AHIMA 2009 Committees, Commission, Council and Task Forces

AAAC Council (AHIMA/AMIA Joint Advisory Council)

Engaged in advocating for sound public policy that benefits patients, healthcare providers and society at large.

Staff Liaisons
Dan Rode, MBA, FHFMA
Phone: (202) 659-9440 x 11
E-mail:  dan.rode@ahima.org

Don D. Asmonga, CAE, MBA
Phone: (202) 659-9440 x 12
E-mail:  don.asmonga@ahima.org

AHIMA Foundation Board of Directors

Facilitates the gift program, corporate donations and research initiatives.

Chair
Keith L. Olenik, MA, RHIA, CHP

Board Liaison

Vera Rulon, MS, RHIT, CCS, FAHIMA

Staff Liaison
Mary Madison, MPA
Phone: (312) 233-1167
E-mail:  mary.madison@ahima.org

AHIMA Foundation Research Committee

Defines the Association research agenda and determines available grants and scholarships.

Chair
Xiaoming Zeng, MD, PhD

AHIMA Foundation Board Liaison
TBA

Staff Liaison
Carol Nielsen
Phone: (312) 233-1175
E-mail:   carol.nielsen@ahima.org

AHIMA Foundation Triumph Awards Committee

The Committee is responsible for drafting citations honoring award recipients and they monitor ongoing maintenance of the Triumph Awards program including updating the awards categories, publicity development, and the nomination brochure.

Chair
Beth A. Kost-Woodrow, RHIA

Staff Liaisons
Marilyn K. Render
Phone: (312) 233-1161
E-mail:  marilyn.render@ahima.org

Annual Convention Program Committee 

Develop the national convention program.

Chair
Desla R. Mancilla, MPA, RHIA

Staff Liaison
Monica Culpepper, CMP
Phone: (312) 233-1104
E-mail:   monica.culpepper@ahima.org

Approval Committee for Certificate Programs 

To Advise the AHIMA BOD on issues that impact the educational coding certificate programs

Chair
Patricia Stettler, CMT, AHDI-F

Staff Liaison
Patt Peterson, MA, RHIA
Phone: (312) 233-1131
E-mail:   patt.peterson@ahima.org

Communities of Practice Advisory Committee

Establishes and oversees policy for community of practice operations.

Chair
Patience J. Hoag, RHIT, CHCA, CCS, CCS-P

Staff Liaison
Carolyn Guyton-Ringbloom, MBA, RD
Phone: (312) 233-1163
E-mail:   carolyn.guyton-ringbloom@ahima.org

Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)

The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education shall exist to serve the public by establishing and enforcing standards for the educational preparation of health informatics and information management professionals and by recognizing educational programs that meet these standards.

Chair
Merida L. Johns, PhD, RHIA

Board Liaison
Rita K. Bowen, MA, RHIA, CHPS, SSGB

Staff Liaisons
Claire Dixon-Lee, PhD, RHIA, FAHIMA
Phone: (312) 233-1183
E-mail:   claire.dixon-lee@ahima.org

Patt Peterson, MS, RHIA
Phone: (312) 233-1132
E-mail:  patt.peterson@ahima.org

Commission on Certification of Health Informatics and Information Management Professionals

The Commission on Certification (COC) creates and maintains credentialing and re-credentialing processes whereby the public can be assured that individuals certified by AHIMA have met a level of competetence required to safely deliver health information management.

Chair
Bonnie J. Petterson, PhD, RHIA

Board Liaison
Diann H. Brown, RHIA, CHP, MS

Staff Liaison
Michael G. Niederpruem, CAE, MS
Phone: (312) 233-1125
E-mail:   michael.niederpruem@ahima.org

Credentials Appointment

To assure the AHIMA membership that the voting process in the AHIMA House of Delegates is conducted in accordance with the AHIMA Bylaws.

Chair
TBA

Staff Liaison
Marilyn K. Render
Phone: (312) 233-1161
E-mail:   marilyn.render@ahima.org

CSA Advisory Committee

To strengthen the federation model.

Chair

Karen J. Lawler, MPS, RHIA

Staff Liaison

Lorraine Smalley, CAE, RD, LD

Phone: (312) 233-1169

E-mail:  lorraine.smalley@ahima.org

Exhibit Advisory Committee

To set policies, continue open communication, as well as foster relationships between AHIMA and exhibitors.

Chair
Sally Fleishman

Staff Liaison
Sarah Lawler
Phone: (312) 233-1102
E-mail:   sarah.lawler@ahima.org

Fellowship Review Committee

To review fellowship applications and designate individuals for fellowship/distinguished awards and candidacy.

Chair
Lynn M. Kuehn, MS, RHIA, CCS-P, FAHIMA

Staff Liaison

Carol Nielsen
Phone: (312) 233-1175
E-mail:  carol.nielsen@ahima.org

HIM Education Strategy Committee

Recommends strategic direction to further the goal of a strong academic base in Health Information Management.

Chair
Sheila A. Carlon, PhD, RHIA, FAHIMA

Board Liaison
Valerie J. Watzlaf, PhD, RHIA, FAHIMA

Staff Liaison
Patt Peterson, MS, RHIA
Phone: (312) 233-1132
E-mail:   patt.peterson@ahima.org

Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee identifies qualified candidates for open positions on the AHIMA Board of Directors, the Council on Accreditation and the Council on Certification in accordance with AHIMA bylaw provisions, where applicable, and accordance with AHIMA philosophies.

Chair
Bryon D. Pickard, MBA, RHIA

Board Liaison
Wendy L. Mangin, MS, RHIA

Staff Liaison
Marilyn K. Render
Phone: (312) 233-1161
E-mail:   marilyn.render@ahima.org

Practice Council:  Clinical Terminology & Classification

Monitor the changes related to clinical terminology and classification that are going on in today’s healthcare industry.

Co-Chairs
Therese M. Jorwic, MPH, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P

Margo Imel, MBA, RHIT

Board Liaison
Patricia Shaw, MEd, RHIA, FAHIMA

Staff Liaisons

Rita A. Scichilone, MHSA, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P

Phone: (312) 233-1502
E-mail:   rita.scichilone@ahima.org

Ann Zeisset, RHIT, CCS, CCS-P

Phone: (312) 233-1503
E-mail:   ann.zeisset@ahima.org

Jill Clark, MBA, RHIA

Phone: (312) 233-1967
E-mail:   jill.clark@ahima.org

Anita V. Majerowicz, RHIA

Phone: (312) 233-5773
E-mail:   anita.majerowicz@ahima.org

Practice Council:  Electronic Health Record

Advise and provide AHIMA with expertise related to health information practices in an electronic environment and EHR best practices across all practice settings. 

Co-Chair
Cassie Birnbaum, RHIA

Keith Olenik, MA, RHIA, CHP

Board Liaison

Mary G. Reeves, RHIA

Staff Liaisons

Lou Ann Wiedemann, MS, RHIA

Phone: (312) 233-1546
E-mail:   lou-ann.wiedemann@ahima.org

Lydia Washington

Phone: (312) 233-1535
E-mail:   lydia.washington@ahima.org

Practice Council:  Health Information Exchange (HE)

Advise and provide AHIMA with expertise related to best practice of health information exchange.

Co-Chairs
Stacie Durkin, MBA, RN, RHIA

Barbara Demster, MS, RHIA, CHCQM

Board Liaison

Beth J. Just , RHIA, MBA

Staff Liaisons

Harry B. Rhodes, MBA

Phone: (312) 233-1119
E-mail:   harry.rhodes@ahima.org

Beth M. Hjort, RHIA, CHPS

Phone: (312) 233-1123
E-mail:   beth.hjort@ahima.org

Practice Council:  Long Term Care

Advise and provide AHIMA with expertise related to best practices of health information management roles and functions in long term care environment.

Co-Chairs
Mary Ann P. Leonard, RHIA,

Rhonda L. Anderson, RHIA

Board Liaison

Renae L. Spohn, MBA, RHIA, CPHQ, FAHIMA

Staff Liaisons

Michelle L. Dougherty, RHIA, CHP

Phone: (312) 233-1914
E-mail:  michelle.dougherty@ahima.org

June E. Bronnert, RHIA, CCS

Phone: (312) 233-1534
E-mail:   june.bronnert@ahima.org

Practice Council:  Personal Health Record

Advise and provide AHIMA with expertise related to PHR practices in both the paper and electronic environment and PHR best practices across all practice settings.

Co-Chairs
Marsha W. Dolan, MBA, RHIA

Julie Wolter, MA, RHIA

Board Liaison

Valerie J. Watzlaf, PhD, RHIA, FAHIMA

Staff Liaisons

Jill Burrington-Brown, MS, RHIA

Phone: (312) 233-1519
E-mail:   jill.burrington-brown@ahima.org

David Sweet

Phone: (312) 233-1501
E-mail:   david.sweet@ahima.org

Practice Council:  Physician Practice

Advise and provide AHIMA with expertise related to best practice of HIM roles and functions in the physician practice environment.

Co-Chairs
Cheryl Gregg-Fahrenholz, RHIA, CCS-P

Diana Warner, MS, RHIA, CHPS

Board Liaison

Mark S. Dietz, RHIA

Staff Liaisons

Lydia M. Washington, RHIA

Phone: (713) 792-8640
E-mail:   lydia.washington@ahima.org

Angela K. Dinh, MHA, RHIA

Phone: (312) 233-1545
E-mail:   angela.dinh@ahima.org

Practice Council:  Privacy & Security

Focus on the knowledge and skills needed by HIM professionals in the area of privacy, confidentiality and security of health information.

Co-Chairs
Elisa Gorton, RHIA, MAHSM

LaVonne R. Wieland, RHIA, CHP

Board Liaison
Diann H. Brown, RHIA, CHP, MS

Staff Liaisons

Beth M. Hjort, RHIA, CHPS

Phone: (312) 233-1123
E-mail:   beth.hjort@ahima.org

Angela K. Dinh, MHA, RHIA

Phone: (312) 233-1545
E-mail:   angela.dinh@ahima.org

Harry B. Rhodes, MBA, RHIA, CHPS

Phone: (312) 233-1119
E-mail:  harry.rhodes@ahima.org

Practice Council:  Quality Initiatives and Secondary Data

Advise AHIMA of the issues and HIM best practices and functions in the quality domain.

Co-Chairs
Janet Bierlein, RN, BSN, CCA, CPHQ

Peg Mason, RHIT, CPHQ

Board Liaison
Patricia T. Sheridan, MBA, RHIA

Staff Liaisons

Crystal K. Kallem, RHIT

Phone: (312) 233-1537
E-mail:   crystal.kallem@ahima.org

Allison Viola, MBA, RHIA

Phone: (202) 659-9440 x13
E-mail:   allison.viola@ahima.org

Professional Ethics Committee

Interprets the Code of Ethics and reviews ethic complaints against credentialed members.

Chair:
Nancy A. Davis, MS, RHIA

Staff Liaison
Carolyn Guyton-Ringbloom, MBA, RD
Phone: (312) 233-1163
E-mail:   carolyn.guyton-ringbloom@ahima.org

State Advocacy Workgroup

To address ways that AHIMA and its Component State Associations can enhance the CSA ability to advocate at the state and local level.

Chair
Chrisann K. Lemery, MS, RHIA

Board Liaison
Mary G. Reeves, RHIA

Staff Liaison
Don D. Asmonga, CAE, MBA

Phone: (202) 659-9440
E-mail:   don.asmonga@ahima.org

Tellers Appointment

Review the process for which the ballot process was performed.

Chair
TBA

Staff Liaison
Marilyn K. Render
Phone: (312) 233-1161
E-mail: marilyn.render@ahima.org

Virtual Lab Strategic Advisory Committee

Overseeing the development and ongoing maintenance of the AHIMA Virtual Lab.

Chair:
Laurie McBrierty, MLT, ASCP

Staff Liaison
Sandra K. Kersten, MPH, RHIA
Phone: (312) 233-1193
E-mail:  sandra.kersten@ahima.org

If you are interested in volunteer opportunities with AHIMA, please complete the AHIMA Application to Serve link below.

AHIMA Application to Serve

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