership and get involved today!