by Dianna Foley, RHIA, CCS, CDIP, CHPS
As we move beyond the success of OHIMA26—where the theme “From Buds to Blooms: Building HI Together” truly flourished—we now find ourselves in the midst of Health Information Professionals Week. This season offers a meaningful opportunity to celebrate both our collective achievements and our individual growth within the field of health information management. It is also an ideal time to pause, reflect, and assess where new opportunities may be ready to take root in your career.
Like any thriving garden, a successful HI career requires ongoing care and cultivation. For coding professionals, this may mean extending new branches into auditing as the landscape evolves alongside AI-assisted coding. Others may choose to dig deeper into the intricacies of release of information (ROI), nurturing their expertise and obtaining the specialized ROI micro-credential. Continuing education—whether through articles, blogs, or professional development—serves as the fertilizer that enriches knowledge and supports sustained growth. Exploring areas such as compliance can also allow your career to branch out in new and rewarding directions.
Volunteering within the HI community is another powerful way to enrich your professional soil. Contributing your time and expertise—whether through state associations, national organizations, or local initiatives—helps cultivate leadership skills, expand professional networks, and strengthen the roots of the profession as a whole. Volunteering provides opportunities to cross-pollinate ideas, gain new perspectives, and develop competencies that may not be fully realized in day-to-day roles. These experiences often lead to unexpected growth, opening doors to new roles, responsibilities, and connections.
The HIM profession offers fertile ground for growth—not only for yourself but for those around you. Supporting colleagues, sharing knowledge, and mentoring emerging professionals helps cultivate a strong and resilient workforce. While planting the seeds of success takes time and dedication, guiding new professionals as they take root and grow into confident contributors is both impactful and rewarding. Volunteering can further enhance this process, allowing you to serve as both a mentor and a steward of the profession’s future.
As you continue tending your professional garden, consider where you can invest your time and energy to yield the greatest growth. Whether you are planting new seeds through education, pruning and refining existing skills, or volunteering to help others flourish, each effort contributes to a vibrant and sustainable HIM community.
With intentional care, continuous learning, and a willingness to give back, your HIM career can continue to grow, thrive, and bloom in meaningful and fulfilling ways.
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