Recognition

Fellowship Program

The Fellowship program is a program of earned recognition for AHIMA members who made significant and sustained contributions to the profession. Individuals who earn fellowship may use the designation Fellow of the American Health Information Management Association (FAHIMA), and their names will be maintained in the AHIMA Registry of Fellows.

The purpose of the Fellowship program is to:

  • Recognize significant and sustained contribution to advancement of the Health Information Management (HIM) discipline through meritorious service, excellence in professional practice, excellence in HIM education, and advancement of the profession through innovation and knowledge sharing.
  • Provide an incentive for members to contribute to the advancement of the profession.
  • Bring together senior HIM professionals as an organizational resource for continued promotion and development of the profession through a variety of activities.

The Fellowship program has two designations: Fellowship and Candidacy for Fellowship.

View the list of AHIMA Fellows

Fellowship Eligibility

Fellowship is open to any individual who is an Active, Premier, Honorary, Emeritus, or Global/Outside US (oUS) member of AHIMA, and who meets the following eligibility requirements:

  • Minimum of 10 years full-time professional experience in HIM or related field.
  • Minimum of 10 years continuous AHIMA membership at time of application (not including years as a student member).
  • Minimum of master's degree.
  • CCHIIM credential designation in good standing.
  • Evidence of sustained and substantial professional achievement that demonstrates professional growth and use of innovative and creative solutions.

Once conferred, the fellow status is a lifetime recognition, subject to continuing AHIMA membership and compliance with the AHIMA Code of Ethics.

Candidacy for Fellowship Designation

Candidacy serves as a preparatory period for those individuals whose portfolio does not meet the criteria for fellowship but who want an opportunity to formalize lifelong learning and development plans. Admission to candidacy does not automatically result in the conferment of fellowship.

Candidacy is open to any individual who is an Active, Premier, Honorary, Emeritus, or Global/Outside US (oUS) member of AHIMA, and who meets the following eligibility requirements:

  • Minimum of five years full-time professional experience in HIM or related field.
  • Minimum of five years continuous AHIMA membership at time of application (not including years as a student member).
  • Minimum of master's degree.
  • CCHIIM credential designation in good standing.
  • Beginning evidence toward significant contributions to the advancement of the HIM field.

The normal candidacy period is one to five years, depending upon individual background. A candidate can apply for fellowship status at any time. An individual may remain in candidacy status with one renewal period to extend candidacy to a total of five years.

Fellowship Application

Application and Review Process

The AHIMA Fellowship Committee meets quarterly. All applications must be submitted online (letters of recommendation may be uploaded into the online application in Word or PDF format).  Applications will be reviewed and notifications sent within four weeks of the submission deadline.

2019 Submission Deadlines

  • Friday, February 22, 2019
  • Friday, May 24, 2019
  • Friday, August 16, 2019
  • Friday, November 15, 2019

2020 Submission Deadlines
  • Friday, February 21, 2020
  • Friday, May 22, 2020
  • Friday, August 21, 2020
  • Friday, November 13, 2020

Below are the steps for completing the Fellowship application:

Step 1

Fellowship Eligibility Tracking Tool
This is a tracking tool to assist you in determining your eligibility for candidacy or Fellowship status. Please use this document to begin gathering and tracking your application information prior to your final application submission.

Step 2

Once you are ready to input your final information into the Fellowship application, please contact volunteer.services@ahima.org to request a unique application link.
Please remember to retain a copy of all information for your application and all other materials for your records. Your application will not be returned to you following review by the Committee.

Step 3

Submit your application and then you will be directed to the AHIMA web store for payment.

Application Fee

There is a one time application fee of $250 for either candidacy or fellowship status. Payment may be made by check or credit card. Applicants who achieve candidacy status, or who are not initially accepted to fellowship status, have up to five years to resubmit their application and to achieve fellowship status. One resubmission during that five year period will be accepted. If Fellowship status has not been achieved following resubmission or five years (whichever occurs first), an additional application fee must be paid for further resubmissions

(Application fees are nonrefundable.)

Procedures for Determining Years of Work for the Fellowship Application

Sample CV




Hospital Sisters Health System - Eastern Wisconsin Division Awarded as the
2019 Grace Award Recipient

AHIMA is pleased to announce that the 2019 Grace Award is being awarded to Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) - Eastern Wisconsin Division. The eastern Wisconsin division of HSHS includes St. Clare Memorial Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center, St. Nicholas Hospital, and St. Vincent Hospital.

AHIMA founder, Grace Whiting Myers, left a legacy of high standards, determination, and teamwork for our profession and for the entire healthcare community. The Grace Award recognizes an outstanding organization’s journey toward new and innovative HIM practices that deliver better patient outcomes.

The 2019 winner will be honored onstage at the AHIMA19 Health Data and Information Conference, September 14-18 in Chicago, IL.

AHIMA also recognizes Hennepin Healthcare with an honorable mention.

Past Grace Award Honorees

Triumph awards

Celebrating the Remarkable Contributions of HIM Professionals from Around the Globe

Sponsored by 

Award Categories: Descriptions, Qualifications, and Guidelines

Previous Triumph Award recipients

The 2019 process is now closed.

Application for the 2020 AHIMA Triumph Award

Applications for 2020 nominations are due by June 1, 2020.


2018 AHIMA Triumph Award Recipients.

2019 AHIMA Triumph Award Recipients

Distinguished Member Award: 

Cassi L. Birnbaum, MS, RHIA, CPHQ, FAHIMA

Advocacy Award:

Ohio Health Information Management Association (OHIMA)

Educator Award:

Marquetta M. Massey, MBA, RHIA

Emerging Leader Award:

Kenneth H. Lugo Morales, MS, RHIA

Innovation Award:

Patricia S. Coffey, RHIA, CPHIMS, CPHI

Leadership Award:

Chrisann K. Lemery, MSE, RHIA, CHPS, FAHIMA

Mentor Award: 

Tressa A. Lyon, RHIT

Rising Star Award:

Laura A. Shue, MPA, CHDA, CPHIMS

General Guidance: Identifying Persons to Nominate for AHIMA Triumph Awards

Potential sources for nominees include the following: State Leaders, Fellows, and other HIM professionals who have distinguished themselves as leaders.

Nominations Guidelines

All nominations must be submitted using the 2020 AHIMA Triumph Awards application, completed in its entirety. Nominations must follow the nomination guidelines and must include the supporting materials listed below. Nominations for the 2020 Triumph Award nominations are due by June 1, 2020.

Individuals who have previously won a particular award are not eligible to win that award again, even if it has been reformatted. They may, however, be nominated for a different award. The Nominator is responsible for assuring that all required documentation is collected for the nominee. Incomplete submissions may adversely impact the committee's ability to adequately and fully evaluate a nominee.

The AHIMA Triumph Awards Committee will review all nominations for determination of award issuance. If none of the nominees for a particular award reflect the level of achievement expected of an award recipient, the committee reserves the right to recommend that the award not be presented.

Members of the AHIMA Triumph Awards Committee, the AHIMA Board of Directors, and AHIMA staff are not eligible for awards during their term of service, even if the service for which they would be nominated occurred prior to their term of service or employment.

All nomination materials become the property of AHIMA. Materials cannot be returned.

AHIMA strives to reflect in its membership and leadership the diversity within the United States, including race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, special needs and other diverse populations. AHIMA encourages the celebration of promotion of diversity through education mentoring, recognition, leadership and other programs.

Nominations & Awards

Nominations for 2019 are now closed.  Nominations for the 2020 AHIMA Triumph Awards are due by June 1, 2020, for recognition in 11 award categories (See Award Categories: Descriptions, Qualifications, and Guidelines). Nominees must be AHIMA members or corporate sponsors (see nomination guidelines for rules and exceptions)  Nominations are only acceptable via the online application.  No exceptions.

Application for AHIMA Triumph Award

AHIMA Triumph Awards Presentation 2019

AHIMA Triumph Award recipients will be notified on or before August 2019; and presented with the awards at the 2019 AHIMA Health Data and Information Conference in Chicago, IL. While not mandatory, all recipients are encouraged to be present or to designate an individual to accept the award on their behalf.  Award recipients will be featured in the Journal of AHIMA and on the AHIMA website in the AHIMA Triumph Awards section. In addition, AHIMA will provide all awardees with a press release for distribution to recipient’s local media outlets.

2019 AHIMA Triumph Awards Committee Members

We wish to thank the 2019 AHIMA Triumph Awards Committee for their dedication and hard work.

Chair
Renae L. Spohn, MBA, RHIA, CPHQ, CPHI, FNAHQ, FAHIMA

Members
Marie T. Conde, MPA, RHIA, CCS, FAHIMA
Theresa A. Eichelmann, MBA, RHIA
Diana M. Flood, MS, RHIA
Marques Edgar Grant, RHIA
Varadraj Prabhu Gurupur, PhD, MS, RHIA
Megan A. McDougal, MS, RHIA, CHTS-IM
Grissel Pabon, MS, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P
Isabel Quintana, MA, RHIA, CCA

To find out more about the AHIMA Triumph Awards, please visit our Web site. Nominations for 2020 awards are due by June 1, 2020.