Maryland HIMSS Presents Dr. Lindsey Ferris with the 2019 Extraordinary Women

Leaders in Health IT Award

Ellicott City, Maryland (December 2, 2019) – The Maryland Chapter of the Health Information Management System Society (Maryland HIMSS) presented the 2019 Extraordinary Women Leaders in Health IT Award during a special ceremony and reception following the December 2^nd, 2019 Fall Educational Event held at the Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, MD. The call for nominations sought female nominees who currently serve in leadership roles in Maryland healthcare and who effectively demonstrate leadership in improving the delivery of healthcare using information and technology solutions within their organizations and beyond.

Lindsey Ferris, DrPH, MPH, Program Director HIE Projects at CRISP – Maryland’s State-Designated Health Information Exchange – and Senior Director at Audacious Inquiry Inc., was recognized for her transformational leadership in advancing the use of health information exchange to support public health initiatives and for her dedication in mentoring women in the industry.

“This year’s nominees were exactly the women leaders we were hoping to recognize. It was challenging to select just one recipient; however, our team determined that Dr. Ferris was the perfect awardee this year,” said Dr. Ross Martin, Chair of Member Engagement and Board Member at Maryland HIMSS, and President of 360 Degree Insights, LLC. “Dr. Ferris truly demonstrates the powerful impact that women who are dedicated to advancing healthcare through information technology can achieve when they assume leadership roles. I have had the privilege of working closely with Lindsey at CRISP for more than four years and have seen firsthand how she has shepherded innovations in making vital services available – like delivering the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program controlled substances prescription data into the clinical workflow for tens of thousands of Maryland prescribers and pharmacists to address the opioid epidemic. This program and many others she leads have been recognized nationally as transformational advances that others are now emulating.”

“We know that women and other minorities continue to aspire for roles in the boardroom and C-suite and we are delighted to see that trend within the technology industry as well. The HIMSS Women in Health IT is a global roundtable we are pleased to bring to Maryland through this award,” said Kathryn A. Whitmore, President of the Maryland HIMSS Chapter and CEO and Founder of STS Consulting Group. “We embrace the important role of mentoring women leaders – especially in an era where women comprise an ever-increasing proportion of the health IT workforce and continue to add value in filling more positions of leadership and authority. Dr. Ferris exemplifies the qualities of an extraordinary leader and change agent. It is a privilege to recognize her accomplishments. We look forward to continuing this Maryland HIMSS tradition for years to come.”

This is the second year Maryland HIMSS has offered recognition through the Extraordinary Women Leaders in Health IT Award. Tressa Springmann of LifeBridge Health was the inaugural recipient in 2018.