Image Description: 2022 ILOTA Annual Conference Committee members (from left to right: Veronica Fowler, Evguenia Popova, Linda Riccio, George Buckley, Beverly Menninger, Phyllis Hughes, and Rolando Jara. Also pictured are the two Platinum Sponsor logos, Midwestern University and Vivistim.

Fall is a season of change, learning, and reflection. In the occupational therapy community, the transition from summer to fall marks the start of the school year and the conference season. This year, the Conference Planning Committee has been tasked to envision a conference that would foster growth and community. Throughout the discussion, committee members reflected on the "art and science" of occupational therapy practice, the importance of celebrating and appreciating our achievements, and the opportunities ahead. The committee agreed that as we look into the future of occupational therapy, it is critical to move beyond resilience and consider how we can help one another thrive and evolve amidst uncertainty. The 2022 Illinois Occupational Therapy Association (ILOTA) Annual Conference theme emerged: "The Art of Reflecting, Thriving, and Evolving Together."

In reflecting upon "the art of reflecting, thriving, and evolving together," Linda Riccio (Conference Coordinator) shared, "what it means to me - is inspiration, re-invigorating ourselves at this point in the pandemic (and all that we have been through) with the help of our occupational therapy peers and colleagues." As a committee, we envisioned the 2022 ILOTA Annual Conference providing time and space for occupational therapy practitioners, educators, and students to reflect on their accomplishments and vision for the future. The conference team wanted to ensure that evolution began from within as they reconsidered the format for the conference. In reflecting on lessons learned, the committee aimed to maintain the best elements of past conferences. The discussion led to a decision to design a new hybrid conference that capitalizes upon the: