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Position Statement
CHIA Director candidates were asked to respond to the following: With California's health information community spanning multiple generations—from seasoned professionals navigating career transitions to Gen Z entering the workforce—how would you collaborate with CHIA Leadership to ensure CHIA's programs and communications resonate across all career stages and foster intergenerational mentorship?

As part of the CHIA Leadership, I will consider different styles of learning and communication to ensure we are providing options for our members. In collaboration with CHIA Leadership, I plan to create useful and educational programs relevant to professional development. These programs will be designed for our members by taking into consideration their different needs.

Communication is key to collaborating with and understanding others, and effective communication comes from adapting to different audiences and situations. Major elements include active listening, being flexible, and adjusting your own communication style. We all know everyone learns differently; some comprehend and retain what they read, while others learn best with verbal or live instruction. Understanding different learning styles will also help us communicate better to our diverse membership. Being available and approachable will help our members express their needs and foster new ideas.

CHIA currently uses member surveys and these are still one of the main methods we can encourage feedback from our members. Seeking feedback helps to determine what is important to our members. As a member of the CHIA Board and member of CHIA committees, I will try to proactively reach out to our members to elicit feedback and opinions.

CHIA has missed opportunities with Health Information students by not including them in our committees or meeting with a student ambassador. We could also send requests to the instructors from different Health Information Technology programs to join our board and committee meetings. The instructors can help CHIA send surveys to the students that will provide more insight to the needs of emerging professionals and identify opportunities for mentorship. Keeping an active presence in Health Information education programs will encourage emerging professionals to join and stay with CHIA.

By welcoming input from both emerging and experienced members we can keep CHIA programs relevant for all generations of members.

Relevant Health Information Professional Positions

• HIM Senior Manager, Providence 2004 - 2023
• HIM Director, Kindred Healthcare, 2000-2004

Academic and Professional Degrees or Training Received

• Bachelor of Science Degree, Public Health, Health Record Science Major, UCLA, 1978
• Associate of Science Degree, Biology, Fullerton College, 1976

Association Board Activities

• GOCHIA President, 2023-2024
• CLA, CHIA Secretary 2011-2012
• CHIA Delegate 2018-2019, 2021-2022, 2022-2023

Association Committee/Task Force Activities

• CHIA Component Association Task Force, Committe Member, 2024-2025
• CHIA Candidates Committee, Co-chair, 2021-2023
• CHIA Bylaws Committee, Member

CHIA does not endorse or sponsor any candidates and the views expressed in the position statements and campaign videos are those of the candidates and do not necessarily reflect the policies and opinions of the Association.