AHIMA Triumph Awards

AHIMA has a long and cherished tradition of honoring the excellence, dedication, and service of professionals whose steadfast efforts have improve and advance the health information management field. The Triumph Awards honor leadership in the HIM field, reward contributions that build our knowledge base, recognize excellence in preparing future HIM professionals, and encourage fresh talent and new leadership.

Make your nominations now! Show your appreciation for the outstanding contributions of a remarkable HIM professional. Simply review details of the Award Categories, Nomination Guidelines, and complete the Nomination Form.

Nominations for the 2010 Triumph Awards are now closed.

Nominations for the 2011 Triumph Awards are now being accepted. Please click on the nomination form link above.

The 2010 Awards will be presented at the AHIMA National Convention and Exhibit in Orlando, Florida, in September 2010.

The Triumph Awards are sponsored in part by:

For questions regarding Triumph Awards, please contact Volunteer.services@ahima.org

Nomination Guidelines

Awards
Categories

2009 Triumph
Award Winners

Previous Triumph
Award Winners

Triumph Awards Presentation

Triumph Awards Presentation

Nominations Guidelines

All nominations must be submitted using the Triumph Awards Nomination Form, completed in its entirety. Nominations must follow the nomination guidelines and must include the supporting materials listed below. The 2010 nominations process is now closed. Nominations for the 2011 Triumph Award nominations are due by June 1, 2011.

With the exception of the Champion and e-HIM® Awards, nominees must be AHIMA members or corporate partners.

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 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 Triumph Awards Committee, the AHIMA Board of Directors, the AHIMA Foundation 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.

General Guidance: Identifying Persons to Nominate for Triumph Awards

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

Award Categories

The Triumph Awards recognize excellence in the following areas:

Distinguished Member
Champion
Community Outreach
e-HIM®
Educator
Legacy
Mentor
Pioneer
Research
Rising Star

Distinguished Member Award

Award Description
The Distinguished Member Award is AHIMA’s highest award of honor. This award celebrates an individual with a long, exceptional history of HIM contributions. It is awarded to an outstanding individual whose record of contributions to the field over many years is truly exceptional.

Qualifications
Qualified individuals are HIM professionals who have made significant contributions to the HIM field through dedicated volunteer service, innovative professional practice, education, research, or publishing. These are just a few of the ways an individual qualifies.

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

Guidelines
Nomination criteria for this award include the following:

§ Volunteer service as an officer, director, committee or council chair or member, task force chair or member, special project director, CoP Facilitator, or representative of the HIM field at government hearings for AHIMA or other national healthcare associations

§ Significant original research or authorship, editing, or service on editorial board for journals, books, monographs, and other publications that advance the HIM profession

§ Advancement of professional practice through development of new theory; active dissemination of knowledge about cutting-edge practice innovations, or leadership in a specialty area

§ Regular presenter at HIM conferences and other educational events; respected instructor in academic HIM programs; or developer of groundbreaking teaching strategies

Champion Award

Award Description
The Champion Award honors those whose long-term and enthusiastic support of AHIMA and the HIM profession has advanced AHIMA’s capacity to achieve its mission and/or advanced HIM practice.

Qualifications
Qualified nominees are individuals, groups, or corporations who have worked tirelessly to support the HIM profession by advancing AHIMA’s leadership position and/or who have developed or refined practice theory, demonstrated leadership, or introduced innovation and creativity to current practice. These are best characterized as individuals or organizations that go above and beyond in their quest to make the HIM profession thrive.

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

Guidelines
Nomination criteria for this award include the following:

§ Advancing legislative initiatives that promote the interests of the HIM profession

§ Serving the needs of AHIMA members through advocacy of patient rights and confidentiality; educating the public regarding health information, or support and promotion of professional practice standards

§ Positioning the HIM profession as a leadership force in the healthcare industry

§ Introduction of creative practice innovations through advances in technology, development of more effective quality management measures, or new methods of promoting employee motivation and job satisfaction

§ Demonstrated leadership in HIM education

§ Employing HIM practice in alternate careers not limited to the healthcare industry

§ Providing inspiration, guidance, and opportunities for emerging leaders to participate in AHIMA's volunteer structure and to build meaningful leadership experiences

§ Significant support of key AHIMA initiatives

Community Outreach Award

Award Description
The Community Outreach Award honors those HIM professionals or groups who have embraced the need for public outreach and encouraged the overall management of health information. The nominee should have provided information on HIM topics to the public (e.g., medical identity theft, HIPAA, and privacy/confidentiality. Activities should include presentations, development of toolkits, innovative programs, and other forms of outreach focused on empowering consumers to be proactive participants in their healthcare using health information.

Qualifications
HIM professionals or groups who exemplify vision and compassionate leadership in promoting consumer health awareness and advocacy through dedicated volunteer service, innovative outreach and a spirit of collaboration and teamwork.

Guidelines
Required nomination criteria for this award include the following:

§ Presentations to community groups in a variety of settings

§ Development and/or participation in health campaigns with a focus on HIM roles

§ Employing social networking tools to increase community awareness (using technologies such as blogs, Facebook, YouTube, etc.)

§ Promoting PHRs and other tools in community forums

§ A record of motivating other HIM professionals to develop and deliver consumer outreach programs to promote community health awareness either in their work setting or in the community at large

§ Encouraging professionals in other fields (e.g. public health departments, patient education coordinators, patient information resource coordinators, librarians) to partner with HIM professionals to present information about consumer health and other HIM topics (e.g., Individuals who have played a strong role in the Community Education Coordinator (CEC) program for the PHR campaign).

§ Groups or individuals who have obtained funding to promote community education

§ Educating the public on the roles of HIM professionals

§ Advocacy through contacting local, state, and federal representatives to communicate messages regarding the importance of consumer empowerment in health information

e-HIM® Award

Award Description
The e-HIM Award honors those individuals, groups, or organizations who have made important advances in areas related to e-HIM® - supporting the vision of health information as electronic, patient-centered, comprehensive, longitudinal, accessible and credible.

Qualifications
Qualified individuals are HIM professionals or organizations who have helped “push the envelope” in the transition to electronic health information management and have advanced the state-of-the-art through their work.

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

Guidelines
Nomination criteria for this award include the following:

§ Participating in setting facility-wide standards

§ Implementing e-HIM®systems that impact the quality and safety of the delivery of healthcare within an organization

§ Performing systems analysis to develop or design e-HIM® systems

Educator Award

Award Description
The Educator Award honors those who demonstrate excellence in preparing the next generation of professionals for their HIM careers.

Qualifications
Qualified individuals or departments of educators/instructors who teach in a formal health information administration or health information technology program that grants associate, baccalaureate or masters degrees, and who are involved in AHIMA activities at the state or national level.

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

Guidelines
Nomination criteria for this award include the following:

§ Development and implementation of creative teaching tools and methods

§ High standards of excellence and high expectations of students

§ Awareness of the instructor’s impact as a role model

§ Commitment to student mentoring in the classroom and beyond

§ Outstanding contributions to the research base of the field

Legacy Award

Award Description
The Legacy Award honors a significant contribution to the knowledge base of the HIM field through an insightful recent publication, building on the enduring tradition of the Edna K. Huffman Literary Award.

Qualifications
Qualified individuals or "teams" are those who have authored a landmark book, book chapter, article, monograph, or instructional guide that was published in some form (including electronic media) by a recognized professional association or publisher within the last two years.

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

Guidelines
Nomination criteria for this award include the following:

§ Presenting new theoretical concepts or further development of concepts previously advanced by others

§ Detailing hands-on practice techniques that are ready for implementation

§ Providing tools to educate health information professionals or the general public

Mentor Award

Award Description
The Mentor Award honors individuals with long records of encouraging students or colleagues to realize their full potential who have helped others find ways to achieve their best.

Qualifications
Qualified individuals or "teams" are those rare professional colleagues and friends who touch our lives and launch us toward new horizons. Posthumous awards may be given.

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

Guidelines
Nomination criteria for this award include the following:

§ A record of motivating talented young people to enter the HIM profession

§ Providing ongoing, long-term career guidance to one or more HIM professionals.

§ Encouraging young professionals to become involved in AHIMA activities at the state and local level and supporting their efforts.

§ Fostering enthusiasm for the profession

§ Willingness to provide clinical sites and supervision for multiple students designed to help them achieve exemplary HIM competencies

§ Support of the training process for new professionals through teaching, serving on panels or advisory committees, and advising individual students

§ Serve as a mentor who guides students to new opportunities and fosters their enthusiasm for the profession

Pioneer Award

Award Description
The Pioneer Award honors those individuals, groups or organizations who are focused on moving HIM into the future of the healthcare industry. The Pioneer Award honors persons or groups who have promoted important advances in areas related to HIM in supporting the vision of e-HIM®, standards development, patient safety, systems development, and any domain where visionary thinking has made a difference. These members demonstrate their ability to provide insight into the future for HIM practice and whose activities takes HIM to places it hasn't been before.

Qualifications
Qualified nominees are individuals who have utilized breakthrough thinking and actions for HIM that has demonstrated the future of the profession.

Guidelines
Nomination criteria for this award include the following:

§ The introduction of creative practice innovations through advances in technology;

§ A demonstrated ability of a forward thinking leader in the healthcare industry

§ Implementing systems that impact the quality and safety of the delivery of healthcare within an organization, across multiple organizations or states

§ Participating in standards development to move HIM implementation to a new level

§ Demonstrated activities that have opened the door for others to make advances in HIM practice

Research Award

Award Description
The Research Award honors those who have made an outstanding contribution to HIM research.

Qualifications
HIM professionals or groups who exemplify unusual vision and leadership in understanding HIM philosophy and conduct, or support research demonstrating the application of these concepts to healthcare.

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

Guidelines
Nomination criteria for this award include the following:

§ Conducting research of high merit, which significantly contributes to HIM theory or practice

§ Developing institutional research capabilities

§ Developing programs to train researchers for the profession

§ Serving as mentor to new researchers

Rising Star Award

Award Description
The Rising Star Award recognizes and encourages the best of the fresh new talent being trained in health information administration or health information technology degree granting-program nationwide. It honors a gifted student or promising new professional who embodies great hope as we look to the future of the HIM profession.

Qualifications
Qualified individuals are a) students enrolled at the time of nomination in an approved HIA or HIT degree program, or who have graduated in the last three months; or b) HIM professionals who have been credentialed within the last seven years. Nominees must demonstrate significant potential for future leadership, innovation, creativity, and administrative capacity.

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

Guidelines
Nomination criteria for this award include the following:

§ Willingness to change tradition, take risks, think critically and to lead others in these processes

§ Exceptional problem-solving ability with the capacity to envision the “big picture” in health information management and to make decisions accordingly

§ Demonstrates excellence in the management of personnel, finances, or information systems

§ Demonstrates commitment to the HIM profession through active participation in local, state, and national AHIMA activities-especially those that promote HIM education

Distinguished Member Award

2008 - Barbara P. Fuller, JD, RHIA, FAHIMA
2007 - Leslie Ann Fox, MA, RHIA, FAHIMA

2006 - Susan P. Hanson, MBA, RHIA, FAHIMA

2005 - Not Awarded

2004 - Gretchen Murphy, MEd, RHIA

2003 - Margaret M. Stewart, RHIA

2002 - Ellen S. MacDonald, MPH, RHIA, CCS

2001 - Kathleen A. Frawley, JD, MS, RHIA

2000 - Jean Clark, RHIA
1999 - Jennifer I. Cofer, RHIA
1998 - Shirley Eichenwald Maki, MBA, RHIA
1997 - Rose T. Dunn, MBA, RHIA, FACHE
1996 - Linda H. Culp, MBA, RHIA
1995 - Elaine O. Patrikas, MA, RHIA
1994 - Rita M. Finnegan, MA, RHIA, CCS

Champion Award

2008 - Merida L. Johns, PhD, RHIA
2007 - Gloryanne H. Bryant, RHIA, CCS

2006 - Melanie S. Brodnik, PhD, RHIA

2005 - Cassandra Bissen, MS, RHIA, FHIMSS

2004 - Carol Lewis, MPH, RHIA

2002 - 3M Health Information Systems

2000 - Ruby Nicholoson, RHIT

1999 - Leopold G. Selker, PhD
1998 - Carlton M. Cottrell
1998 - Margaret A. Schmidt, RHIA
1997 - Lanier Healthcare
1996 - Not Awarded
1995 - Sue Meads, RHIA
1994 - Donna Ganzer, MBA

Volunteer Award
2003 - Mary Mike Pavoni, MS, RHIA, FAHIMA

2002 - Leslie Ann Fox, MA, RHIA

2001 - Carmilla "Kelli" Marsh, RHIA

2000 - Viola Griffin, RHIT, CPHQ
1999 - Jeri G. Whitworth, RHIA
1998 - Jean S. Clark, RHIA
1997 - Lou Ann Schraffenberger, MBA, RHIA, CCS

Discovery Award

2002 - Susan R. Rydman, RHIT

2001 - Cheryl A. Gegg, RHIA, CCS-P

2000 - Not Awarded
1999 - Not Awarded
1998 Lorraine M. Fernandes, RHIT

Legacy Award

2008 - Rose T. Dunn, MBA, RHIA, CPA, CHPS, FAHIMA and
Lou Ann Schraffenberger, MBA, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, FAHIMA
2007 - Anne B. Casto, RHIA, CCS and Elizabeth J. Layman, PhD, RHIA, FAHIMA

2006 -Not Awarded

2005 - Not Awarded

2004 - Kathleen LaTour, MA, RHIA, FAHIMA (MN) and Shirley Eichenwald Maki, MBA, RHIA, CPHIMS, FAHIMA

2003 - Anita C. Hazelwood, MLS, RHIA, FAHIMA and

Carol A. Venable, MPH, RHIA

2002 - Nadinia A. Davis, MBA, CIA, CPA, RHIA and

Melissa M. LaCour, RHIA

2001 - Laurinda B. Harman, PhD, RHIA

2000 - Bonnie S. Cassidy, MPA, RHIA
1999 - Mary D. Brandt, MBA, RHIA, CHE
1998 - Patrice L. Spath, RHIT
1997 - Dana C. McWay, JD, RHIA
1996 - Mervat N. Abdelhak, PhD, RHIA
1996 - Sara S. Grostick, MA, RHIA
1996 - Mary Alice Hanken, PhD, MEd, RHIA
1996 - Ellen B. Jacobs, MEd, RHIA
1995 - Leslie A. Fox, MA, RHIA
1995 - Vickie L. Rogers, MS, RHIA

Visionary Award

2003 - William Kelly McLendon, RHIA

2002 - Elaine T. Lips, RHIA

2001 - Cindy M. Boester, MS, RHIA

2000 - Deborah K. Green, MBA, RHIA
1999 - Judith A. Conroy, RHIA
1998 - Vera Rulon, RHIT, CCS
1997 - Monica Pappas, RHIA

Educator Award

2008 - Michelle A. Green, MPS, RHIA, FAHIMA
2007 - Sara Grostick, MA, RHIA, FAHIMA

2006 - Sheila Carlon, PhD, RHIA, FAHIMA

2005 - Nanette B. Sayles, EdD, RHIA, CHP, CCS (GA)

2004 - Karen R. Patena, MBA, RHIA (IL)

2002 - Ellen B. Jacobs, MEd, RHIA

2001 - Joan T. Rines, PhD, RHIA

2000 - Mary Alice Hanken, PhD, RHIA
1999 - Elizabeth D. Bowman, MPA, RHIA

1999 - Donna J. Slovensky, PhD, RHIA, FAHIMA
1998 - Cheryl L. Berthelsen, PhD, RHIA
1997 - Shirley J. Higgin, MEd, RHIA

Research Award

2008 - Jennifer Hornung Garvin, PhD, RHIA, CPHQ, CCS, FAHIMA
2007 - Shannon H. Houser, PhD, MPH, RHIA

2006 - Not Awarded

2005 - Not Awarded

2004 - Richard Averill

2004 - William J. Rudman, PhD

2001 - Valerie J. Watzlaf, PhD, RHIA

Motivator Award

2002 - Kathryn G. Pittman, RHIA

2000 - Sally Maguire, RHIA
1999 - Mary B. Crossman, RHIA
1999 - Joan C. Hicks, RHIA
1998 - Joyce M. Matheson, RHIT
1997 - Susan Clark, RHIA
1997 - Carol J. Person, RHIA
1996 - Not Awarded
1995 - Charlotte A. Johnston, PhD, RHIA
1995 - Lynne Thomas Gordon, MBA, RHIA, CHE
1995 - Lela B. McFerrin, RHIA
1995 - Brenda G. Bell, RHI T
1994 - Univ. of TN Dept. of HIM
1994 - Memphis HIMA
1994 - R. Rachel Herbert, MBA, RHIA
1994 - Karen A. Wager, MHS, RHIA

Mentor Award

2008 - Geraldine Smothers, MPA, RHIA, CSL, CPHQ, FAHIMA
2007 - Stacie L. Buck, RHIA, CCS-P, LHRM, RCC

2006 - Dwayne M. Lewis, RHIT, CCS

2005 - Rita K. Bowen, MA-HIMT, RHIA, CHPS

2005 - Mary W. King, MS, RHIA

2004 - Sue A. Watkins, RHIA, CTR

2003 - Angela Kennedy, MBA, RHIA, CPQ

2002 - Marilyn W. Green, RHIA

2001 - Betty A. Hagedorn, MHA, RHIA

2000 - Carol J. Barr, MA, RHIA, HRMC
2000 - Andrea Romero, RHIT, CCS, CPC
1999 - Rebecca Yates, MEd, RHIA
1998 - Marion K. Gentul, RHIA, CCS
1997 - Susan S. Lloyd, RHIA
1997 - Jeanette C. Linck, MPA, RHIA
1997 - Heidi L. Jones, RHIA
1997 - Mary K. Nespor, RHIA

Achievement Award
2002 - Barbara M. Millas, RHIA

2001 - Gail L. Graham, RHIA

2000 - Minnette Terlep, RHIT
1999 - Lynne T. Gordon, MBA, RHIA, CHE
1998 - Chris R. Elliott, MS, RHIA
1997 - Karen G. Grant, RHIA
1996 - Claire R. Dixon-Lee, PhD, RHIA
1996 - Susan T. Helbig, MA, RHIA
1995 - Margret K. Amatayakul, MBA, RHIA, CCS
1995 - Bonnie S. Cassidy, MPA, RHIA
1994 - Darice M. Grzybowski, MA, RHIA, FAHIMA
1994 - Ann H. Peden, MBA, RHIA, CCS

CPR Breakthrough Award
2002 - Tracy G. Hickey, RHIA

2001 - Not Awarded
2000 - Not Awarded
1999 - Penny M. Bennett, RHIA
1998 - Cindy Zak, MS, RHIA
1997 - Not Awarded

Rising Star Award

2008 - Jennifer A. Melvin, RHIA
2007 - Amanda S. King, RHIA

2006 - Erica S. Moncrief, RHIA

2005 - Stacie L. Buck, RHIA, LHRM

2004 - Dawn M. Wahl, RHIT (VA)

2002 - Katherine E. Downing, RHIA

2000 - Laura N. Meier, RHIA
1999 - Karen A. Rosendale, RHIA
1998 - Starla Stavely, RRA
1997 - Gail L. Graham, RRA

New Frontier Award

2001 - Erin J. Blume
2000 - Bunnie J. Cobb, CCS
1999 - Laura Herndon
1998 - Brenda J. Mesmith
1997 - Julie D. Anderson
1997 - Elizabeth M. Lupica

e-HIM Award

2008 - Janet B. Baucom, RHIA
2007- Deborah Kohn, MPH, RHIA, FACHE, CPHIMS

2006 - Mary Reeves, RHIA

2005 - Mary Ann Spott, MBA, MPA, MSIS, RHIA

2004 - Thomas C. Burzynski, MS, RHIA

2004 - Tricia Langenfelder, RHIA

AHIMA Triumph Awards

Nominations Guidelines

Award Categories

Congratulations to the 2009 AHIMA Triumph Award Winners:

Triumph Awards Presentation