ACDIS update: 2022 Scholarship recipients announced

Launched in fall 2019, the ACDIS CDI Scholarship program exists to assist CDI professionals in enhancing their careers with further education and to increase collaboration among their colleagues by sharing knowledge. ACDIS awards three scholarships annually:

• One (1) award for a one-year ACDIS membership + enrollment in the ACDIS CDI Apprenticeship program
• One (1) award of registration to an ACDIS online Boot Camp
• One (1) award of a 2022 ACDIS conference registration

Since the application period closed at the end of November 2021, the ACDIS Furthering Education Committee has reviewed and evaluated nearly 40 applications and selected three recipients. Click here to read about the scholarship criteria, application, and selection process.

The scholarship recipients represent the best and brightest in the CDI industry, providing a glimpse into the promising future of the profession. They hail from different professional backgrounds, organization sizes, geographic locations, and levels of experience. Additionally, each of this year’s recipients demonstrated an enthusiasm for sharing the knowledge the scholarships would afford them with their teams and other departments.

Without further ado, the 2022 Scholarship recipients:

ACDIS membership, enrollment in the CDI Apprenticeship

Megan Baker, RN, works at Henry Ford Health System in Chelsea, Michigan, as a CDI specialist. Megan worked as a nurse on an intermediate care unit and in the field of labor and delivery for six years before transitioning to a CDI role at her current organization two years ago. She is currently pursuing her BSN degree and is looking forward to taking the Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS) exam in the next year. Even after two years in the role, Baker said she is excited about her job every day and loves that she learns something new with each chart review.

“Megan’s work ethic and passion for CDI is unwavering,” wrote one of her recommenders. “She is always seeking and sharing new ideas and staying relevant with CDI. She can think outside of the box and shares ideas for process improvement.”

To help her grow in her role and equip her with the information she needs to better educate providers and her team members, Megan has been awarded a year-long ACDIS membership and enrolled in the CDI Apprenticeship program. Congratulations!

Registration to an online ACDIS Boot Camp

Laurie Baker, RN, CCDS, works as a CDI specialist at Memorial Hospital and Healthcare in Huntingburg, Indiana. Prior to joining the CDI ranks more than four years ago, Baker worked in the nursing field for more than 20 years, gaining experience in long-term care, education, post-surgical care, and case management. She uses all this experience in her current role and is passionate about quality documentation and its effect on all areas of patient care. Because one of her more experienced colleagues is leaving to pursue further education, Baker will be tasked with training new staff members and feels the need for greater education.

“With her many years of experience as a registered nurse, combined with her commitment to excellence through certification and advanced degree completion, she is an excellent choice for this scholarship,” one of her recommenders wrote. “She continues to be committed to grow professionally, build expertise, and maintain up-to-date knowledge.”

As she works to expand her knowledge and train new CDI professionals, Baker will be enrolling in the CDI and Quality Care Measures Boot Camp Online. Congratulations!

Registration to the 2022 ACDIS Conference

Ekta Sharma, MBBS, MHA, CCS, CDIP, works at Roxborough Memorial Hospital in Bear, Delaware, as a CDI specialist. She earned her medical degree in India prior to moving to the United States where she earned her master’s degree and entered the CDI field more than five years ago. She is passionate and knowledgeable about her role and said that she never has a dull day in CDI. In an effort to bring new knowledge and connections back to her team, she’s enthusiastic about networking with and learning from other CDI professionals at other organizations across the country.

“[She] bright future in this field,” wrote one of her recommenders. “She has shown initiative to broaden her knowledge base and actively shows hands-on interest in the CDI program and its effect to the hospital system. Ekta has a professional and personable attitude that makes the work environment a delight.”

To help her connect with other CDI professionals and better her program through those connections, Sharma has been awarded a registration to the 2022 ACDIS Conference in Orlando, Florida. Congratulations!