AHIMA Scholarship Winner: Angie Heeralal, Bachelor of Health Information Management

Bachelor of Health Information Management Student, Angie Heeralal, Receives $5,000 Scholarship From AHIMA®

The health information management (HIM) industry plays a critical role in modern healthcare by ensuring the accuracy, security, and accessibility of patient data. With growing demand for data-driven healthcare solutions, the HIM field continues to be an evolving industry.

Angie Heeralal is a dedicated student who is currently enrolled in the University of Cincinnati’s online Bachelor of Health Information Management program and was recently awarded a $5,000 scholarship from the AHIMA® Foundation.

Angie recently discussed her experience at the University of Cincinnati and the online BHIM program. Here is her perspective on being a student in the program:

Q: What motivated you to pursue an online degree?

I was motivated to pursue an online degree due to the flexibility it offers, enabling me to manage my studies while effectively balancing my professional and personal commitments. The ability to study at my own pace and on my own schedule has made the learning experience more enjoyable and less stressful. Overall, the online format has provided a perfect blend of convenience and quality education.

Q: Overall, how would you describe the online learning experience/pursuing a degree online?

My UC online learning experience has far surpassed my expectations. The Canvas platform is amazingly user-friendly, and the professors are outstanding. The academic support I’ve received has made my educational journey go much more smoothly. The resources and guidance provided have been invaluable in helping me stay on track and achieve my goals.

Q: What are your career goals/plans?

Reentering the workforce over a decade ago and advancing my career as a facility medical coder has been both fulfilling and enlightening. I’ve experienced significant professional and personal growth, and I continue to explore many opportunities in health information management, including auditing, compliance, and my ultimate goal of education/training. I am excited about the opportunities that await me once I receive my bachelor’s degree from UC!

Q: Were you ever able to apply what you were learning in class to the workplace? How?

During my most recent term at UC, I applied a concept from my Health IT course to my daily work. As a medical coder, I use an encoder, the coding and reimbursement system (CRS), to assign accurate codes to patient encounters. Despite using the CRS through our EHR daily for over three years, I never realized what enabled the secure data transmission between the two systems. After learning about interface software, I now understand that an interface facilitates the communication between the CRS and EHR. I even discovered that the HL7 FHIR interface connects these systems in my workplace. What an ah-ha moment!

Learn More About UC’s Online Bachelor of Health Information Management Program

The Bachelor of Health Information Management from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Clermont is flexible and 100% online. Build your data, technology, and healthcare skills to advance your career in the HIM field.

Learn More about our online Bachelor of Health Information Management program.