Giving Thanks to the Forensic Nursing Science Section

I wish to express my deepest gratitude to all Forensic Nursing Science Section members and colleagues. Becoming the 12th AAFS discipline has brought us closer together and provided us with a rich environment to further the work of forensic nursing. Because of you, we have had a great year. Our section has 38 members and we added 26 members in 2023. In 2023, we had a strong Forensic Nursing Science Section Program with17 oral presentations and 4 poster presentations.

Two awards were presented:

• Virginia Lynch Nurse Innovator Award: Dr. Pat Speck
• Forensic Nurse Scientist Award: Dr. Julie Valentine

Answering the call from President Ken Williams for each discipline to submit to Justice Talks, section member Julie Valentine submitted in October: the reality of "what happens to sexual assault kits?" once they are submitted to the crime lab for processing; in reality, once a kit is received; no one tracked this information.

Several members extend their expertise beyond the section. Our Academy liaisons are:

• Mentorship Committee: Kris Karcher, Liaison
• AAFS Connect Committee — Carrie Edwards, Representative
• Interdisciplinary Session — Jessica Volz, Chair 
• Diversity Outreach Committee — Sylvia Perez
• International Affairs Committee — Virginia Lynch

We received three donations last year:

Vendor Support Received: GER911; Amanda Sozar; SNA International

As we approach Thanksgiving, please take this time to thank your family and colleagues for their support throughout the year.

See  you in Denver!