AHIMA Spotlight

Member Spotlight: Danielle D. Thompson, RHIA

Danielle D. Thompson, RHIA, brings an undeniable presence to every room she enters. Not because she is the loudest voice, but because she refuses to stay silent when something must be said.

Career Journey

Danielle first discovered health information management (HIM) at Alabama State University, where professors Nina McConico, Robert Garrie, and Dr. Linda Woodruff shaped her foundation. One of the first lessons she learned still guides her today: “I am. Not my name is—but I am.” It was a reminder that identity, confidence, and grit are the starting points for a meaningful career.

Since then, Danielle has served in leadership roles at the local and state levels, including as President of the Louisiana Health Information Management Association (LHIMA). She has also participated on AHIMA committees, contributing her perspective on governance, finance, and workforce initiatives.

Today, she is Chief of Health Information Management for the Veterans Health Administration in New Orleans, where she leads a skilled team serving the nation’s heroes. For Danielle, it is both a privilege and a responsibility to ensure excellence in documentation, compliance, and data integrity in service to those who have served.

Her compass has always been the same: transparency, inclusivity, and accountability. Not accountability as punishment, but accountability as promise.

Challenges and Opportunities in HI

Danielle believes one of the biggest challenges in HIM is balancing rapid innovations—AI, automation, and digital health platforms—with the need for data integrity, compliance, and governance. At the same time, she sees HIM professionals as central to guiding this transformation.

“HIM professionals are some of the most intelligent and equipped individuals I’ve ever met. We cannot sit quietly at the back of the room, then get frustrated when we aren’t heard. We belong at the table where policies and workflows are written.”

She also notes that the lanes of HIM are widening. Beyond coding, CDI, and compliance, new opportunities are emerging in governance of artificial intelligence, interoperability, social determinants of health, patient engagement, and health disparity analytics.

Actions in 2025 and Beyond

In the years ahead, Danielle is committed to:

• Expanding workforce pipelines through high school outreach, community college programs, and VA training opportunities.
• Elevating student voices by ensuring they are included at conventions, vendor spaces, and in leadership opportunities.
• Promoting transparent leadership that is inclusive and accountable. Guiding the responsible adoption of AI and emerging technologies without sacrificing compliance, ethics, or human oversight.
• Championing new HIM domains such as digital health privacy, patient experience, and cross-sector data governance.
• Creating pipelines for mid-career professionals exploring HIM as a new path.

She is especially passionate about nurturing curiosity in those who have yet to discover HIM. “You’d be astounded how many people, even with degrees in other areas, tell me, ‘If I had known about HIM, I would have gone into it.’”

Guidance for Students and Emerging Professionals

The first lesson Danielle learned in HIM was “I am.” She hopes every student entering the field will discover that same sense of identity and purpose.

Her advice is both practical and empowering:

• Show up with purpose. Success won’t be handed to you—you have to claim it.
• Bet on yourself. Even when it’s uncomfortable, take the leap.
• Lean into your strengths. Your strengths will open more doors than obsessing over weaknesses.
• Stay open to opportunities. HIM reaches far beyond coding and CDI—don’t limit yourself.
• Accept that you won’t know it all. Find your gift, grow it, and let it lead the way.

She also reminds students that showing up is more than attendance: “You have to speak up, advocate for yourself, and contribute to the conversation. If you want to be seen, you can’t hide in the back row.”

Reflections

Danielle believes HIM is a beautiful profession; both essential and endlessly flexible. What excites her most is its expansion into digital health, patient technology, emerging regulations, and cross-sector collaboration.

“We can’t cling to the way things used to be. The future is here, and we need to embrace it, get ready for the ride, and go fast. My mission is simple: leave systems stronger, people better, and doors open for those who come behind us.”

Danielle’s story doesn’t end here. This October, she’ll bring her voice and perspective to the stage at AHIMA25 in Minneapolis as a presenter in the Bite-Sized Learning sessions. For Danielle, it’s another chance to speak up, share what she’s learned, and inspire others to step into their own leadership journeys.

Join Danielle and many more HI leaders at AHIMA25.

Register Today