The Distinguished Member Award is CHIA’s highest honor. The purpose of this award is to recognize a member who has shown exemplary leadership within the Association and has made outstanding contributions to the health information (HI) profession. Eligible candidates must have made meritorious and sustained contributions to the profession in more than one of the following areas:

The Educator Award honors those who demonstrate excellence in preparing the next generation of professionals for careers in health information and the health information profession that depends on a continual influx of well-trained new talent. Those who qualify are instructors who teach in a formal health information administration or health information technology program that grants associate, baccalaureate, or master’s degree, and who:

The HIM Industry Champion Award recognizes those who have worked tirelessly to support the health information profession by advancing CHIA’s leadership position. Nominees need not be CHIA members; they may be individuals, organizations, or companies that worked for CHIA on a contractual basis. Documentation of the nominee’s support of CHIA must be submitted. Please provide your feedback on the individual for each of the criteria for awards.

The Literary Award recognizes a member’s contribution to the published materials available to the health information profession. Candidates must be an author, co-author, editor or co-editor of published material that meets the selection criteria:

The Mentor Award honors individuals that have demonstrated excellence in mentoring and encouraging students or colleagues to realize their full potential or have helped them find ways to achieve their best. The candidate should have made contributions to the profession in more than one of the following ways:

The Rising Star Award recognizes and encourages the best of the fresh new talent being trained in health information administration or health information technology degree granting programs. It honors a gifted student or promising emerging professional who inspires hope for the future of the health information profession. Candidates must be CHIA members who are Emerging Professionals (Students) enrolled at the time of nomination in an approved HIA or HIT degree program; have graduated in the last three months; or health information professionals who have been credentialed within the last seven years.

Nominees must demonstrate significant potential for future leadership, innovation, creativity, and administrative capacity. Criteria includes:

The Volunteer Award honors members who have served consistently as an exemplary volunteer supporting the mission of CHIA. Candidates should have exceptional and consistent (minimum of three years) volunteer service that has contributed to the advancement of the profession. Criteria includes: