Members of this group reflect the diversity of backgrounds and educational paths of thousands of students in health information management (HIM) programs. The Student Advisory Committee (SAC) collaborates with AHIMA’s leadership, members, and staff to create new resources and opportunities for students as they transition from students into HIM professionals in a complex health information workforce. SAC members: plan and present at the Student Academy at convention; advocate for the profession during Hill Day; support their fellow students in the Future HIM Leaders community in Engage; and assist AHIMA in creating the member resources to help students build the careers they want.

Please contact the SAC at students@ahima.org.  Applications for the 2020-2021 Committee will open in the Spring of 2020.

Join the Student Advisory Committee from AHIMA on Vimeo.

Hugh Brown
Hugh Brown earned his AAS in Health Information Technology in 2015 and his BPS in HIM in May 2019. He received an award from SUNY Polytechnic Institute for academic excellence, enthusiasm toward the profession, and demonstration of high professional and ethical standards. He will start an MBA in Technology Management with a concentration in Health Informatics this Fall. He earned both his RHIT and his RHIA. Hugh was an inaugural member of the AHIMA Student and New Graduate Volunteer Program at Convention. Hugh serves on various professional boards and committees, including the NYHIMA Awards Committee, the CNYHIMA Board as President-Elect, and the advisory board for Onondaga Community College’s HIT program. Hugh currently works as an HIT Specialist at a regional behavioral and mental health agency. He has worked previously as an HIM Technician for New York State and as a medical biller. Enthusiastic about education and professional service work, Hugh is delighted to join the AHIMA Student Advisory Committee.

Alexandria Dayton
Alexandria Dayton is a New Jersey native who is currently a fourth year student at West Virginia University (WVU). She is expected to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Informatics and Information Management in May of 2020. She is currently working as a Unit Clerk in the Emergency Department as well as an Information Technology Intern with WVU Medicine. Alexandria is also a Rural Community Health Scholar where she works in rural communities to improve healthcare. She is honored to be a part of the Student Advisory Committee and excited to inspire fellow students to take advantage of the opportunities AHIMA has available

Delia Galbraith
Ms. Galbraith is currently pursuing her masters of Health Informatics and Information Management at Davenport University. She currently serves as a member on the Allied Health/Health Information Student and Alumni Association at her university while doing both clinical and social work in a hospital setting. Within this association, she spends her time participating in discussing and learning more about the HIM field. Alongside this association, she is a member of AHIMA Foundation Research Network. In the Research Network, she is able to assist in providing resources to current and future HIM professionals to further their careers and networking. Ms. Galbraith wants to be an advocate for future HIM professionals to be well prepared by collaborating with colleagues and mentoring AHIMA students. In essence, she would like to be a liaison between professionals and students.

Lilibeth Grimes
After assisting in the implementation of health reforms in Dominican Republic, Lilibeth migrated to NY, US contributing in multiple roles in revenue cycle management. By 2015, with the imminent conversion to I-10, she joined CUNY School of Professional Studies to pursue a BS in HIM. In 2016, Lilibeth became an AHIMA Approved ICD-10 CM/PCS Trainer and had collaborated in various educational programs. Currently, she serves as a Revenue Integrity Analyst for the largest healthcare system in SW Florida. Lilibeth is also a consultant performing audits and data analytics activities for both fee for service and value payment models, such as MIPS. Her passion is to help others improve by identifying institutional specific information for effective data-driven decision making; consequently, bettering health outcomes through a revitalized clinical documentation, workflow re-structuring, and provider/staff training.

Barbara Kennedy
My name is Barbara Kennedy, and I am a recent graduate of Remington College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Information Management (HIM). I will soon sit for the RHIT exam in the coming months.  I am an active volunteer in the local HIM community where I am afforded an opportunity to serve and network with others member of the HIM profession. It gives me the chance to be of service and engage with other members of the HIM profession. Currently, my mentor is one of AHIMA’s past President/Chair of the Board of Directors. I hope to one day encourage others by mentoring as she has for me.
I work as a HIM Analyst for Baylor Scott and White Health in Dallas, TX. It gives me great joy to share my story as a means of encouragement to students to follow their dreams. I look forward to proudly representing the AHIMA student advisory committee to the highest standard. My interest in HIM is focused on the legal aspect. Pursuing CHPS (certification in Healthcare Privacy and Security) through AHIMA, as well as the CHPC (certification in healthcare privacy compliance) through HCCA (Healthcare compliance Association) gives me a broader aspect of the importance of HIPAA compliance, coding compliance, risk prevention, developing policies and procedures, how to identify PHI breeches and how to educate CE, BA and healthcare providers from breech occurrence. From there I will obtain a master’s degree in Legal studies which will signify my expertise in legal areas, both in Healthcare and Law.

Jennifer Woodrum
I am a sophomore at Schoolcraft College in Garden City, MI majoring in Health Information Technology (HIT) and will be graduating this December.  For the last two years, I have been employed at the Schoolcraft College Learning Assistance Center (LAC) as a Certified Reading and Learning Assistant (CRLA).  Also, I serve as the 2018-2019 President of the Schoolcraft College Health Information Technology (HIT) Club.  I am honored to be afforded the opportunity to serve on AHIMA's SAC and look forward to engaging with other students and AHIMA leaders. My focus is to increase student awareness of the opportunities for involvement within AHIMA and the Component State Associations (CSAs).  I proudly advocate for legislative change beneficial to the HIM profession and I am passionate about the promotion of student leadership development.  AHIMA is my trusted source for career development resources and I encourage other students to utilize the valuable resources AHIMA offers.

Elaine O’Bleness, MBA, RHIA, CDIP, CHP, CRCR, Chair
Elaine is a current member of the Council of Excellence Committee and chair of the Student Advisory Committee.  She works as a Revenue Cycle Executive at Cerner Corporation, serving as a Subject Matter Expert in the HIM and Medical Coding areas.  Prior to joining Cerner, Elaine served as Banner Health’s Western Region Director of Health Information Services, managing the HIM operations of 11 facilities across 6 states.  Additionally, she managed her own HIM consulting practice.  Elaine has served as the President of the Colorado Health Information Association and has been sought after for multiple speaking engagements.  She also teaches ICD-10 Coding and Healthcare Reimbursement at Regis University in Denver Colorado. 

This group of recently graduated health information professionals collaborates with AHIMA leadership, members, and staff to create new resources and opportunities for students and new graduates. Committee members represent different career paths and journeys in health information management (HIM), and share their experiences to help others navigate the current landscape: transitioning from students into HIM professionals in a complex health information workforce, taking advantage of the career-planning resources, leadership opportunities, and professional development that AHIMA provides.

Applications for this Committee will open in the Fall.  Please contact the New Graduate Leadership Committee at newgrads@ahima.org

Todd Norden, RHIA, Chair
Todd Norden is a 2017 graduate from the health information administration program at Dakota State University in Madison, SD. A Cedar Rapids, IA, native, he now lives in Mesa, AZ, where he serves as a chargemaster coordinator for Phoenix Children's Hospital. He discovered his passion for health information management (HIM) while working in digital communications/marketing for the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, after a journalism career spanning over 15 years. Mr. Norden is a 2015 recipient of the Linda Kloss Honorary Endowed Scholarship. Interested in all things HIM, he is grateful for the support of family and friends during his career transition and strives to encourage aspiring HIM professionals to realize the opportunity and potential before them.

Romona Betton, RHIA
Romona Betton is a health information specialist with a leading nonprofit organization in New York City. She takes pride in having a genuine interest in delivering high-quality and patient-centered healthcare. Ms. Betton received her Bachelor’s in Health Information Management from The CUNY School of Professional Studies, a school of the City University of New York in 2017. She has spent the last 10 years working for leading physicians and healthcare facilities in the New York Tri-state area. She’s worked with major healthcare companies such as Northwell Health and Bioreference Laboratories. She was the 2016 recipient of AHIMA Foundation’s Frances E. and Louis B. Fox Endowed Scholarship and was recognized as a 2016-2017 NYHIMA Academic Achievement Award Recipient. Ms. Betton hopes to encourage new graduates to develop leadership skills and to help with their transition into HIM careers.

Amber Clouse, RHIT
Amber Clouse currently resides in Kingman, KS, with her husband and three dogs. She has lived there her entire life. Ms. Clouse is a remote coding supervisor for Himagine Solutions and has served in this role since August 2018. She has her associate degree in HIM from Hutchinson Community College and received her RHIT certification in May 2016. She is currently a senior at Stephens College in the BS Health Information Administration, will graduate this May, and is planning to sit for her RHIA shortly after. She has served in multiple areas of HIM since starting her career in May 2014. She started out as a transcriptionist then moved to a coding position. She is also a part-time HIM Online instructor for Hutchinson Community College.

Phillip Duong, RHIA, CCA
Phillip Duong graduated from the University of Central Florida’s Health Informatics and Information Management Program in 2017. After graduation, he started working as an outpatient clinical documentation specialist at Jupiter Medical Center (JMC) and has served as a director on the board of his local HIM organization. In 2018, he was awarded the FHIMA Service Award for his commitment and dedication to the HIM community. Currently, he works as a revenue integrity specialist for his hospital at JMC. He is an active member of the Florida Health Information Management Association (FHIMA), where he served as a volunteer for the FHIMA Program, HIM Awareness, Advocacy, and Public Policy Committee. Being a part of the New Graduate Leadership Committee, Mr. Duong hopes to inspire and mentor students/graduates about the HIM profession.

Arikka Standafer, RHIA
Arikka Standafer graduated summa cum laude from Eastern Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration in May of 2018. She obtained her RHIA credential prior to graduation. She previously served on the AHIMA Student Advisory Committee from 2017 to 2018. She was also a 2018 recipient of the Linda Kloss Honorary Endowed Scholarship. In addition to her work with AHIMA, she is an active member of the Kentucky Health Information Management Association where she is currently serving as the co-chair of the KHIMA Education Committee. She is employed as a patient financial services representative at UK HealthCare in Lexington, KY. She hopes to pursue her MHA. As a member of the New Graduate Leadership Committee, she wishes to encourage other students and recent grads to become more involved with AHIMA and inform others of the various resources AHIMA offers.

Ryan Teeple, RHIT
Ryan Teeple is a 2018 graduate from Baker College's Health Information Technology program and subsequently earned his RHIT credential in June 2018. Throughout college, he served in roles as a financial officer for the student association and as a student concierge for the Michigan Health Information Management Association. Currently, he is a trauma registrar of a level one adult and two pediatric hospital in southeastern Michigan. He says working within registries is challenging but enjoyable because there is never a dull moment or lack of learning. He is looking forward to being part of this year's New Graduate Committee. A year from now, he hopes to have completed a bachelor’s and obtained his RHIA credential.

Vanessa Villarreal, RHIA
Vanessa Villarreal is an August 2018 graduate from Arkansas Tech University where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Information Management. She earned the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) credential early August as well. She currently works in Clarksville, AR, as an admissions specialist at Johnson Regional Medical Center. She is a member of the Arkansas HIM Association and looks forward to attending the state convention as a new professional. As a member of the New Graduate Leadership Committee, she hopes to support new graduates in their journey to their dream career while providing future graduates with guidance in their transition to becoming new professionals.