by Manjusri (MJ) Nguyen, MBA, RHIA
Greetings, fellow health information management professionals! I'm so excited to share with you some of the highlights from my recent trip to the American Health Information Management Association’s 2023 CA Leadership Symposium in Chicago, Illinois. It was an amazing opportunity to network with other leaders in our field, learn from the experts, and get to know other CAs.
It was a packed agenda for a single day conference! Clarice and I divided and conquered several of the breakout sessions. One of the main themes of the symposium was membership engagement. How do we attract and retain members who are passionate about health information management and want to contribute to our association's mission and vision? How do we create a sense of community and belonging among our diverse and geographically dispersed members? How do we leverage technology and social media to communicate effectively and efficiently with our members?
I learned a lot from these sessions. Not only some good tips and tricks to take back but it also felt reassuring that MANY other CAs had the same concerns and struggles. Sheila Mulvey and Jannette Morales spoke of the use of gamification, incentives, and recognition to motivate and reward members for their participation and involvement. There's no one-size-fits-all way to do this but we need to recognize that it is an important aspect in a volunteer group. I was impressed by the strategies and tools that other state associations use to communicate with their members, such as welcome videos, powtoons, mentorship programs, and targeted messages. Along with membership engagement was the discussion of membership retention. I learned how to identify the needs and challenges of different segments of our membership, such as those who are under 34 years old, those who are over 55 years old, and those who pay for their own dues and multiple memberships. I think these are very important factors to consider when we design our programs and services for our members. I was inspired by the examples of other state associations that have created student positions, junior board seats, and shadowing opportunities for their young and aspiring leaders. I think these are great ways to engage our students and new graduates, and to prepare them for future leadership roles in our profession.
Another topic of the symposium was succession planning. How do we identify and develop the next generation of leaders for our association? How do we ensure a smooth transition of leadership roles and responsibilities? This is crucial for ensuring that our business continues to move forward and that we have a pipeline of qualified and motivated leaders. Dana Perrino and our own Lauren Manson were the presenters. They spoke of strategies to help struggling or younger boards. Great boards are aligned on their vision, mission, goals, and values. They communicate consistently and clearly with each other and with their stakeholders. They also promote the value of volunteering and encourage others to get involved. Great boards have clear policies and procedures that define their roles, responsibilities, expectations, and accountability. They also have regular evaluations and feedback mechanisms to ensure that they are performing well and meeting their objectives. Volunteers need to understand that serving on a board is a serious commitment that requires time, energy, and dedication. Sometimes, volunteering can feel like a full-time job, especially when there are so many operational tasks to do. They spoke about how paid staff should manage the operations, while board members should focus on the high-level vision and direction. This helps us avoid micromanaging and burnout and allows us to delegate and empower others. We are extremely fortunate to have Lauren in our corner but not many CAs have paid staff. Lauren, Beth, Bethany, Carla, Dianna- allows us to focus on the vision and direction, not the day to day operations.
During the succession planning session, Dana spoke of the Authentic Leadership movement. Something that I have not heard before! The authentic leadership movement is based on the idea that leaders should be true to themselves and their values, rather than conforming to external expectations or norms. Authentic leaders are honest, transparent, ethical, and trustworthy. They also have a high level of self-awareness and emotional intelligence, which enables them to understand themselves and others better. Easier said than done but it's definitely something that I strive to be while at work at Nationwide Children's Hospital and being part of the OHIMA Board. I looked into this a bit more once I was back in Columbus and learned that authentic leadership is not a fixed trait or a one-size-fits-all approach. It is a dynamic and ongoing process that requires constant reflection, adaptation, and growth. It is influenced by our personal histories, experiences, values, and beliefs, as well as by the context and culture we operate in. Authentic leadership can look different for different people and situations. This really resonated with me and Dana/Lauren made a strong connection between authentic leadership and succession planning going hand in hand. It helps us create a culture of learning and growth in our organizations. By being authentic, we can inspire and empower our members to develop their skills and potential. We can also identify and nurture future leaders who share our vision and values. Authentic leadership can help us build a strong and diverse talent pipeline that will ensure the continuity and success of our HIM profession.
I came back from the symposium feeling energized and motivated. I hope you enjoyed reading about my experience at the symposium. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to represent our association at this event. I'm also very proud of being a part of this amazing community of health information management professionals!
About the Author
Manjusri (MJ) Nguyen, MBA, RHIA is currently the President-Elect & Director of Membership Engagement on the OHIMA FY 2023-24 Board of Directors. MJ is the Epic Shared Services Manager for Nationwide Children's Hospital.
