UAGC faculty member earns AHIMA Fellowship

Dr. Shannon Harris, assistant professor and lead faculty for UAGC’s health information management program, has been named a Fellow of the American Health Information Management Association. The recognition, announced at AHIMA26 in San Antonio, highlights her leadership, research and professional service in a field tied to healthcare data and patient information practices.

Why it matters: - The AHIMA Fellowship is a top professional distinction in health information management. - The honor signals sustained leadership in a field that affects patient identity management, health records practices and healthcare data quality. - UAGC gains added visibility in a workforce-facing academic program as healthcare organizations continue to rely on trained health information professionals.

What happened: - Dr. Shannon Harris, assistant professor and lead faculty for the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management program at the University of Arizona Global Campus, was named a Fellow of the American Health Information Management Association. - Harris received the recognition on Oct. 6, 2026, during AHIMA26, the association’s national conference in San Antonio, Texas. - The fellowship designation is FAHIMA.

The details: - The AHIMA Fellowship Program recognizes health information professionals for sustained contributions through leadership, service, excellence in education and professional practice, innovation and knowledge sharing. - Harris has more than 16 years of health information management experience. - Harris has served as full-time faculty at UAGC since 2023. - Harris’ professional work includes leadership and service within national, state and regional health information management associations. - Harris also conducts research on patient identity management, health information practices and innovations in online education. - In 2025, Harris received the Distinguished Member Award from the Alabama Association of Health Information Management. - UAGC said Harris’ recognition reflects faculty commitment to professional excellence, industry engagement and preparing students for an evolving healthcare landscape.

Between the lines: - The recognition puts a spotlight on faculty credentials inside a program built to train students for health information careers. - Harris’ mix of practice experience, association leadership and online education research aligns with the needs of modern health information management programs. - The award also reinforces AHIMA’s role as a key professional validator in the field.

What’s next: - UAGC is likely to continue leaning on Harris’ professional experience as part of the BSHIM program’s value proposition. - More information about the AHIMA Fellowship Program is available in AHIMA’s fellowship overview. - UAGC says it offers more than 50 associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs through accelerated online classes.