Unlocking the Power of Connection: Finding Value in Engaging with Emerging and Established Professionals

As we prepare for AHIMA24, I’m reminded of how transformative conferences like these can be. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just stepping into the healthcare information space, the opportunity to connect with both emerging and established experts is invaluable.

For me, the real power of these events comes from the chance to learn from people with a wide range of experiences. I love sitting with veterans of the industry—those who have seen the landscape change over decades—and hearing their thoughts on methods and interventions that shaped the foundation of today’s systems. Legacy knowledge is important because it gives us context. It helps us understand where we’ve come from and how far we’ve advanced.

And the future? Well, that’s where the emerging professionals come in. Their fresh perspectives and enthusiasm for new ideas help to drive progress, ensuring that our systems and practices continue to evolve and meet the needs of tomorrow.

When we bring these two worlds together, something truly powerful happens. It’s this blend of the old and the new that drives our profession forward.

AHIMA24 is more than just a conference; it’s a community, a space for us to share, learn, and grow together. Whether you attend in person or virtually, this event offers countless opportunities to deepen your understanding and build lasting connections.

The Career Advancement Track, for example, highlights valuable sessions like Educational Experiences That Reach Beyond the HIM Profession and Revolutionizing Healthcare Coding: The Power of AI in Coding. These aren’t just sessions—they’re pathways to growth, ways to take what you’ve learned and bring it back to your organization, your classroom, your career.

Let’s remember that every connection we make, every conversation we have, holds the potential to spark something great. Like a fire kindled from a single match, the shared wisdom and collective experiences at AHIMA24 can ignite new ideas and lasting change.

Let’s lean into these moments, embrace the opportunity to engage with one another, and carry forward the inspiration that comes from being part of something bigger than ourselves.

Join me at AHIMA24, and let’s build a community that’s not just empowering people to impact health® but prepared to lead the way in health information for years to come.

Dr. Jasmine T. Agnew, DHPE, MHIIM, RHIA, CPHIMS, CSBI, eFACHDM, is the Senior Vice President, Academic Affairs and Professional Credentials for AHIMA.