Phillip McCann was awarded the Margret Amatayakul and Merida Johns Graduate HIM Research Award at this year's LaTour Eichenwald Forum. The award will be given annually to the HIM Graduate Student whose research poster best            exemplifies research excellence and innovation, contribution to the HIM profession,demonstration of creativity, and incorporation of the Benedictine Values. 

Amy Watters, Ryan Sandefer, and Phillip McCann

Brooke Palkie successfully defended her dissertation and has earned the Doctorate of Education. Her dissertation's title is: "Improving the Understanding of Progressing and Emerging Health Informatics Roles and Skill Sets among Health Information Management Professionals: An Action Research Study." Congratulations on this major achievement, Brooke!  

Pam Oachs has been accepted as a Fellow of the American Health Information Management Association. The AHIMA Fellowship Program recognizes significant and sustained contribution to advancement of the Health Information Management discipline through meritorious service, excellence in professional practice, excellence in HIM education, and advancement of the profession through innovation and knowledge sharing. Please join me in congratulating Pam Oachs, MA, RHIA, FAHIMA on this achievement. 

Madonna LeBlanc was elected by the Minnesota Health Information Management Association to serve as a Delegate Director to AHIMA for the 2013-2015 term. In this capacity, Madonna attended the Summer Leadership Symposium in Chicago in July and is attending the AHIMA National Convention House of Delegates in Atlanta this October. Madonna is presenting AHIMA updates to Regions A & B this fall. Madonna is also working with AHIMA's Council for Excellence in Education Community Workgroup and the AHIMA Scholarship Committee. Keep up the good work, Madonna! 

I want to take a few minutes of your time to update you on the upcoming changes and developments involving Professional Practice Experience at CSS. 

You have undoubtedly noticed that new voices are requesting site placements for our students - Danika Brinda has been actively involved in reaching out to sites and working with students in regard to PPE.  She will continue to help out as needed but her focus is working toward her doctoral degree and eventually more graduate level teaching.

There are more changes coming!  I will be transitioning out of my role as the Academic Coordinator of Professional Practice Experience over the course of the next two years. You will still be hearing from me, but there will be new and different voices to be heard from as well as I look toward retirement.

The size of our Programs have grown over the years. We easily have over 400 students in the undergraduate on-campus traditional, undergraduate distance and graduate programs.  All students in the undergraduate programs require directed practice, explorations and affiliations. Approximately half the graduate students will be looking for a directed practice experience. Yes, we have grown and along with that we need to improve our PPE processes and streamline their management.

Katie Kerr will be taking over my role as the Academic Coordinator of PPE.  Katie is a graduate of both our undergraduate program (2002) and our graduate program (2007). She will be shadowing me and will be actively involved in reaching out to sites and working with students over the next two years.  Her work with clinical placements will grow steadily as I transition away from PPE.

In addition, Joe Janchar will join Katie and me by supporting our work from an administrative perspective.  Joe will support placement efforts by monitoring the agreement/contract process, orientation and health screening requirements, and reaching out to sites.  Joe is a CSS alum and is currently a student in our HIM Masters' Program.

Nancy Crego, Administrative Assistant, will continue to assist with the PPE process as well.  Katie, Joe, and Nancy will be involved in supporting the PPE placement process overtly and behind the scenes.   

As I get ready to bow out - I want you to know that both Katie and Joe are immensely capable and ready to work with you so we can continue to have strong practice/clinical field applications in our Program.  Please welcome Katie and Joe when you hear from them.  And, once again many thanks for all the support you have shown our Program over the years. 

The ability to offer our students strong clinical practice is crucial for the development of young professionals at this transformational juncture for our profession.

Warm regards,

Vicki

Click HERE to provide the HIIM Department with PPE project ideas or general feedback.