Awards
The Future of Health Information Award- 2023 Winners
Focused on students, this award recognizes academic excellence and passion for the health information profession.
Recipients contribute to their classrooms and their communities. They have the potential to impact the future of the profession positively. Accredited programs from The Canadian College of Health Information Management may nominate one individual per calendar year. That individual will receive a $250 bursary from the CHIMA endowment, inclusion in CHIMA’s annual team learning subscription for one year, a certificate and recognition in a CHIMA publication.
2023 Future of Health Information Award Recipients
Dr. Ryan Joseph Jarencio, MD MBA CHIM
HIM Diploma at St. Lawrence College
Dr. Jarencio has proved himself to be a valuable member of our graduating class. He has routinely given of himself to help others.
He took it upon himself to start a College designated HIM Club where students from all levels could meet to discuss HIM topics and invite guest speakers to events. He organized a group of 7 student members to produce an NCE study guide for his class and received SLC funding to have copies printed to be held in the college library for the next generation. He has also been employed in HIM-related roles throughout his career, such as the Coder/Clerk position at SLC, where he is helping us build our program resources in EHR Go. He has also acted as a peer tutor for biomedical sciences and math classes.
He is a leader amongst his peers, and I am delighted to soon be his peer as well. I look forward to seeing his career grow and evolve.
Sydney Judge
HIM Diploma at RRC Polytechnic
Sydney excels in numerous ways and has proven she really is the “future of HIM.” Not only has she had academic achievements during her first year, but she shows an in-depth understanding of the health information management field already in her early stages within the field. Sydney takes an immense interest in the profession and makes an effort to learn more in all aspects.
During her first year of the program, she has already begun working within the field at the Grace Hospital in Winnipeg and has proven what she can already do. She also successfully completed her first practicum at Selkirk Mental Health and has taken an interest in working with mental health and how our profession can help within this specialty.
Sydney has also expressed an interest in coding and has academically proved herself with her knowledge and skills in coding. I was extremely impressed with how well she already understands the process and is able to logically think about what codes she is applying.
Sydney has also considered becoming a peer tutor within our program to help others within her program, and she is the student representative on our program advisory committee. I can see Sydney doing great things within our field due to her intelligence, knowledge, motivation, work ethic, and kindness.
I believe Sydney exhibits exactly what the future of the health information management profession looks like and is a deserving candidate for this award for the first year of our program!
Ellini Lestari, CHIM
HIM Diploma at Fleming College
Ellini is an exceptional student. Apart from her academic success, she is very engaged with all of her professors. She is dedicated and enthusiastic about the HIM profession. She exemplifies what this award is all about. I consulted with my colleagues in the program and the choice of Ellini was pretty much unanimous.
Andrea Lorette, CHIM
Master of Health Administration-Health Informatics and Information Management at Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy
Andrea has consistently ranked in the top 10% of her courses in the program. In every assignment I’ve reviewed, Andrea has consistently gone above and beyond, dedicating time to create valuable models, frameworks, and tools as appendices or supplements to her work. As a mature entry student without a bachelor’s degree, she exemplifies the preparedness of HIM professionals for advanced education and graduate studies.
Her leadership skills and critical thinking disposition are equally noteworthy and set an example for others; she is well-prepared to lead and educate. During her student placement, she made the most of her limited time, developing a valuable toolkit product ready for use among HIM professionals. I’m eager to see the heights to which Andrea will take her career after earning a master’s degree in health administration upon graduation.
Delse Peter, CHIM
HIM Diploma at Anderson College
Delse has a stellar record in both academics and attendance. She actively participates in classroom discussions and demonstrates an inquiring mind. Her enthusiasm for the HIM profession is refreshing. I think she is an excellent candidate for this new award.
Lawrence Ukponahiunsi, CHIM
HIM Diploma at Nova Scotia Community College
Lawrence has consistently shown his academic excellence and commitment to Health Information Management and life-long learning. He is dignified and professional in his approach to all things and as a recent immigrant to Canada, has embraced the challenges of living here with his young family. He embodies each one of the code of ethics, approaches life with curiosity and an intelligent, enquiring mind and is dedicated to improving Canada’s healthcare system. His very active in his community and has an extensive background in supporting the rights of gay and HIV positive people and other marginalised groups in his home country of Nigeria, who experience prosecution and systemic, unequal access to healthcare.
He is respected by his classmates and is a valued team member, generous with his time and capacity for empathy and respectful collaboration. I feel very honoured to have met Lawrence and truly believe he exemplifies the future of HIM.
Iryna Verbova, CHIM
HIM Diploma at CHA Learning
This student had the highest academic average with a full-time course load in their final year of the program. In addition, they offered engagement with their faculty and peers throughout the program and excelled in their final practicum project.
Kristin Langille
HIM Diploma at Centre for Distance Education (CD-ED)
Kristin was the overall choice of all instructors within the HIM program. She has faced many challenges and has continued to demonstrate perseverance; her sheer determination to complete the program regardless of circumstances is inspiring. Her work meets high academic standards, and she is able to translate complex theory and apply it to scenarios. She appropriately questions when uncertain, and is always respectful in her communications with instructors. She eagerly participates in all additional optional presentations and activities offered to students and provides thoughtful feedback on courses as she progresses through them. We all believe that she will be an excellent representative of the Health Information Management profession when she completes the program.
Denise Angelozzi de Oliveria, CHIM
HIM Post-baccalaureate diploma at Douglas College
Denise has been an exemplary student throughout the entire course of her studies at Douglas College. She has recently immigrated to Canada and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from her home country. In addition to maintaining a high grade point average, Denise was awarded a position in the coding co-op, which is a partnership established with health authorities in the lower mainland area. Denise also served as the Student Research Ambassador, working with students from all Health Science programs, mentoring them throughout their research projects while engaging new students int he field of research. Denise was also able to take on additional duties as she participated in voluntary internships throughout the last year of the program. This included various quality audits performed by QI teams in regional health authorities. Denise has been a valued member of any group projects and is seen as a true leader by all. It has been a true privilege to work and learn with Denise over these past two years and I look forward to seeing where her path takes her next.
