Boot Camp, Certification Reflect Karen Wilding’s Commitment to Excellence
3.7.2019
Ashley Jester – Specialist, Professional Development and Membership
To say Karen Wilding has a challenging job is an understatement. As senior director of Quality & Value Based Care at the University of Maryland Medical System, she is responsible for driving value-based care efforts across acute and ambulatory care settings while also leading major operating divisions for both the University of Maryland Quality Care Network and UM Transform Health MD. Add to this a sector that is in transition while the technology it increasingly relies on is evolving at the speed of light.
“The changing healthcare environment demands a dynamic leader to build cross-functional teams, ready to invest in others,” Wilding said.
Wilding credits lessons learned at the fall 2017 CHIME CIO Boot Camp for successfully navigating her daily challenges. Boot camp provided a life-changing experience that helps her think critically about what she does, who she is and how her actions can change lives.
“CHIME offers a unique approach for their CIO Boot Camp,” she said. “It’s not about the technology, it’s about the people. The camp placed me in an environment with peers and mentors, allowing me focused time to reflect and learn new approaches to change management, collaboration and communication. To be a strong leader, self-awareness is critical. I like to consider the Boot Camp as my ‘reset button,’ an opportunity I used to realign my professional goals and work priorities while remaining family centric.”
In addition to her Boot Camp experience, Wilding had the opportunity to put her knowledge and experience to the test, quite literally, through CHIME’s Certified Healthcare CIO (CHCIO) program. The CHCIO program offers CHIME members the chance to be credentialed and recognized for the talent and experience they have. The exam is one component to earning this designation and is always offered at the conclusion of the CIO Boot Camp. Wilding took advantage of the being able to take the exam onsite after Boot Camp to earn her CHCIO.
“I was honored to be acknowledged for my professional accomplishments and knowledge with the CHCIO certification,” she said. She joins over 600 CHIME members who have become distinguished CHCIOs and CHCIO-Eligible professionals. “The certification demands a balance of technical, operational and leadership knowledge.”
The CIO Boot Camp is an intense three-and one-half-day education program designed to develop real-world skills that are necessary to becoming a successful healthcare CIO. The CHCIO program is a separate opportunity that aligns knowledge with experience to assess a participant’s level of expertise as a healthcare CIO. If you have questions about either program or feel ready to take the challenge, please contact anyone on the CHIME team by calling 734-665-0000 or emailing certification@chimecentral.com.