Recognition

Fellowship Program

The Fellowship program is a program of earned recognition for AHIMA members who made significant and sustained contributions to the profession. Individuals who earn fellowship may use the designation Fellow of the American Health Information Management Association (FAHIMA), and their names will be maintained in the AHIMA Registry of Fellows.

The purpose of the Fellowship program is to:

  • Recognize significant and sustained contribution to advancement of the Health Information Management (HIM) discipline through meritorious service, excellence in professional practice, excellence in HIM education, and advancement of the profession through innovation and knowledge sharing.
  • Provide an incentive for members to contribute to the advancement of the profession.
  • Bring together senior HIM professionals as an organizational resource for continued promotion and development of the profession through a variety of activities.

The Fellowship program has two designations: Fellowship and Candidacy for Fellowship.

View the list of AHIMA Fellows

Fellowship Designation

Fellowship is open to any individual who is a regular, honorary, or Emeritus member of AHIMA, and who meets the following eligibility requirements:

  • Minimum of 10 years full-time professional experience in HIM or related field.
  • Minimum of 10 years continuous AHIMA membership at time of application (not including years as a student member).
  • Minimum of master's degree.
  • Evidence of sustained and substantial professional achievement that demonstrates professional growth and use of innovative and creative solutions.

Once conferred, the fellow status is a lifetime recognition, subject to continuing AHIMA membership and compliance with the AHIMA Code of Ethics.

Candidacy for Fellowship Designation

Candidacy serves as a preparatory period for those individuals whose portfolio does not meet the criteria for fellowship but who want an opportunity to formalize lifelong learning and development plans. Admission to candidacy does not automatically result in the conferment of fellowship.

Candidacy is open to any individual who is a regular, honorary, or Emeritus member of AHIMA, and who meets the following eligibility requirements:

  • Minimum of five years full-time professional experience in HIM or related field.
  • Minimum of five years continuous AHIMA membership at time of application (not including years as a student member).
  • Minimum of master's degree.
  • Beginning evidence toward significant contributions to the advancement of the HIM field.

The normal candidacy period is one to five years, depending upon individual background. A candidate can apply for fellowship status at any time. An individual may remain in candidacy status with one renewal period to extend candidacy to a total of five years.

Fellowship Application

Application and Review Process

The AHIMA Fellowship Review Committee meets quarterly. All applications must be submitted online (letters of recommendation may be uploaded into the online application in Word or PDF format).  Applications will be reviewed and notifications sent within four weeks of the submission deadline.


2013 Submission Deadlines

February 28, 2013 May 31, 2013 September 3, 2013 December 2, 2013

Fellowship Application

Please remember to retain a copy of your entire application and all other materials for your records. Your application will not be returned to you following review by the committee.


Application Fee

There is a one time application fee of $250 for either candidacy or fellowship status. Payment may be made by check or credit card. Applicants who achieve candidacy status, or who are not initially accepted to fellowship status, have up to five years to resubmit their application and to achieve fellowship status. One resubmission during that five year period will be accepted.  If Fellowship status has not been achieved following resubmission or five years (whichever occurs first), an additional application fee must be paid for further resubmissions,

(Application fees are nonrefundable.)

Grace Award


 
 
 

Do you have an outstanding HIM department?

 

Does your employer deserve recognition for innovations in HIM?

 

If so, nominate your employer for AHIMA's newest award.

 

Named for founder Grace Whiting Myers, the AHIMA Grace Award: In Recognition of Excellence in Health Information Management will honor healthcare delivery organizations that demonstrate effective and innovative approaches in using health information to deliver quality healthcare.

Evaluation criteria include:

  • How the healthcare delivery organizations contribute to a patient-centered model of care
  • How electronic health records are being advanced by the organization
  • How HIM is integrated throughout the workplace

The University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics received the inaugural Grace Award in 2012.  The award was presented at the annual AHIMA Convention & Exhibit that was held in Chicago:

 

Press release: AHIMA calls for nominations to recognize outstanding achievement in Health Information Management 

Let's recognize today's health information management innovators...Nominate your organization today!

Applications for the 2013 Award Year are now closed.
Thank you for your submission.

Triumph awards

Celebrating the Remarkable Contributions of HIM Professionals from Around the Globe

 Sponsored in part by  3M

History

Since their inception in 1994, the AHIMA Triumph Awards have honored those professionals responsible for advancing the field of health information management (HIM). Each year, AHIMA members nominate those that have demonstrated extraordinary leadership, volunteerism and talent. As part of a long and cherished tradition, the Triumph Awards continue to be the highest recognition of excellence, dedication and service, and are presented annually at the AHIMA Convention & Exhibit.

Award Categories: Descriptions, Qualifications, and Guidelines

Previous Triumph Award recipients

General Guidance: Identifying Persons to Nominate for AHIMA Triumph Awards

Potential sources for nominees include the following: ACE members, State Leaders, Fellows, and other HIM professionals who have distinguished themselves as leaders.

Nominations Guidelines

All nominations must be submitted using the Triumph Awards Nomination Form, completed in its entirety. Nominations must follow the nomination guidelines and must include the supporting materials listed below. Nominations for the 2014 Triumph Award nominations are due by June 2, 2014.

Individuals who have previously won a particular award are not eligible to win that award again, even if it has been reformatted. They may, however, be nominated for a different award. The Nominator is responsible for assuring that all required documentation is collected for the nominee. Incomplete submissions may adversely impact the committee's ability to adequately and fully evaluate a nominee.

The AHIMA Triumph Awards Committee will review all nominations for determination of award issuance. If none of the nominees for a particular award reflect the level of achievement expected of an award recipient, the committee reserves the right to recommend that the award not be presented.

Members of the AHIMA Triumph Awards Committee, the AHIMA Board of Directors, the AHIMA Foundation Board of Directors, and AHIMA staff are not eligible for awards during their term of service, even if the service for which they would be nominated occurred prior to their term of service or employment.

All nomination materials become the property of AHIMA. Materials cannot be returned.

AHIMA strives to reflect in its membership and leadership the diversity within the United States, including race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, special needs and other diverse populations. AHIMA encourages the celebration of promotion of diversity through education mentoring, recognition, leadership and other programs.

Nominations & Awards

The 2013 nomination process is now closed.  Nominations for 2014 will be accepted through June 2, 2014, for recognition in 11 award categories (See award categories tab). Nominees must be AHIMA members or corporate sponsors (see nomination guidelines for rules and exceptions)  Nominations are only acceptable via the online application.  No exceptions.

Triumph Awards Presentation

AHIMA Triumph Award winners for 2013 will be notified on or before August, 2013; and presented with the awards at the 2013 AHIMA Convention & Exhibit in Atlanta, Georgia. While not mandatory, all recipients are encouraged to be present or to designate an individual to accept the award on their behalf. Please note that attendance at the convention, registration fees, and associated travel fees are the responsibility of the recipient.  Award winners will be featured in the Journal of AHIMA and on the AHIMA website in the AHIMA Triumph Awards section. In addition, AHIMA will provide all awardees with a press release for distribution to recipient’s local media outlets.

2013 AHIMA Triumph Awards Committee

Chair
Diann H. Smith, MS, RHIA, CHP, FAHIMA

Volunteers
Gloria G. Anderson, MEd, RHIA, CCS
Mark S. Dietz, RHIA
William Lee Ford, MHA, RHIT, CPC, CPC-H, CHC
Marion K. Gentul, RHIA, CCS
Roger Hettinger, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CMC, CPMA
Merida L. Johns, PhD, RHIA
Andrea G. Koppelmann, MS, RHIA
April D. Robertson, MPA, RHIA, CHPS, FAHIMA

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

Carolyn Guyton-Ringbloom, MBA, RD
(312) 233-1163
carolyn.guyton-ringbloom@ahima.org