To help cultivate leaders within healthcare technology management, AAMI and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) have developed the HTM Leadership Academy. The inaugural program, which runs concurrent with the AAMI 2018 Conference & Expo in Long Beach, Calif., on June 4, is specifically designed to address HTM professionals’ day-to-day challenges—and to position them to have a seat at their respective organization’s “big” table.

“Becoming a leader is one way an HTM professional can advance his or her career. On a larger level, having well-trained leaders helps the HTM department become a more valued member of the healthcare delivery team and have a seat at the table when decisions are made,” says Emilee Hughes, director of curriculum development at AAMI. “This training will provide an understanding of how to collaborate effectively with other organization leaders and how to develop excellent communication, interpersonal, and other skills.”

The program is intended for anyone in HTM who is interested in leadership, Hughes says, whether they are already experienced HTM leaders, are settling into new leadership roles, or are aspiring to become leaders in the future. Participants will explore how they can become fully integrated members of the healthcare delivery team and have significant influence in the management of all types of healthcare technology.

Graduates of the program will leave with an individual action plan that defines the specific steps and relationships they need to develop personal and organizational growth and success—as well as an HTM Leadership Academy certificate.

“HTM leaders need the skills and knowledge to be ‘at the table’ with other healthcare leaders. This type of course provides both,” says Sue Schade, a member of the AAMI board of directors and a principal at StarBridge Advisors who helped developed the program with CHIME. “Leadership development programs that are targeted to a specific industry and role are most valuable since they represent the world you work in with cases you can relate to.”

Participants will need the approval of their supervisor to attend the HTM Leadership Academy, and registration is separate from the AAMI 2018 Conference & Expo. For more information and to register, visit www.aami.org/HTMAcademy.