About the Scholarship Program 1The Western Pennsylvania Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (WPHIMSS), a non-profit organization, is one of nearly fifty affiliated chapters and the largest healthcare management and information systems professional organization in the nation. As part of our Chapter activities, a scholarship program is offered to students pursing a career in Healthcare Management / Information Systems. This Program was implemented to help financially support the education of future healthcare executives and managers and to recognize students for scholastic achievement and demonstrated leadership. One scholarship is awarded annually. 2008 Edward J. Gerner Scholarship Winner — Kristin Goldstrom   This month, the Western Pennsylvania chapter of HIMSS presented its annual scholarship award to Kristin Goldstrom. Kristin, a first year MBA student at Chatham University, is working toward a career in Long Term Care Administration. She completed her undergraduate work at Kent State University, graduating in December 2007 and has earned both a BA in Psychology and a BS in Gerontology. While attending Kent State, Kristen started a student chapter of the American College of Health Care Administrators and was elected as its first Chapter President. Currently, she is involved with the PA chapter of the ACHCA, the Gerontological Society of America, the Southwest PA Partnership for Aging and most recently, has become a member of the Western PA chapter of HIMSS. Kristen is employed at the Lutheran SeniorLife Center in Cranberry Township as a Technology Research Technician. Her experiences in both healthcare and technology have helped to shape her views and belief that technology will continue to become more critical in helping to improve the quality of life for senior living residents. As Kristen states, "The residents are my reasons for entering the healthcare field and as a future manager, I feel that my passion for this field will help me make a difference in enhancing the healthcare system." Kristen’s essay was chosen from a number of entries submitted to the WPHIMSS Scholarship Committee from local university and college students in healthcare programs. She was presented with the chapter’s annual award, recently named the Edward J. Gerner Scholarship Award, in recognition of one of the Chapter’s founders and co-founder and first president of HIMSS National. Edward J. Gerner Scholarship Application Form Edward J. Gerner Scholarship Program Information

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