Meet a Member | ‘Be prepared to learn something new every day’

Vibart Yaw, DDS, OMS, MSc, CDIP, CCDS, has been in the CDI field for three and a half years. Yaw is one of the founders of the Northern New Jersey ACDIS chapter. He is also a certified Epic Inpatient Orders trainer. 

ACDIS: What did you do before entering CDI? Why did you get into this line of work?

Yaw: I had decided on moving to the U.S. in 2013 for family reasons, not to continue practicing as an oral surgeon. I was then introduced to medical billing and coding. After completing a certificate program at SUNY Downstate, I did an internship at a nearby hospital and was introduced to CDI.

ACDIS: What has been your biggest challenge? 

Yaw: My biggest challenge is getting the procedure codes.

ACDIS: What has been your biggest reward?

Yaw: My biggest reward is the bond that I have with my director and the team at CentraState. It is a great place to work.

ACDIS: How has the field changed since you began working in CDI?

Yaw: The improved use of artificial intelligence has greatly improved the process of finding the correct charts to review.

ACDIS: Can you mention a few of the “gold nuggets” of information you’ve received from colleagues or through ACDIS?

Yaw: These “golden nuggets” are also the advice that I would give to a new CDI: Keep your ACDIS Pocket Guide by your desk ALWAYS, and be prepared to learn something new every day.

ACDIS: If you have attended, how many ACDIS conferences have you been to? What are your favorite memories?

Yaw: I have attended three ACDIS conferences so far, in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The most memorable was Chicago 2023, where I got a chance to meet Ms. Laurie Prescott and Mrs. Linnea Archibald in person.

ACDIS: What was your first job?

Yaw: My first job out of high school was a grade 1 and 2 teacher.

ACDIS: If you could have any other job, what would it be?       

Yaw: I would go back to my first love, oral and maxillofacial surgery.

ACDIS: Can you tell us about a few of your favorite things?

Yaw: I love to cook and bake. I also play golf as often as time and the weather would permit. My favorite part of the world are the islands of the English-speaking Caribbean, especially Grenada. I have two adorable grandchildren, Rebecca (13) and Joaquin (7). I also have a 7-year-old cat, and her name is Zuzu.