May 20, 2025
HIM faculty member and undergraduate student recognized for excellence
The Minnesota Health Information Management Association (MNHIMA) recently recognized an esteemed health information management (HIM) faculty member and an outstanding undergraduate student from The College of St. Scholastica for their excellence in the field. Established in 1935, MNHIMA serves as the state affiliate of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and supports HIM professionals. The association is “committed to advancing the HIM profession in an increasingly electronic and global environment through leadership, education and best practices.”
Distinguished Member
Assistant Professor Pamela Oachs, undergraduate program director of the Department of Health Informatics and Information Management, received the Distinguished Member award. Ms. Oachs is a double alumna of The College of St. Scholastica with over 15 years of experience in the healthcare sector in clinical quality improvement, patient access and information technology before her transition to education.
As an educator, Ms. Oachs specializes in topics such as management tools and strategies, workflow and process redesign, clinical quality management and U.S. healthcare systems. She is actively involved in professional organizations, including MNHIMA and AHIMA, and has served on the board of directors at both the regional and state levels.
Her contributions to the field include serving as a commissioner on AHIMA’s Commission on Certification for Health Informatics and Information Management (CCHIIM), co-editing the textbook Health Information Management: Concepts, Principles and Practice, and acting as a peer reviewer for the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management education (CAHIIM).
One of HIM’s most highly regarded professionals, Kathy LaTour, recognized Ms. Oachs’ contributions to the field and the College: “She has been a key player in the success of the many graduates of the program. Pam is an excellent communicator and equally adept in curriculum development and program design. She has been active and successful in updating and revising coursework to keep the HIM program on the cutting edge of professional practice.”
Shirley Eichenwald-Maki Outstanding Student
Evelyn Youngquist ’25, a Health Information Management major, has been honored by MNHIMA with the Shirley Eichenwald-Maki Outstanding Student award. This prestigious award recognizes student members who demonstrate exceptional promise in leadership and commitment to the HIM field.
Youngquist’s contributions have greatly benefited her peers and the HIM program as a whole. Associate Professor Dr. David Marc, chair of the Health Informatics and Information Management department, noted that Youngquist “has played an integral role in event planning, social media management and departmental coordination. Her proactive approach, professionalism and ability to manage multiple responsibilities have significantly enhanced the efficiency and engagement of our program.”
