Affiliate Associations Offer Diverse Benefits to CHIME Members

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5.24.2018
Zach Donisch, Director, AEHIS, AEHIT, AEHIA Membership

As of April 2018, over 500 CHIME members have joined one or more of CHIME’s affiliate membership groups: AEHIS, AEHIT and AEHIA. The Association for Executives in Healthcare Information Security, along with the Association for Executives in Healthcare Information Technology and the Association for Executives in Healthcare Information Applications were founded to support executives in each of the three “pillars” of healthcare IT: security, technology and applications. Our three organizations are made up of CISOs, chief technology officers and chief applications officers from around the world, along with many top CIOs who are also members of CHIME.

Unlike CHIME’s education and professional development focused on healthcare CIO leaders, these three groups narrow their focus to specific sectors of healthcare IT, covering high-level security, technology and applications topics. So, why are so many CHIME members joining these groups?

Growth & Networking

Sriram Bharadwaj, a CHIME, AEHIS and AEHIA member, shared his perspective on getting engaged with AEHIS and AEHIA. “Working with CHIME and the ‘A Groups,’ the association language is different. Discussions are strategy focused, not core-technology focused. When you talk with CHIME and AEHIS, AEHIT, and AEHIA members, the focus is on communication with the C-Suite, understanding the role of the CIO and senior leaders in healthcare IT, and understanding industry concerns. Through CHIME, AEHIS, AEHIT and AEHIA, I can get a true pulse of the industry.”

For many CHIME members, networking is common among the three affiliate associations. CIOs interested in diverse perspectives will often work in tandem with CISOs, CTOs and CAOs to help build leadership and educational programming.

Each association has grown at a terrific pace. Established in 2014 by a handful of interested CHIME members and their direct reports, AEHIS, AEHIT and AEHIA have grown to over 1,800 members. Each association supports four or more committees of engaged volunteer members who are passionate about healthcare IT and building a better association. Joining one or more of these three membership groups enables CIO leaders to dig deep into areas of interest, sharpen their skills on a more technical angle, and network with the top minds in each niche. Working with hundreds of other up-and-coming leaders and experts in security, technology and applications helps broaden members’ networks and strengthen the community that helps them succeed.

Focused Education

CHIME member Jason Hawley also spoke in depth about his reason for getting involved in all four of CHIME’s associations. “AEHIS, AEHIT and AEHIA are testaments to how CHIME has grown, and [each group] recognized the need to get more granular with specific topics like applications, security and technology… The knowledge I am gaining and have gained, has helped me evolve my role immensely. Plus, the knowledge I have shared has helped countless individuals in their challenges and accomplishments.”

This enhanced focus on a specific sector of healthcare IT enables members to dive deep into organizational concerns and current events from a unique perspective. For example, discussions amongst members about Spectre and Meltdown were varied from association to association, with AEHIS focused more on security of devices and AEHIT and AEHIA focused more on the internal impact that deployed patches might have on their organizations. Exposure to these impactful conversations can help guide high-level decision making and help determine the best approach to a particular problem, taking into account organizational priorities.

For many CHIME members like Hawley, membership in AEHIS, AEHIT and AEHIA is a helpful, year-long track session with customized education and professional development alongside listserv discussions, networking opportunities, and more.

Get Involved

Bharadwaj had some closing advice for CHIME members interested in getting further engaged in CHIME and the affiliate associations. “Attend the CIO Fall Forum and Fall Summits – they are a great place to network and learn from your fellow healthcare IT leaders. CIOs and senior leaders alike benefit from the relationships built and the discussions had at these events. Furthermore, set time aside to read articles and experience the webinar content designed for each association, it’s very valuable to your professional development and can have a real positive effect on your organization.”

Click here for more information about one or more of CHIME’s affiliate associations, AEHIS, AEHIT and AEHIA. Membership in one or more of our affiliate associations is free in 2018 for CHIME members. AEHIS, AEHIT and AEHIA are also immensely helpful for members of your IT leadership teams – specifically your CISO, CTO, CAO, and other high-ranking IT leaders. Refer your team to AEHIS, AEHIT, and AEHIA here.

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