Note from the Editorial Manager: Awards season is upon us, nominate a colleague

by Karla Kozak

With Grammy nominations expected to be released in a few short weeks, followed by Golden Globe nominations in December and Oscar nominations in January, awards season is well and truly underway. And because we at ACDIS love a good theme more than is probably healthy, we can’t help but join in on the fun: I’m pleased to announce that nominations for the 2027 ACDIS Achievement Awards are now open!

This year, we’re excited to offer three awards. The first is our longstanding CDI Professional of the Year. This award is ACDIS’ highest honor and is presented to someone that demonstrates all the best qualities of a CDI professional. Specifically, we’re looking for someone who has served as a role model or mentor, led initiatives that contribute to the enhancement of their CDI department or the profession as a whole, values continuous professional development, and has made a difference in the industry. Nominees must have a minimum of 10 years of experience in the profession.

Our second award is a familiar face with a new name: Melissa Varnavas Accomplishment in CDI. We’re proud to give this award our beloved colleague’s name to continue her legacy at ACDIS. This award recognizes someone who has achieved success in their role as CDI professional, though not yet to the same extent as a nominee for CDI Professional of the Year. A candidate for this award should be an advocate for compliance, CDI efforts, and professional development, interested in a long-term career in the industry.

Finally, we’re excited to introduce a brand-new award for 2027: CDI Program Excellence. This award recognizes a CDI team that consistently applies compliant practices, seeks out professional development opportunities, demonstrates ethics of the highest standard, and fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace. Specifically, a nominated team should contribute to the larger CDI community by presenting educational sessions, volunteering for local chapters, writing for CDI publications, or similar activities; participating in innovative cross-departmental initiatives at their organization; and encouraging its team members to engage in lifelong learning.

If this sounds like one of your colleagues or your team, we encourage you to submit a nomination here. The nomination period will close on January 3, 2027, and I promise that date will sneak up on you, so it’s good to start thinking about your nomination now! You can also learn more about each individual award’s criteria here.

Award recipients will be honored in a special ceremony at the 2027 ACDIS Conference in Las Vegas, and each award is paired with a complimentary conference registration for the recipients or, in the case of CDI Program Excellence, the nominator. We can’t wait to celebrate their achievements!

Editor’s note: Kozak is the editorial manager of products and events for ACDIS. Contact her at karla.kozak@hcpro.com