WHIMA 2022 Distinguished Member – Teresa (Jaehrling) Smithrud, MJ, MA, RHIA, CHPS, FAHIMA

Congratulations to Teresa (Jaehrling) Smithrud, MJ, MA, RHIA, CHPS, FAHIMA – WHIMA Distinguished Member for 2022! Teresa was recognized for this prestigious award at the WHIMA Annual Conference in Elkhart Lake! The objective of this award is to recognize and honor outstanding members for their loyal service to the association and their contribution to the profession.

Teresa is known for her dedication to the HIM profession, WHIMA, and its members. She has a collegial spirit in which she is willing to share complex situations and problem-solve together. Teresa always has time for a colleague, a student, or a mentoring opportunity. Many have listened to her speak at Conferences where her wealth of knowledge shines bright. Co-presenters find it is a bit of magic to present with her. There is a “ying and yang” during the preparation of the session and the presentation itself.

Teresa has continued her education by achieving her MJ degree at Loyola! This dedication to such a degree exemplifies her talents and dedication to taking our AHIMA industry knowledge to yet a whole new level! She’s also advanced her knowledge with her MA in health informatics. Her pursuit for excellence not only is a positive influence on health information within her organization but is ultimately a positive influence on the patients and families that receive healthcare services. Teresa’s qualifications include certifications: MJ, MA, RHIA, CHPS, and FAHIMA, which gives her HIM expertise in revenue cycle, coding, data governance, record content, and privacy. She is the system privacy Officer for an 8,000-member workforce. These additional degrees and her certifications represent her lifelong learning and growth. She is a true role model for others.

Teresa – Congratulations on this well-deserved award!

Congratulatory emails can be sent to Teresa at tsmithrud@mhemail.org or tsmithrud@luc.edu.