a member of the GHIMA Board of Directors, chair of the AHIMA
Nominating Committee, a member of the AHIMA House Operations Team, and provider of a clinical site for students. GHIMA
awarded Evans the Distinguished Member Award in 1996 and
2008, the Mentor Award in 2009, the Clinical Site Award in 2006,
and the Distinguished Service Award in 1998.
Patricia Pierson, RHIA, has worked tirelessly and used innovative methods to
achieve a true sense of community with her
remote adjunct faculty and distance education students. While a relatively new addition to the formal world of education, she
has had the opportunity to mentor others
in her previous role as an HIM director and
consultant. A former student stated, “Pat is always supportive,
cheerful, and kind. She is a great motivator. With her history in
the HIM profession, she also served as a wonderful mentor to
students in every way imaginable. The patience and encouragement she exhibited when I was a student were extraordinary. As
a result of her mentoring, I continue to mentor students in the
program who are seeking the RHIT credential.”
Kristi Stanton, RHIT, CCS, is an active
speaker in critical areas affecting the industry’s future with coding and revenue cycle
topics. She is the creator and facilitator of
“The Coder Coach,” a guide to professional
mentoring and networking groups, which
also offers a companion blog. Her support
extends beyond encouragement, and Stanton makes herself available for advice, career guidance, and
informational resources. A frequent speaker, her presentations
are inspiring, upbeat, and provide information and tools upon
which listeners can build.
Pioneer Award
William Lee Ford, MHA, RHIT, CPC, CPC-
H, CHC, has pioneered new relationships
for the successful implementation of ICD-
10. He saw the vital need to begin ICD- 10
education in every part of North Carolina
and jumped at the chance to serve on the
North Carolina Health Information and Communications Al-
liance’s ICD- 10 Task Force to advocate for HIM professionals
and their expertise of ICD- 10. Ford has implemented a system
that impacts the quality and safety of healthcare delivery across
multiple organizations within the state. He coordinated North
Carolina’s first ICD- 10 Summit in June 2010. Alliances were built
and support was demonstrated for a second ICD- 10 Summit in
August 2011, demonstrating that NCHIMA’s initiative to collab-
orate with other healthcare organizations throughout the state
was vital. Ford worked with Area Health Education Centers to
plan for ICD- 10 training and successfully planned four educa-
tional sessions scheduled for the remainder of 2011.
Student Award
The AHIMA Student
Advisory Council
(Sebrina Campbell,
pursuing BS in HIM
and MA in Health Administration, St. Louis
University; Elizabeth
Horn, double major in Biology, with Pre-Medical Concentration, and Health Services Administration, with concentration
on Health Informatics, Eastern Kentucky University; Delicia
Johnson, PAHM, HIT Program, Arapahoe Community College,
Englewood, CO; Roman Minyaylyuk, HIA Program, University
of Illinois-Chicago; and Alexandra Richards, pursuing BS in
HIM, Temple University) was formed in May and has already
made lasting contributions to the association. Major accomplishments include preparation of the agenda for the student
academy at the 2011 AHIMA Convention, shaping a student role
as part of the MyPHR campaign, contributing video and written
content for various resources, and helping to develop regional
student groups as a way for student members to have more local
volunteer opportunities for networking. ¢
Special Thanks to the 2011 AHIMA Triumph Awards Committee
CHAIR
Keith Olenik, MA, RHIA, CHP
MEMBERS
Tracy D’Errico, RHIA
Susan Hanson, MBA, RHIA, FAHIMA
Karen Lawler, MPS, RHIA
Desla Mancilla, MPA, RHIA, DHA
Catherine Porto, RHIA, CHP, CPEHR
Diane Premeau, MBA, RHIA, CHP
April Robertson, MPA, RHIA, CHPS, FAHIMA
Vera Rulon, MS, RHIT, CCS, FAHIMA
