Moving On and Moving Forward: The Future of AHIMA Is Bright
During my five years at AHIMA, I’ve often spoken about what makes a leader great.
An effective leader is open-minded and authentic. They are bold when it matters. Most importantly, they seek to serve others first.
But true leadership is not just about having the right competencies to move an organization forward. It’s also about having the self-awareness to recognize when fresh perspectives are needed. It requires putting the needs of the organization and the profession ahead of one's own ego, and maintaining a relentless focus on the outcomes that matter most.
I am deeply proud of my tenure at AHIMA. I have been privileged to lead an enormously capable team and together, we have accomplished so much.
As a result of our work together, AHIMA and the health information profession have a bigger seat at the table in dialogues that shape critical parts of healthcare. We have kickstarted national conversations around how to better match patient data, and we are leading the movement on ensuring that technology and policy support clinical care and operations. We are now helping guide the national conversation on social determinants of health, and we have strengthened our relationships with key partners who will help our cause.
We have made AHIMA more financially viable, and more culturally fit — particularly internally. We have repositioned our organization as a strong advocacy and health policy association.
We have done all this while navigating a pandemic.
The AHIMA commitment to excellence — and our members’ passion for improving healthcare — has inspired me to be better. I am grateful for the opportunities that I have had to increase my health information literacy, thanks to the work that members do every day.
As I prepare for my next chapter, I want to encourage you to stay true to the values that have made this organization great. I hope that you will continue to lean into your potential, and always strive for excellence in everything that you do. Embrace your boldness, and be willing to challenge conventional wisdom when it stands in the way of progress. And above all else, never lose sight of the fact that your work is critically important, and that you have the power to make a real difference in the lives of those you serve.
AHIMA is led by a talented and dedicated team and board who are deeply committed to the organization’s mission and vision, and it is guided by passionate members who are advancing the health information field every day. I am confident that the future is bright for AHIMA.
In closing, I want to thank you for your hard work, your dedication, and your support. It has been an honor to serve as CEO of AHIMA, and I look forward to watching your continued success.
Wylecia Wiggs Harris is the chief executive officer of AHIMA.