President's Message
As the president of Alabama HIMSS, I would like to extend a warm welcome and invite you to join in our professional activities. I am very excited about the continued interest in Alabama HIMSS. Our seminars provide valuable educational information as well as great networking opportunities with your peers. Attendees represent such entities as provider organizations, vendors, insurance companies, and academia.
The leadership of Alabama HIMSS has set some ambitious goals for the coming year. In order to achieve these goals we need your continued and/or increased support. Below are our goals for the 2003-2004.
1) Conduct Two Seminars Per Year
One of HIMSS' primary objectives is education. We achieve this goal through our two seminars each year. These are typically held in Birmingham and consist of well-known speakers from throughout the United States. We choose topics which are timely and have wide appeal to our member constituency. Our speakers have included various health care professionals including CIO's, hospital department directors, students, vendors, attorneys, and others. We also strongly encourage our HIMSS members to make presentations at our seminars. These can count toward advancement in national HIMSS to Senior or Fellow status.
2) Alabama HIMSS Newsletter
Publish Newsletter Twice a Year - Our goal is to increase the communication among the Alabama HIMSS community via the newsletter. Content for the newsletter may include articles or papers from HIMSS members, students, and others who have information to share. Other aspects of the newsletter include member news, job opportunities, and information on past or future seminars. Gladys Amerson from Children's Hospital and Lynn Graves from UAB are serving as co-chair of publications are doing a great job. They did the vast majority of work for the newsletter and we greatly appreciate their efforts.
3) Continue Utilizing the Alabama HIMSS Web Site to communicate with our members and potential members
We will be trying to increase the awareness of the web site through our seminars and newsletters. Furthermore, we are placing a link to the national HIMSS Job Mine in order to help our membership who are either seeking a new position or seeking employees to fill positions in their organizations.
4) Form a Clinical Systems Special Interest Group(SIG)
Nancy Campbell of Siemens is leading this effort. The first meeting will be held in conjunction with our fall seminar on October 23, 2003. Please contact nancy.campbell@bhsala.com if you would like to participate in the new SIG.
5) Continue to recognize and involve university level students and faculty
Alabama HIMSS will be awarding three President's Awards of $500, $300, and $200 to deserving undergraduate and graduate students. We will also be working with the UAB MSHI program faculty and students via our student liaison Meg Bruck.
We have an excellent seminar planned in Birmingham at the Marriott Grandview for April 29, 2004. The primary topic will be "Paving the Road to Success " Please plan on joining us for some great educational sessions and networking opportunities. More details and registration information are on the main page.
Thanks again for your interest in Alabama HIMSS and I hope to hear from you soon. I may be reached at randy.hester@lawson.com.
Sincerely,
Randy Hester, Alabama HIMSS President
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