January 30, 2026

Welcome to 2026: Looking Ahead Together

As we welcome the new year, HCEA looks forward to another year of growth, collaboration, and service to our members. A new year brings fresh opportunities to strengthen our professional community, advance our mission, and continue providing meaningful education, networking, and resources.

In 2026, we’re excited to build on the momentum of the past year while exploring new ideas and initiatives that support our members and the healthcare construction industry as a whole. From educational programs and events to long-term planning for future conferences, your engagement and involvement remain at the heart of everything we do.

Thank you for your continued support of HCEA. We look forward to working together in 2026 and making it a productive and successful year for our association.

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.

Meet the HCEA Board of Directors

HCEA is guided by a dedicated Board of Directors committed to advancing the mission of the association and supporting excellence in patient education. We are pleased to introduce the leaders who will be serving our organization and membership.

Executive Officers

• President: Leah A. Hazel

• President-Elect: Wayne Neal

• Secretary: Melissa Oliveras

• Treasurer: Heather Todd

Members-at-Large

• Shari Stanley

• Jennifer Fonseca

• Thomas Bauer

• Jessica Begley

• Melvin Smith

• Tiffany McCauley

• Rebecca Borjas

• Connie Feiler

The HCEA Board of Directors provides strategic leadership, governance, and oversight while working collaboratively with members to strengthen our professional community. We thank each board member for their time, expertise, and commitment to serving HCEA.

Help Shape HCEA's 2027 Conference

We’re excited to share that HCEA is beginning the planning process for our 2027 in-person conference! This is your opportunity to have a seat at the table and help shape an exceptional event for our members. If you're interested in participating in the planning process, sharing ideas, or contributing to the success of our conference, we'd love to hear from you. Please email info@hcea-info.org to get involved.

2025 Benchmarking Survey

Thank you to everyone who participated in HCEA’s bi-annual member survey. The survey is now officially closed, and we truly appreciate the time and insights shared by our members.

This survey helps HCEA better understand the current state of patient education within health care organizations and supports our ongoing commitment to sharing best practices across the field. The feedback collected provides valuable insight into the resources, strategies, and approaches used by patient education professionals, while also strengthening HCEA’s leadership role within the patient education community.

Our team is now actively reviewing and analyzing the survey data. We look forward to sharing key findings and insights with the membership in the coming months.

Thank you again for helping shape the future of patient education through your participation.

HCEA Member Spotlight: We Want to Feature You!

HCEA is proud to highlight the achievements, expertise, and stories of our members through our Member Spotlight feature.

We invite members to participate by sharing a brief profile about themselves, their business or role, and their involvement in the industry. This is a great opportunity to increase visibility, connect with fellow members, and showcase your contributions to HCEA.

If you’re interested in being featured, please submit:

• Your name and organization

• A short bio (100–150 words)

• A headshot photo

• Optional: a fun fact or professional tip

Submissions can be sent to info@hcea-info.org. Member Spotlights will be featured on a rotating basis in upcoming newsletters.

We look forward to spotlighting you!

What Would You Like to See from HCEA?

HCEA is committed to providing meaningful programs, resources, and opportunities that support our members and strengthen our industry. To help us continue to grow and improve, we want to hear from you.

What types of education, events, resources, or communications would you like to see from HCEA? Are there topics you’d like us to explore, speakers you’d recommend, or new ways we can better support you and your business?

Your feedback helps guide our planning and ensures HCEA remains responsive to the needs of our members.

Please share your ideas and suggestions by emailing info@hcea-info.org. We appreciate your input and look forward to shaping the future of HCEA together.

About HCEA

Health Care Education Association is a multi-disciplinary professional organization comprised of health care educators who are committed to improving healthcare outcomes through evidence-based education. We are educators from across the continuum of care. Our focus is geared toward patient, family and consumer health education, health literacy, patient engagement, patient-centered care and documentation.

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