KHIMA’s Highest Honor for Leadership in the Field

KHIMA’s most coveted honor, this award recognizes a role model in the field and an outstanding individual whose record of contributions to the field over many years is truly exceptional.

Who Qualifies?

HIM professionals who have made significant contributions to the field through a long and extraordinary record of service to the profession or pioneering a significant and creative innovation into HIM practice though dedicated volunteer service, innovative professional practice, education, research, and/or publishing.

Examples of Significant Contributions:

• Volunteer service as an officer, director, committee chair or member, task force chair or member, or representative of the HIM field at government hearings for AHIMA or other state/national healthcare associations.
• Participation in significant original research or authorship, editing, or service on editorial board for journals, books, monographs, and other publications that advances the HIM profession.
• Contribution to the 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.
• Developer of groundbreaking teaching strategies.

Examples of Commendable Service

• Serving as an officer, director, or member of a national, state, or local board, task force, council, committee, or specialty group.
• Providing inspiration, guidance, and opportunities for emerging leaders to participate in KHIMA’s volunteer structure and to build meaningful leadership experiences.
• Leading a special project that resulted in notable benefits for KHIMA members or for the HIM field.
• Advancing legislative initiatives that promote the interests of the HIM profession.
• Serving the needs of KHIMA members through advocacy of patient rights and confidentiality; educating the public regarding health information; or support and promotion of professional practice standards.
• Significant financial support of key KHIMA initiatives through sponsorship of special programs, scholarships, or grants.

Recognizing Fresh Talent and Future Leaders

Look around at the promising new professionals in our field.  Who has the potential to make significant contributions as his or her career unfolds?  Encourage him or her with a nomination for the Rising Star Award.

Who Qualifies?

A gifted student, or promising newcomer to the field, who demonstrates exceptional motivation, capability, and leadership potential with great capacity for significant accomplishment in the field.

Examples of Commendable Attributes

• Willingness to challenge tradition, take risks, and 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.
• Demonstrated excellence in the management of personnel, finances, or information systems.
• Demonstrated leadership potential through local, state and national KHIMA/AHIMA activities, especially those that promote HIM education.
• Demonstrated commitment to the HIM profession through active participation in campus and professional activities (i.e., student health information groups; attendance at local, state, or national meetings; volunteer activities, etc.)
• Exceptional problem-solving ability with the capacity to envision the “big picture” in health information management.
• Willingness to challenge tradition, take risks, and think critically–and to lead others in these processes.
• Academic excellence as evidenced by an above average academic record.

Honoring Significant Volunteer Contributions

Recognizing a member, or organization, that is advancing KHIMA’s leadership position in the health information management field, or for demonstrating outstanding volunteer leadership in a KHIMA organization at the national, state, or local level.

Who Qualifies?

Volunteers who have served KHIMA/AHIMA at the national level, in a state association, in a specialty group, or have advocated for the profession through other volunteer work.  Nominees should demonstrate distinctive leadership qualities and have contributed to leading their group to a significant accomplishment that advanced the HIM field or addressed the needs of KHIMA members.

Examples of Commendable Service

• Serving as an officer, director, or member of a national, state, or local board, task force, council, committee, or specialty group.
• Providing inspiration, guidance, and opportunities for emerging leaders to participate in KHIMA’s volunteer structure and to build meaningful leadership experiences.
• Leading a special project that resulted in notable benefits for KHIMA members or for the HIM field.

Rewarding Excellence in Preparing our Future HIM Professionals

Our field depends on a continual influx of well-trained new talent. The Motivator Award recognizes a member, or organization, for excellence in teaching future HIM professionals in a degree-granting program; for exemplary contribution to the careers of new HIM professionals through outstanding clinical supervision of students; or for a long record of encouraging and helping students and colleagues to achieve their personal best.

Who Qualifies?

• Instructors who teach in a formal health information administration or health information technology program that grants associate’s or baccalaureate degrees and who are involved in AHIMA/KHIMA activities at the state or national level;
• Individuals who support the AHIMA Independent Study Program or a formal health information administration or health information technology program; or
• Those rare professional colleagues and friends who touch our lives and launch us toward new horizons. Posthumous awards may be given.
• Nominees do not have to be a KHIMA member.

Examples of Excellence Or Contributions To The Profession:

• 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.
• Willingness to provide clinical sites and supervision for multiple students designed to help them achieve competencies established by KHIMA.
• Support of the training process for new professionals through teaching, serving on panel presentations or advisory committees and advising individual students.
• Service as a mentor who guides students to new opportunities and fosters their enthusiasm for the profession.
• 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 KHIMA/AHIMA activities at the state and local level and supporting their efforts.