AHIMA ADVANTAGE 10
s REAL WORLD
Delegates Emphasize Transformational Leadership at Annual Meeting
The 73rd House of Delegates (House) Annual Meeting was held
on September 15, at the AHIMA Health Data and Information
Conference in Chicago, IL. More than 200 delegates representing
52 component state associations (CSAs) joined AHIMA
President/Chair Valerie J. Watzlaf, PhD, MPH, RHIA, FAHIMA;
AHIMA CEO Wylecia Wiggs Harris, PhD, CAE; and 2019
Speaker of the House Shawn C. Wells, RHIT, CHDA, to discuss
AHIMA strategy, this year’s successes, and plans to advance
AHIMA and the health information profession.
AHIMA’s mission to “empower people to impact health” served
as the central focus of this year’s House Meeting. Delegates
attended action forums centered on making a larger impact
in the healthcare ecosystem in various ways. At the Thought
Leadership, Professional Development, and Environmental
Scanning Action Forum, delegates prioritized professional
impact areas for the upcoming year. The second action forum on
Health Information Professional Champions addressed how the
House can redefine HIM as champions in transforming health
and healthcare. The delegates also deliberated on the effect and
desired outcomes of a proposed bylaws amendment and new
communication model in the third action forum. The fourth
forum allowed delegates to learn from each other about best
practices for engagement, communication, and process, to allow
for highly functioning boards and build strong volunteer leaders.
The Speaker presented motions for a House vote and recognized
those with the highest participation and outstanding efforts in
the 2018-19 term. Special acknowledgements went to members
of the Annual Meeting Planning Task Force and to the 2018-
2019 House Leadership Co-Chair, Rebecca C. Conroy Bargfrede,
MS, RHIA, CCS-P, and Envisioning Collaborative Co-Chair,
Aurae Beidler, MHA, RHIA, CHPS, CHC. Ms. Beidler was also
welcomed as the 2020-2021 Speaker-elect.
Incoming Speaker of the House Christine A. Williams, RHIA,
concluded the meeting with her aspirations for the House in
2020, and how transformational leadership paves a clearly
defined path for delegates to empower the new AHIMA vision
and mission.
Additional information is available on the State Leaders
and House of Delegates Engage Community, under
2019 House Meeting. v
Members of the House of
Delegates discuss thought
leadership, professional
development, and
environmental scanning.
AHIMA’s Interim Vice President
of Finance Breian Meakens
speaks to the House of Delegates.
Upcoming Events
ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer
Academy 2.0
October 28–30 | Chicago, IL
November 11–15 | Baltimore, MD
Inpatient and Outpatient
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December 2–4 | Long Beach, CA
Privacy and Security Training
with CHPS Exam Prep
December 2–3 | Long Beach, CA