It's Time for HIMSS Member Advancement

HIMSS Professional Development, Career Services has a repertoire of offerings to help our members continue to identify various opportunities for career growth. The HIMSS Advancement program is just one of those offerings. This opportunity provides our HIMSS members the ability to be recognized for their dedication to HIMSS and the industry by applying for HIMSS Senior, Fellow or Life status. This is a very prestigious nationally recognized acknowledgement. HIMSS members are chosen for advancement after meeting several criteria based on among other things professional capability.

Here are two highlighted HIMSS member examples. These HIMSS members have achieved HIMSS Advancement recognition and believe this recognition supported career growth and potential.

Willa Fields, DNSc, RN, FHIMSS, Professor, School of Nursing, San Diego State University and HIMSS Board Chair. Willa was asked: “How has HIMSS Fellowship helped you advance your nursing career?”  Her response: “Being a HIMSS Fellow has given me professional recognition and opened up new leadership opportunities such as being on the Board. In universities, gaining tenure and promotion includes service to the community. Being a Fellow was an objective accomplishment that demonstrated my service to the healthcare informatics community and was a consideration in my attainment of tenure and promotion to professor."

Carol LeMaster, FHIMSS - AZHIMSS President, Healthcare IT Staffing Practice Manager AP Professionals.  Carol was asked:  "What value do you find in being a HIMSS Fellow?" Her response:

“Becoming a HIMSS Fellow establishes me within the industry as a professional who knows Healthcare Information Technology. There's so much going on in the industry and it's not easy to come up to speed quickly on current issues and challenges. Being an active member of HIMSS and AZHIMSS has allowed me to grow within the industry over time. The relationships that I have been fortunate to develop within the organization have been invaluable to me personally and professionally. I am humbled by the talented individuals that I have come in contact with through HIMSS and proud to be included among them."

HIMSS members wishing to apply for advancement, at a minimum must have been an individual national member for three continuous years and accumulate 100 points on the advancement application.  Criteria include the following:  education, certification, experience, job responsibility, publications, presentations, professional participation, professional development, awards and honors.  Letters of recommendation from current Senior or Fellow members are required, as well as items such as a job description and organizational charts.  All HIMSS members meeting the three years of continuous membership at HIMSS should review these criteria and further investigate the advancement process. 

Anyone seeking additional Advancement information can visit the website or contact Fritze Roberts, Program Manager, Professional Development, Career Services at froberts@himss.org.