President: Shawn Weldin

Education: Network Technology Program – Flint Hills Technical College

Background: Shawn has worked in the technology industry for over 15 years, and has been with Sabetha Community Hospital as the Director of Information Technology since 2007.  As the director he oversees all technology within the hospital, clinic and home health agency operated by SCH. 

Treasurer: Trisha Harkness

Education: BS in Information Technology from the University of Phoenix
 
Background: Trish Harkness earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology from the University of Phoenix. She is also an (ISC)2 Certified Information Security Systems Professional (CISSP) and is Certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security (CHPS) through AHIMA. Trish spent more than seven years in the legal field before transitioning to the information technology (IT) field. She started her career in healthcare IT as the Information Systems Director and HPAA Security Officer for a critical access hospital and its associated rural health clinic in Cheyenne County, Kansas. Trish is currently a Health IT and Systems Specialist for the Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved and Synovim Healthcare Solutions. Trish’s expertise includes meaningful use, HIPAA privacy and security, electronic health record (EHR) implementation, workflow redesign and data analysis.
 
Trish enjoys sharing her experiences and knowledge to educate and empower healthcare providers. She has been a presenter as several local and regional HIMSS events.

Events Co-Chair: Shavonda Thrower

Background: Shavonda Thrower, Business Relationship Manager at KVC Health Systems, Inc. in Olathe, KS.  She has worked in the Social Services field for over 26 years. Shavonda has a background in program management, human resource recruiting & management, project management and enterprise information technology. She has spent the last 4 years working with Electronic Health Records implementation and development.

Shavonda is currently co-chair of Netsmart National User group, a member of the HIMSS Technical Guidance for Interoperability Workgroup and the HIMSSCRM Task Force.

Events Co-Chair: Mia Kaufman

Education: BS in Nursing; MBA

Background: Mia Kaufman has a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing and master’s degree in business administration, with a background in adult medical surgical nursing. In addition to providing patient care, she spent some time as a clinical instructor for the Kansas Wesleyan Nursing program in Salina, KS as well as an Education Coordinator at Salina Regional, Salina, KS.  Mia started her career in Healthcare technology/informatics, 15 years ago at Cerner Cooperation, and has since spent time implementing and supporting electronic health records, with a focus to healthcare informatics.  She currently is employed at Via Christi Health, and is responsible for supporting, implementing and developing Electronic Health Record (EHR) strategies for the health system.

Membership Co-Chair: Michael McEldowney

Education: BS in Management Information Systems - Bellevue University

Background: Mac is currently the Executive Director of IT and Electronic Security Officer for Salina Regional Health Center and is responsible for the management of all Information Technology for SRHC's acute facilities, the Salina Regional Medical Group clinics, and Hospice.  Mac started his career in Healthcare IT 23 years ago as the Director of Information Technology for a rural Columbia/HCA facility in Virginia.  After three years at Alleghany Regional he moved on to serve as the Director of IT for Delta Regional Health Center in Greenville, Mississippi for nine years.  Mac is passionate about data management, data analytics, cyber-security, and Open Source Software.

Membership Co-Chair: Alisha Herrman

Education: BS in Network and Communications Management, EMT

Background: Alisha Herrmann earned her Bachelor of Science in Network and Communications Management from DeVry University in Kansas City, MO. She has been the IT Director and currently CIO, HIPAA Security Officer and Education Coordinator for Edwards County Medical Center in Kinsley, KS since 2009. She became an EMT in 2015.

Advocacy Liaison: Sally Othmer

Sally Othmer, Senior Director of Data Services and Quality Reporting at the Kansas Hospital Association, oversees all data collection and analysis for the association’s member hospitals relative to health information technology, employee compensation, administrative data and numerous quality projects. She has successfully managed the Quality Health Indicator, QHi, Multi-State benchmarking project for over ten years assisting nearly 400 rural hospitals and clinics to strengthen their approaches to quality and financial viability. Sally has a background in math, education, information technology and over 20 years of experience in the realm of healthcare.

HIE Liaison: Alen Laramore

Education: Allen has a Bachelor of Music degree from Wichita State University, and a MBA from Friends University.

Background: Allen has worked for the Kansas Health Information Network (KHIN) & Medical Society of Sedgwick County; (Wichita Health Information Exchange; WHIE) as a Project Manager & Consultant since 2010. Prior to that he spent 25 years in the Radiology Sales arena. He is married to Charlene and they will celebrate 37 years of marriage this summer and has two adult children & a 5-year old grandson, with a granddaughter due in June. Allen & Charlene enjoy traveling, the beach & Disney! Allen spends time away from email playing golf and mowing.

Physician Liaison: Sam Antonios, MD

Background: Sam Antonios, MD, FACP, FHM, CCDS, is Medical Director for Information Systems, CDI and CM physician advisor at Via Christi since 2012. He graduated from medical school in 2003 then started residency at KU School of Medicine- Wichita. He is a Board Certified internist and serves as HIM committee chair for Via Christi Hospitals in Wichita, KS. He is also a practicing hospitalist and sees patients in the hospital.

Web/Communication Chair: Tami Corn

Student/Early Career Liaison: Bidisha Roy

Background: Bidisha Roy, iscurrently a graduate student at University of San Diego Healthcare Informatics program. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, and has completed pre-nursing courses to pursue nursing school down the line. She currently works as a Patient Care Technician at Via Christi Health. Her interest in the field of HealthIT came from the fact that it is interesting to understand the daily processes of disease management with the help of technology. It is a cost-effective and time efficient method.

Clinical Informatics Chair: Chase Tinius

Background:  Chase Tinius is the manager of Healthcare Informatics at Via Christi Health in Wichita, Kansas. He began his career as a Registered Nurse specializing in cardiac bypass care, and then as a heart catheterization specialist. Chase has spent the last four years in informatics, where he helped lead in the health system’s conversion to an integrated electronic medical record and build on the informatics discipline. Chase’s passion within informatics focuses on business intelligence and analytics. Outside of work, Chase loves to spend his time cycling, writing and playing music, spending time with his wife and four children.

Veterans Chair: James Henry

Education: James holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science.   He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Kansas and is currently at work on a graduate degree in Healthcare Administration with a concentration in Informatics.

Background: James Henry has been employed with Cerner as a project manager since 2015. He is currently in the Missouri National Guard and has been in the service since 2005. He has been a Signal Officer (IT) since 2011.

Member Representatives:

Ken Abendshien

Background: Ken graduated from Fort Hays State University in 1970, and then began his career in health care as accountant at Hadley Regional Medical Center, Hays, KS. After three years in accounting, Ken was selected to create the Data Processing Department and oversee the installation of HRMC’s first computer system. Over the next 30 years, Ken expanded the hospitals data center to a regional support organization providing services to Hadley Regional Medical Center (later merged with St. Anthony Hospital to become Hays Medical Center) and 37 regional members of the High Plains Medical Information Network. Today 26 of those 37 hospitals have joined together in forming Midwest Health Systems Data Center a department of Great Plains Health Alliance. Ken has served as President of the Kansas Chapter of HIMSS, first in 1988 as the charter president, and then again in 1998. He also is a national board member for the Vision User Group of the Siemens MedSeries/4 healthcare software based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Ken has presented nationally at HIMSS, Vision User Group meetings, and a meeting sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Office of Rural Health Policy. Ken and his wife Linda, have two children, Shari Meredith of Hays and Lisa Beebe of Raymore, Mo. Shari and her husband Michael have two children, Bradyn and Shayla. Lisa and her husband Ken have two children, Jali and Kenli.

Amanda Vandervoort

Education: Amanda holds licensure as a Registered Nurse and previously cared for medical and surgical patients. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Kansas and is currently at work on a graduate degree in Healthcare Administration with a concentration in Informatics.

Background: Amanda Vandervoort has been working in the field of clinical informatics at Pratt Regional Medical Center for the past eight years.  She works extensively with software implementation, process flow, training, and education. She has been the project lead for the facility in the "meaningful use" of technology per Centers for Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive program guidelines for the past six years.  Her passion is finding technology solutions that add value and contribute in a positive way to patient safety.  Amanda holds licensure as a Registered Nurse and previously cared for medical and surgical patients.    She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Kansas and is currently at work on a graduate degree in Healthcare Administration with a concentration in Informatics.  She serves on the Kansas Hospital Association Health Information Technology Technical Advisory Committee (KHA-HIT TAG), as past chair.  Earlier in her career, she served in the U.S. Army Reserve for eight years in the role of combat service support, Adjutant General branch for soldier personnel and welfare.

Kerry Kellerman

Background: Kerry is the Network Manager for Great Plains Health Alliance. Kerry is a 1984 graduate of Fort Hays State University with an Associate of Science degree in Data Processing. Kerry has worked with information technology for 35 years with the last 21 years being in healthcare. Kerry is an active member of Rotary International, the Kansas Chapter of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, and the Kansas Hospital Association.

Immediate Past President: Michelle McGuire

Education: BS in Computer Processing

Background: Michelle McGuire has a degree in computer processing and twenty years experience in the health information industry. She has experience in managing deployment of solutions for clients changing business flow to electronic medical records. Senior Project Manager for Kansas Health Information Network (KHIN), managing multiple projects to bring hospitals and clinics into the health exchange. Responsible for management of the statewide patient portal. Michelle helps hospitals understand meaningful use requirements. She is on the cutting edge of implementation of healthcare provider solutions necessary to participate in alternative payment models. Currently deployment Engagement Leader for Cerner.  Michelle has authored articles on sales and marketing, billing, and preparing for ICD-10 changes.  She has her Project Management Professional, PMP certification, and is a HIMSS Fellow, she has Certified Professional Health Information and Management Systems certification, CPHIMS. Michelle is President of the KSHIMSS board of directors.  

Advisory Emeritus Chair:  Bob Lies

Education: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Background: Former Robert(Bob) Lies has been in the IT profession since 1972. He started his career as a programmer and later as the IT Director at a large retail home improvement center for 25 years.  After that Bob was a CIO at a local Regional Medical Center for 17 years.  He joined Great Plains Health Alliance in January of 2010 as Project Manager and currently is their Information Security Officer and Contract Manager. Bob has been an active member of the Kansas Chapter of HIMSS for many years serving as the Treasurer, Secretary, President-elect, and President several times. He currently serves as Advisor Emeritus on the chapter Board.  

Bob and his wife reside in Colwich, just outside Wichita. They stay busy with their 16 grandchildren and Bob enjoys cruising around in his classic vet.