II'm not a new hire, but I am new to this page. It's been a long and rewarding journey from joining OSM as an associate editor 17 years ago to being named its editor-in-chief last month. I remember working on my first assignment from a makeshift cubicle in the magazine's former office, a cramped wood-paneled space in a strip mall above a pizza shop. That's where I learned about writing to deadlines and received advice I follow to this day: Call Ann.

She knows everything.

Ann is Ann Geier, MS, RN, CNOR, chief nursing officer at Surgical Information Systems. You probably know her from the pages of this magazine or perhaps you've seen her tell-it-like-it-is presentations at national conferences. Ann was the first person I interviewed. The specifics of the conversation escape me, but I do recall stopping her mid-sentence when she glossed over something about a Mayo stand.

"Wait, what's that?" I asked. Now this was a nugget I could share with readers.

"It's a small instrument stand placed next to the OR table," she replied with plenty of patience and, if I'm being honest, a touch of pity.

"Interesting," I answered, my excitement building. "Tell me more." We editors pride ourselves on digging for the details that matter most to you.

Ann paused for a beat.

"There's not much more to it."

I've since learned to ask more informed questions and can confidently explain the difference between Mayo stands, Mayo scissors and the Mayo Clinic.

Now, my inbox fills up faster and the days (and most nights) are longer. Although leaving my comfort zone is a bit challenging, I'm eager to take this next step. Perhaps you felt the same way when you advanced from frontline nurse to facility leader.

Do you remember how you handled the promotion? I bet you rolled up your sleeves, got to work and relied on what made you successful. You thought about the mentors who gave you a chance, tapped into the lessons of your own experiences and moved forward with a new vision.

And you might've been lucky enough to have had an Ann to call.

I reached out to mine a few days after being put in charge of the magazine's editorial direction. Ann knows everything, after all, especially when it comes to offering leadership advice. The hardest working woman in surgery answered her cell on the second ring from an Atlanta hotel room.

"How are you? How are the kids?" It's how every phone call starts between us.

Doing great, I said. Just trying to get settled.

Ann said I can do anything, but not everything. She told me to lean on my team of talented editors, to stay true to myself and find a few quiet moments each day to reset and recharge.

And then she paused for a beat.

"There's not much more to it."

I know there will be a lot to learn in the months ahead. Just like my first days on the job, I'll keep digging to fill our pages with fresh ideas, relevant insights and expert advice you can use to become more informed decision makers and skilled leaders. OSM