Recognition

Award Description: The Advocacy Award honors those who have exhibited long-standing and enthusiastic support of legislative and/or regulatory advocacy for the purpose of advancing the HI profession and health record practices.

Qualifications: Qualified nominees are individuals or groups that have worked tirelessly to support the HI profession by advancing AHIMA’s mission and vision through involvement in public policy/advocacy initiatives on behalf of AHIMA and/or an AHIMA Component Association. Nominee must be an AHIMA member at the time of nomination. 

Guidelines: Nomination criteria for this award includes the following:

• A minimum of three year’s involvement in advocacy initiatives that promote AHIMA’s mission and vision.
• Instrumental in positioning the HI profession as a thought leader in the healthcare industry as it relates to public policy.
• A minimum of three year’s support of and championing key advocacy and public policy initiatives at the federal, local, or state levels including legislative action; member/professional engagement in public policy initiatives; or participation in federal, state, or local grassroots advocacy initiatives.
• Shares knowledge of and passion for advocacy with others through writing, speaking, and/or consulting.
• Has played a contributing role in developing/growing awareness around public policy related to HI and AHIMA members.
• Actively participates in volunteer activities that are dedicated to advancing public policy and/or other means of advocating for the HI profession.
• Advocates on behalf of the HI profession within his/her organization and Component Association.

Award Description: The Mentor Award honors individuals or groups with long records of encouraging individuals to realize their full potential or have helped them find ways to achieve their best.

Qualifications: Qualified nominees are AHIMA Members who have touched our lives and launched us toward new horizons. Nominee must be an AHIMA member at the time of nomination.

Guidelines: Nomination criteria for this award includes the following:

• Demonstrated a record of motivating talented individuals to enter the HI profession.
• Encouraged new professionals to become involved in AHIMA activities at the state and local level and supported their efforts.
• Fostered enthusiasm for the profession.
• Provided clinical sites and supervision for multiple students designed to help them achieve professional competencies.
• Provided ongoing, long-term career guidance to one or more HI professionals.
• Supported the training process for new professionals through teaching, serving on panel presentations or advisory committees, and advising individual students or new professionals in the profession.
• Guided both new and established professionals towards new opportunities.

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

Qualifications: Qualified nominees are individuals or a department of educators who teach in a formal health information administration or health information technology program that grants associates, baccalaureate, or master’s degrees and who are involved in AHIMA activities at the state or national level. Nominees must be an AHIMA member at the time of nomination.

Guidelines: Nomination criteria for this award includes the following:

• Developed and implemented creative teaching tools and methods.
• Established/maintained high standards of excellence and high expectations of students.
• Demonstrated the awareness of the instructor’s impact as a role model.
• Committed oneself to student mentoring in the classroom and beyond.
• Contributed to the research base, and/or community of student learners, and/or dedication to the classroom/laboratory-based teaching of the field.
• Contributed as a leader in HI education.

Award Description: The Student Award recognizes and encourages individuals who are the top new talent being trained in a CAHIIM accredited program or AHIMA approved coding program nationwide.

Qualifications: Qualified nominees are individuals who are AHIMA Student members at the time of the nomination, currently enrolled in a CAHIIM accredited program or AHIMA approved coding program and maintained a grade point equivalent of 3.5 out of 4.0, or higher. Nominees may have graduated by the time the award is given. Nominees must be an AHIMA Student member at the time of nomination and must hold Student or New Graduate membership at the time the award is given.

Guidelines: Nomination criteria for this award includes the following:

• Demonstrated leadership and commitment to the future of the HI profession through participation in HI-related volunteer work.
• Demonstrated commitment to the future of the HI profession through active participation in local, state, and/or national AHIMA activities.

Award Description: The Distinguished Member Award is AHIMA’s highest honor. This award celebrates an AHIMA member with a long, exceptional history of HI contributions and is awarded to an outstanding individual in the field.

Qualifications: Qualified nominees are professionals in HI who have made significant contributions to the field through dedicated volunteer service, innovative professional practice, education, research, presentation, or publishing. Nominees must be an AHIMA member at the time of nomination.

Guidelines: Nomination criteria for this award includes the following:

• Conducted significant original or applied research, authored, edited, or served on editorial boards for journals, books, monographs, and other publications that advance the HI profession.
• Advanced professional practice through the development of a new theory, active dissemination of knowledge about cutting edge practice innovations, or leadership in a specialty area.
• Presented at HI conferences and other educational events; considered a respected instructor, teacher, or educator; testified at governmental hearings for AHIMA or other national healthcare associations.
• Volunteered as an officer, director, committee, or council chair for HI-related organizations.
• Positioned the HI profession as a leadership force in the healthcare and wellness industry.
• Provided inspiration, guidance, and opportunities for emerging leaders to participate in AHIMA’s volunteer structure and to build meaningful leadership experiences.
• Supported AHIMA’s mission, vision, strategy, and key initiatives.

Award Description: The Innovation Award honors those individuals who are advancing Health Information. 

Qualifications: Qualified nominees are individuals who have utilized breakthrough thinking and actions for HI that have demonstrated the future of the profession. Nominees must be an AHIMA member at the time of nomination.

Guidelines: Nomination criteria for this award includes the following:

• Implemented technology or systems that impact the quality and safety of the delivery of healthcare within an organization.
• Applied advanced technology to further develop concepts.
• Present or deliver innovative insights within the Health Information profession through conferences, papers, articles, podcasts, and/or networking groups.

Award Description: The Leadership Award honors those individuals or groups who have provided outstanding service as a leader for a minimum of 10 years; demonstrated on-going leadership competency with the association and the HI profession; adhered to and advocated for the AHIMA Code of Ethics, and any other appropriate codes of conduct; valued honesty, integrity, and transparency and work as team players/collaborators; recognized as a qualified authority in the HI profession; and present a positive professional image for the association and the profession.

Qualifications: Qualified nominees are individuals or groups who are AHIMA members with proven leadership abilities, and who have distinguished themselves in the profession through strategy fostered creativity, innovation, and positive transformation in the work and professional volunteer environments. Nominees must be an AHIMA member at the time of nomination.

Guidelines: Nomination criteria for this award includes the following:

• Provided examples of leadership abilities and long-term benefits in the work and volunteer environments.
• Demonstrated skills in business management, critical thinking, team leadership and the development of others.
• Displayed personal values, ethics, equity, and integrity.
• Showed open mindedness and flexibility in decision making.
• Led others and established trust through consensus building, creating a climate of empowerment, and advancing inclusion.
• Transformed the workplace by motivating and coaching others.

Award Description: The Emerging Star Award honors those individuals who are up and coming and have made great strides and contributions to the Health Information field within their first 10 years of receiving an AHIMA certification.

Qualifications: Qualified nominees are recognized by their peers and colleagues for their outstanding talent, dedication, and leadership, serving as assets to their organization, Component Association (CA), and/or the HI profession. These individuals have excelled in both their workplace and volunteer roles, exceeding expectations for someone relatively new to the HI field.

Guidelines: Nomination criteria for this award includes the following:

• Exhibits expertise, passion, and the ability to positively influence others.
• Demonstrates noteworthy professional achievement(s).
• Demonstrates professionalism, problem-solving, and innovation.
• Demonstrates excellence in team collaboration.
• Demonstrates their commitment to the Health Information profession through active participation in national AHIMA, Component Association (CA), or regional/local CA activities.
• Received an AHIMA certification within the last 10 years and has active certification and membership at the time of submission.