Woman's Guide to Navigating a Successful Career in Healthcare Information Technology

Jeffery Daigrepont, senior vice president at Coker Group, specializes in healthcare automation, system integration, cybersecurity, operations, and deployment of enterprise information systems for large integrated delivery networks and medical practices. His specific interests deal with data migration, vendor contracting, strategic IT planning and optimization, security, and compliance.A popular national speaker, Jeffery is frequently engaged by highly respected organizations across the nation, including many non-profit trade associations and state medical societies. He has co-authored a top-selling book, Complete Guide and Toolkit to Successful EHR Adoption (2011 HIMSS), and is a contributor to The Healthcare Executive’s Guide to ACO Strategy (2015 HCPro). His most recent HIMSS book, Beyond EHR, was published in 2020.

My mother was a social worker who said to me one day, "Whatever you do, go and make a difference in someone’s life." Hence, I entered and spent my career in healthcare, a most noble field. I, along with the women highlighted in this book, spent much of our careers trying to help others through health information and technology. The stories in this book are powerful examples of why, how, and what women can do to make a difference for those they serve.We learn of women who have overcome workplace and domestic challenges and regardless, they have overcome them to achieve success. This book demonstrates what I call a "Mobile Operations Manager" (MOM). A MOM is someone who, with respect, dignity, resilience, and tenacity, uses all their knowledge and skills to keep going with the goal of making a difference for others, the true definition of success. The book is for early careerists or anyone continuing their journey of life learning.- Mary P. Griskewicz, HIMSS, Most Influential Woman in Health IT, 2022Raised in part by a strong mother and three older sisters, I grew up knowing the power of women. I watched my sisters go to school, graduate, and become powerful leaders in their industries. When I entered the workforce and healthcare technology specifically, I was disappointed in what I saw: a lack of women in leadership roles. This book helps solve this injustice. Packed with inspirational examples of women, their stories at once motivate and give hope to the reader.For women, you will get a front-row seat learning how pioneering women before you were able to break through this challenge with knowledgeable and practical ideas to make more informed decisions on the best ways to navigate forward. For men, you will see opportunities to help ensure equity within your organization and how you can increasingly ally with women to reduce disparities in leadership. The stories will illuminate and give birth to new ideas you can leverage and share with colleagues.I have been blessed to be a part of amazing world-class organizations that transformed their communities. Hands down, my best teams were diverse and led by amazing women leaders. Fair warning: buckle up because you are in for a beautiful journey and you will not be able to stop reading.- Ed Marx, Principal/CEO Marx Advisory, Series Editor, Taylor & Francis, Board Member, Summa Health System & Mary Crowley Cancer Institute

• 1. Is a Career in HCIT Right for Me?, 2. What Do I Need to Do to Begin a Career in HCIT?, 3. Overview of Top HCIT Certifications, Courses, and Programs, 4. Overview of Diverse Roles in HCIT, 5. Negotiating Salary and Employment Agreements, 6. Cracking the Code: An HR Blueprint for Women in HCIT, 7. What to Look for in Male Allyship (and How to Become One), 8. Influential Women in HCIT, 9. Featured Successful Women in HCIT