AHIMA Spotlight

Member Spotlight: DeShawna Hill-Burns, RHIA, MPA, CHTS-CP

Registered Health Information Administrator with over 25 years of experience.

Her career spans diverse roles in healthcare, including serving as Senior Program Director for the Health Information Technology and Medical Billing & Coding programs at Malcolm X College, where she led the team to a first-time, successful CAHIIM accreditation in 2021. She has also held positions at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital (formerly Cook County Hospital), Ravenswood Hospital, Chicago Read Mental Health Center, Illinois Psychiatric Institute, Jorge Prieto Health Center, John Sengstacke Health Center, the Ambulatory Community Health Network of Cook County, Provident Hospital, and Advocate Aurora Trinity and South Suburban Hospitals.

She has lectured part-time at Harold Washington College, The Jordan Evans Institute, and Kennedy-King College, and is deeply committed to mentoring students. A proud graduate of Chicago State University with a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Administration, she was the first in her family to earn a degree. She was honored as Part-Time Lecturer of the Year in 2006 by the City Colleges of Chicago and recognized as Administrator of the Month at Malcolm X College.

DeShawna has been actively involved in professional service, currently serving as Chair for AHIMA’s Council for Excellence in Education (CEE) from 2021–2024, leading multiple work groups. She has held leadership roles with the Illinois Health Information Management Association and the Chicago Area Health Information Management Association, including President, President-Elect, and Past President, and has volunteered in numerous capacities since 1993. She has been awarded Distinguished Member honors by both ILHIMA and CAHIMA.

Outside of her professional life, she and her husband Brian are proud parents of four children — Christopher, Chonquita, Jessica, and Brittney. She has three children-in-love: Brian, Brianca, and Brazhelle, and they are blessed with three beautiful grandchildren.

She is active in ministry, currently serving as an Ambassador and Greeter at New Life Covenant Southeast, and has previously served as President of the Junior Women’s Ministry and Youth Supervisor at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, encouraging and guiding young women in their personal and spiritual growth. In addition, she coordinates women’s empowerment initiatives, honoring the great work that often goes unrecognized.

Her guiding belief is that her path is divinely directed, and it is her duty to share knowledge, tools, and proven strategies to help others succeed — and to celebrate their successes.

What do you see as the biggest challenges and opportunities in health information today?

• Data Management: The growing need for centralized, efficient management of health data, especially with the expansion of EHR systems and data from medical devices.
• Cybersecurity: Increasing cyber threats, such as ransomware attacks, demand stronger security measures as healthcare becomes more digitally dependent.

Looking ahead, what actions do you plan to take in your role at AHIMA to make the greatest impact on healthcare and patient care?

In my role as Academic Program Manager, I am committed to strengthening the connection between education, certification, and workforce readiness in health information. I will focus on elevating program quality, aligning curricula with AHIMA’s certification competencies, and providing actionable feedback that drives continuous improvement.

By fostering strong partnerships with educators, I aim to ensure that learners are well-prepared to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving industry. My ultimate goal is to empower educators, inspire students, and uphold the highest standards in academic and credentialing excellence.

What advice would you give HI students and emerging professionals in 2025 to help them thrive and advance in the profession?

• Set Clear Career Goals: Define your goals and work backward to map the steps needed to get there.
• Build Relationships: Collaborate with colleagues, supervisors, and partners to expand your professional network.
• Network: Join professional associations and attend events to uncover opportunities and make valuable connections.
• Pursue Continuous Learning: Stay current with certifications, training, and industry trends.
• Be Adaptable: Embrace change as AI, automation, and new technologies continue to reshape the healthcare landscape.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our AHIMA community?

My career in health information has truly come full circle. For years, I served AHIMA, state, and local associations as a volunteer, never imagining I would one day join the AHIMA team. Now, I have the opportunity to contribute from within the association, applying the knowledge I gained in healthcare to advance AHIMA’s mission and make an even greater impact.

Get involved. It’s easy to point out what needs change, but it’s far more rewarding to be part of the change. I take ownership of my professional journey, and I encourage others to do the same — because every day we step into our roles, we represent an entire profession. I am proud to be an “owner” of my career, not a renter, and every day is a good day to make a difference.