Bernie Monegain

Writing in a blog published on the HIMSS site, Willa Fields advises young women starting their healthcare IT career to find a mentor. On the flip side, she also urges women – and men – in healthcare IT to become a mentor for those just getting started in healthcare IT. Fields is former chair of the HIMSS Board of Directors; a judge of the 2017 HIMSS Women in Health IT Awards; and professor, School of Nursing, San Diego State University Many of the inequality concerns she has today, stem from the discrimination women continue to experience in the technology workplace today, she says, including pay inequality and the paltry representation of women in the executive suite today. Read Fields’ blog here.

The project tells patient stories via paintings by artist Regina Holliday.

“Overall, women have made great strides in the workforce, but the reality is there are still gaps and room for improvement. Lately, however, there has been a welcome shift,” Christina Caraballo, senior healthcare strategist at Get Real Health, writes in a recent blog. Caraballo, recognized by HIMSS at HIMSS17 with a “Most Influential Women in Healthcare IT Award, writes about how times are changing for the better. “Organizations like HIMSS are openly recognizing the wealth of strong, competent women working behind the scenes in this burgeoning industry,” she writes. “Being named as one of the most influential women in Health IT by HIMSS is both intimidating and exhilarating. It is an honor to be recognized, but it also creates high expectations to continue to make a positive impact as we reshape the way we think about and deliver health care around the world. I am most excited when I think about what lies ahead, and how I can continue to play a role in building communities." Caraballo goes on to write about Parkour, a workout regimen that has its roots in training Special Forces Units. She also writes about advocates moving out of their comfort zones, mentoring and encouraging others, She notes: “I am inspired by my colleagues who constantly lift me up and who share my ideology and enthusiasm for empowering others.” Read the entire blog here.

Listen to HIMSS Executive Vice President Carla Smith talk about what led to the launch of HIMSS and Healthcare IT News initiative for Women in Health IT. Smith also talks about plans going forward for this newly minted community.     Listen to more STEPS to Value interviews here.  STEPS to Value is the exclusive podcast for the HIMSS Health IT Value Suite.  The HIMSS Health IT Value Suite provides both a structure and vocabulary with which your enterprise can organize its value strategy. The suite highlights hundreds of examples of hospitals, physician practices, communities and accountable care organizations that have realized the full value of Health IT. Resources include many detailed case studies that reveal strategy, tactics and the measures used to document value.