AHIMA Spotlight

Member Spotlight: Aurae Beidler, DHSc, MHA, RHIA, CHC, CHPS, FACHE, FAHIMA

We’re excited to welcome Aurae Beidler as our January Member Spotlight. An educator, leader, and longtime advocate for the HI profession, Aurae brings deep experience across compliance, privacy, teaching, and service at both the state and national levels.

What influences your mentoring style?

My approach to mentoring is shaped by my own experiences as a mentee. I’ve been fortunate to have several mentors throughout my career, and before meeting with someone I’m mentoring, I take time to reflect on what worked for me, what I learned, and what approaches might be most helpful now.

My style is also adaptable to the individual I’m mentoring, whether they are a student, an early career professional, or someone transitioning into the profession. I practice active listening so I can adjust my approach based on what I’m learning about the person. Most often, I serve as a sounding board, while also offering guidance and recommendations aligned with their goals and situation.

How has M2M Connect benefited you as a mentor?

The M2M Connect program provided valuable training modules that helped me strengthen my active listening and time management skills. It also encouraged me to approach mentoring differently by allowing the mentee to guide the conversation rather than leading it myself.

Through the program, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with several wonderful mentees, and many of those relationships have continued beyond M2M Connect as ongoing professional connections.

How does mentoring contribute to your professional development?

Mentoring gives me space to reflect on what I’ve learned throughout my career and identify areas where I can continue to grow. At times, a mentee may be interested in a topic I’m less familiar with, which prompts me to research, learn, and expand my own knowledge.

I also value the opportunity to discuss real situations I’ve recently faced. Those conversations often reveal alternative approaches I hadn’t considered. Mentoring truly becomes a shared learning experience.

Recommendations for students and emerging professionals to grow and succeed in 2026

As both a health information professional and educator, I’ve learned the importance of staying current with evolving practices and regulatory changes. One way I push myself to do this is by volunteering on committees or presenting at conferences, which requires me to stay informed about new trends, technologies, and practices.

Approaching change with curiosity is essential. Whether it’s AI, machine learning, analytics, cybersecurity, or audits, taking time to read the Journal of AHIMA, explore articles from AHISP, or watch a webinar can make a meaningful difference. Investing even one hour a week in learning can help you stay relevant in a rapidly changing profession.

Actions you plan to take in 2026 to make an impact on healthcare or patient care

This spring, I’ll be teaching an AI in Healthcare course. I’m both excited and a bit anxious, as AI is a broad and complex topic. My goal is to share perspectives grounded in health information, privacy, and security, while also learning from my students.

I plan to take what I learn from the course and share it with other professionals and educators, continuing the cycle of learning and collaboration within the health information community.

Thinking about your next step in HI? Applications for AHIMA’s M2M Connect Mentorship Program open January 15. Visit the M2M website to Apply.