This year’s AONN+ Midyear Conference proved that even virtual meetings can be fulfilling!
Over the course of the 3-day event, nearly 350 navigators, social workers, and other oncology professionals from around the globe tuned in to learn, collaborate, and gain inspiration from respected peers and thought leaders.
Empowering the Navigation Community
With the healthcare landscape evolving rapidly, the 2025 Midyear Conference emphasized the importance of adaptability, evidence-based practice, and patient-centered care.
Through 9 general sessions, attendees gained valuable insight on a range of timely topics, from building a case for navigation and program reimbursement to addressing financial toxicity, supporting patients, preserving reproductive health, and navigating in diverse settings and countries.
Product theaters, presented by industry partners, ensured that participants were informed about the latest therapies and treatments across a variety of cancers.
Those seeking additional in-depth learning were invited to explore any of the 3 on-demand breakout sessions.
Be sure to follow AONN+ on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram for more recaps from the 2025 Midyear Conference. And remember, session recordings are available to all registered attendees through May 2026 via the Behavior Live platform!
A Vision for the Future
A highlight of the conference was Friday afternoon’s AONN+ update featuring Executive Director Candice Roth, MSN, RN, CENP, who took the “stage” to update members on Academy business, reflect on her work over the past year, and share some personal insights about AONN+ and our members.
“Your commitment is just something that is uncanny, something that cannot be reproduced,” she said. “And I think it not only is inspiring, but it's also challenged me in meaningful ways to make sure that I am doing what I need to do to meet you and what you need from me and this organization.”
Session moderator and AONN+ Leadership Council member, Mark Liu, then welcomed new Board of Trustees President. Rani Khetarpal, MBA.
Together, Rani and Candice spent the next hour outlining their plans for AONN+, emphasizing a return to our roots and reaffirming our identity as the member-driven organization that co-founder Lilly Shockney envisioned. This idea—that every member plays a vital role in the Academy—was captured in the reintroduction of the long-standing slogan, I Am AONN+, which sparked enthusiastic responses and calls for new AONN+ swag (stay tuned for more on this)!
The duo discussed the growth and increasing recognition of navigation, acknowledged current challenges brought about by factors out of our control, and addressed the influx of external organizations entering the navigation space. They emphasized the need for AONN+ to reestablish itself as the professional home for navigators worldwide.
Candice and Rani also highlighted the wealth of resources available to members through the website, conferences, and other year-round activities. Addressing concerns around certification, they pledged their commitment to securing accreditation for AONN+ exams as quickly as possible.
To help members maximize their benefits, they invited everyone to attend a mid-June webinar focused on making the most of AONN+ membership. Additional details will be available soon.
In a call for greater transparency and member-involvement to grow the organization, Candice and Rani announced that AONN+ is actively seeking individuals to serve in leadership roles and participate in national committees. Anyone who is interested in learning more about these opportunities can reach out to them directly at
Recognizing the importance of member input, and the need to support all forms of navigation, they also shared plans to launch a new platform for submitting feedback and ideas. This will be available in the coming weeks.
Looking Ahead
Closing the session, Rani encouraged members to attend the AONN+ Annual Navigation & Survivorship Conference taking place November 6-9, 2025, in New Orleans.
“We are in the midst of changing AONN+ for the better,” she said. “And so between now and Annual, we're going to be working on a whole lot of things. If you have the ability and are able to attend Annual, I would highly encourage it. I think you're going to find we're going to be bigger, we're going to be better, we're going to be energized, and we want you all to be a part of it.”
