Each year, the American Health Information Management Association's (AHIMA) Foundation of Research and Education (FORE) recognizes HIM professionals for their passion and commitment to advancing the field. During Tuesday's general sessions, FORE board director Joe D'Antonio congratulated nine deserving winners of the 2008 Triumph Awards.

Barbara Fuller, JD, RHIA, FAHIMA, received the Distinguished Member Award for her ongoing dedication to leadership and ethics in HIM. Assistant director for ethics at the National Human Genome Research Institute in Bethesda, MD, Fuller serves a crucial role in protecting privacy and confidentiality of information as health care explores the genetic frontier.

"I am so honored to be included in this distinguished group," Fuller said. She added that receiving the award was "a dream of a lifetime-or actually, something I never dreamed."

Throughout the conference, Fuller was frequently named as a champion of ethical policymaking, but her dedication to HIM extends beyond the innovations of tomorrow. A longtime member of AHIMA, Fuller is a past president of AHIMA and former chair of the FORE board. Fuller also serves as a mentor in AHIMA's student mentoring program and publishes scholarly articles on emerging issues in HIM.

Originally entering HIM to please her mother, Fuller said she was "incredibly lucky" for the many opportunities and mentors who enabled her success in the field.

A forward-looking and proactive educator, Merida Johns, PhD, RHIA, earned the  Champion Award for pushing HIM to the next level. Dr. Johns identified potential new roles for HIM professionals in informatics and developed a curriculum to prepare graduates for those positions. Dr. Johns established the graduate program in health informatics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, directed Loyola University Chicago's graduate program in information systems management and has published several books and articles on the subject.

The e-HIM Award, which celebrates dedication to providing accurate and accessible electronic information, went to Janet Baucom, RHIA. Director of medical records at CaroMont Health/Gaston Memorial Hospital in Gastonia, NC, Baucom was praised for her tireless effort in implementing the Sorian HIM health care system, an electronic application that has reduced cost and improved productivity. Baucom's constant pursuit of digital-based innovation made her well-suited to serve as president, delegate and member of the Legal Affairs Committee for the North Carolina HIMA.

Michelle Green, MPS, RHIA, FAHIMA, received the Educator Award for developing new educational opportunities for HIM students. A professor at New York's Alfred State College, Green established the college's online coding and reimbursement specialist and HIT programs, enabling students to take courses over the Internet. Green has also published several HIM textbooks and was named Teacher of the Year by the Alfred State College Alumni Association.

The Legacy Award went to Rose Dunn, MBA, RHIA, CPA, CHPS, FAHIMA, and Lou Ann Schraffenberger, MBA, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P. Dunn was acknowledged for 35 years of work in HIM, during which she has published books and led in-person and audio presentations on productivity and benchmarking support. A past-president of AHIMA and the Missouri HIMA, Dunn has also served as an editorial advisor and chair of the FORE board of directors.

Schraffenberger has served more than 25 years as an educator and mentor in HIM. In addition to publishing materials on coding concepts, techniques and instructions, Schraffenberger also served on several associations, including the Joint Commission Hospital Professional and Technical Advisory Committee, and helped found the Society for Clinical Coding.

An enthusiastic motivator, Geraldine Smothers, MPA, RHIA, CSL, CPHQ, FAHIMA, received the Mentor Award. Smothers has guided HIM students and professionals along their career paths and currently mentors 10 individuals who are climbing the ladder in HIM. Smothers also established the Jordan Evans Institute, a specialty school for those pursuing clerical positions in HIM and related fields.

Jennifer Garvin, PhD, MBA, RHIA, CPHQ, CCS, CTR, FAHIMA, earned the Research Award for expanding the HIM horizon. A health scientist with the Veterans Affairs Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Dr. Garvin explores potential uses of EHR for patient care and performance measures. Dr. Garvin created a course that teaches design, analysis and evaluation of systems and HIT. She also encourages others to research areas of interest and has presenting seminars on research techniques at AHIMA meetings.

The Rising Star Award went to Jennifer Melvin, RHIA, a young professional who promotes cooperation between HIM and IT. As senior business systems analyst at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, MO, Melvin works with IT to oversee the facility's EHR and is developing new forms as a member of the corporate forms committee. Melvin is also involved in associations, having served as director of communications for the Missouri HIMA and secretary of the Eastern Missouri HIMA.