Mary Mike Clark Pavoni
Westchester, IL
Class of 1966
Medical Records Science

Tells us about the work you do:  For 29 years, I was a director of several medical records/health information management departments in large teaching hospitals overseeing from 40 to 200 employees.  Subsequently, I ran my own business for ten years and just retired in January. 

A source of pride in your life:  The source of all happiness in my life is my husband, Lorenzo Pavoni, and Kathleen Bertrand, my beautiful daughter.  Together we have a  relationship built upon love, silliness and sensibility.

Best St. Scholastica memories:  Certain classes stand out, like English, history, philosophy, metaphysics, and of course, those medical records classes.  I admit I had a ball at college.  I vividly remember one classmate acting out Lysistrata for us, and another who lived in her slip.  Mostly I remember laughter, - endless laughter.

Significant influences:  My parents, Mike and Toy (Jeanne) Clark, dreamed of sending us to college and, in my case, specifically to The College of St. Scholastica.  Certain members of the Benedictine order made an indelible impression, beginning with Sister Loretta Sheehan, who warmly accepted me into the MR Program; Sister Kathleen Hofer, who offered me the gift of focus as a student and the opportunity to serve in my first national volunteer role; Patricia Pierce for her kindness to me as a student; and Sister Mary Odile Cahoon, who graciously helped me remain at the College.  HIM mentors and friends I met in college and later worked with as volunteers are Kathy LaTour, Shirley Eichenwald-Maki, Linda Kloss and Patricia English.

Other achievements:  I am proud of my volunteer activities for the medical record/health information management profession.  I am a past president and past distinguished member of both the Chicago Health Information Management Association (HIMA) and the Illinois HIMA.  I served as a national-level volunteer for 25 years including a three-year stint on the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) board of directors.  At the 2003 national meeting in Minneapolis, I received the AHIMA Triumph Award for Volunteer Service.

Something interesting about your life:  The College of St. Scholastica Health Information Management department boasts a disproportionate share of AHIMA national presidents and authors, speakers and educators.  In 1993 when I was elected to the AHIMA board, the association had 46,000 members and the board of directors consisted of nine elected members and the chief executive officer. Out of those ten board members, five of us were St. Scholastica graduates!

Further education:  My master’s degree is in management and organizational behavior (M.S.M.O.B.) from Benedictine University in Lisle, IL.  In addition, I am an early recipient of AHIMA’s highest credential as Fellow of the American Health Information Management Association (FAHIMA).

Philosophy:  Life is too short to lose time in boring, nonproductive, negative activities.  Humor, goodwill, kindness, and generosity are free.  It is not so difficult to live a happy life — and it is a lot more fun.

Benedictine values:  Hospitality is a value I learned at home only to have it refined and reinforced at the College from practices such as the evening family dinner and the charm and warmth I experience every time I speak to Sister Timothy Kirby.  However, it was in the first medical records class where we learned that we would, as MR/HIM professionals, further the mission and give back to the profession.  I live my life today by these values and am grateful for the training and the lifelong support I have as a College of St. Scholastica graduate.