Note from the ACDIS Director: Welcome to our new 2026 ACDIS Advisory Board Members
by Rebecca Hendren
The ACDIS Advisory Board provides the association with guidance and feedback, as well as industry expertise to the CDI community through authorship of position papers and white papers, such as the recently published Safeguarding Ethical Documentation Practices in Querying, Peer-to-Peer Discussion, and Technological Initiatives.
Along with reading their advice, you will hear them on ACDIS Quarterly Member Calls, at the national conference, and as occasional guests on the ACDIS Podcast.
Before I welcome the new members, I extend my deepest thanks to the members of the Board who have just completed their term of service. Their wisdom, thoughtful writing, and good humor have been indispensable over the past few years:
- A.J. Hegg, MD, CCDS, ACPA-C
- Faisal Hussain, MD, MHIIM, RHIA, CCDS, CDIP, CCS
- Sydni Johnson, BSN, RN, CCDS
- Tami McMasters-Gomez, MHL, BS, CCDS, CDIP, CCS-P
Thank you to all ACDIS members who took the time to vote for the wonderful volunteers who offered to serve in the next term. It was a tight race, but our newest members have been elected.
Please join me in welcoming:
- Penny Jefferson, MSN, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CCS, CDIP, CRC, CHDA, CRCR, CPHQ, ACPA-C
- Marcie Johnson, RN, BSN, CCDS
- Vaughn Matacale, MD, CCDS
- Payal Sinha, MBA, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CDIP, CRC, CRCR
Thank you for your dedication to the profession and welcome to the Board!
Editor’s note: Hendren is the director of ACDIS. Contact her at Rebecca.hendren@hcpro.com.