At times, we see certain professions and trades populated by certain groups than perhaps others. Additionally, we hear about issues of too few women in science, technology and engineering.  Women are continuing to make gains in these areas albeit perhaps not as dramatically as we would have hoped.  But, being the mother of a daughter who is now a medical student, yearning to be a pediatrician and who majored in biochemistry, I saw her struggles to excel.  She achieved her goals through hard work and an internal drive to succeed.   So, we need to continue advances with actionable items of support.  This same tact holds true for women seeking careers in health information technology.  Despite gender, an individual has to be consistent and focus on where one envisions a career path.  Health IT career paths are exciting yet demanding – regardless of gender because it’s the ability of an individual to grasp new concepts (ICD-10 as an example: http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_icd10playbook.asp) that help to shape a career path and opportunities.  Some claim that women have it more challenging because of the usual balancing acts of family life, but in the end, women have just as much of a chance to succeed in a health IT career as anyone else.   Excellent examples include our own Carla Smith, MA, CNM, Executive Vice President, HIMSS who is a national leader in health IT or Charlene S. Underwood, MBA, FHIMSS, Senior Director, Government and Industry Affairs for Siemens Medical Solutions and HIMSS Board Chair.  Both of these women are in the HIMSS eMentoring Program.  So, with an inner determination and passion to help lead change, the field is wide open for ingenuity, unique skill sets and successful career paths for women interested in health IT careers.

HIMSS Career Services realizes that our membership is diverse.  We want to ensure that our educational efforts coincide with our members’ needs.  Thus, in support of women and their quest to further career paths in health IT, HIMSS Professional Development, Career Services along with HIMSS Regional Affairs and the HIMSS Chapters from Arizona, Northern California, Southern California and Washington have joined forces to create a one-day event to support the professional development of women in healthcare.  The event will feature keynote speaker, Dr. Connie Mariano, “The White House Doctor”, physician to three American presidents.  The one day event will be held on January 20, 2012 at the Microsoft Offices, San Francisco, California.  Carol LeMaster, FHIMSS, President Elect of HIMSS Arizona Chapter has been invaluable to further this program.  So, kudos to Carol for her efforts to support women in health IT career paths!

This event is designed to encourage and support the growth of women leaders in healthcare IT. Various women executives will be on site and will share their career pearls pertinent to achieving a successful career path.  Leadership skills and project management along with career coaching will be available.  More than 200 industry leaders are coming together to be inspired, encouraged and mentored as they gain powerful insights into what successful women executives are accomplishing in healthcare today including health IT career paths.  So, register early at the following link: http://www.nocalhimss.org/announcements/announcements.html because seating is limited.

And remember...Be passionate about your career path and strive to make a difference and learn, learn...learn.  Technology is only the enabler; individuals will be the “transformers” of health IT in the years to come!
 

Helen Figge is Senior Director of Career Services at HIMSS.