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Ginnelle Brenk

Health Information Management
Story

 

I chose M State because of its excellent reputation and strong online learning experience. As a local resident, I was already familiar with the quality of education M State provides and had heard positive feedback from students who successfully balanced their coursework with full-time careers.

Accreditation was also very important to me. M State's regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission gave me confidence that my credits would be recognized by other colleges and universities if I chose to continue my education in the future. Additionally, the program's accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) ensured that I would be eligible to sit for the required exam and pursue my Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential, which was my primary goal in returning to school in my mid-30s.

Since I completed the program online, I wasn't sure how connected I would feel to my classmates. However, through discussion boards, group projects and collaborative assignments, I was able to build connections and learn from the experiences and perspectives of others. Those interactions added tremendous value to my educational experience.

Before returning to school, I had already spent several years working in health information management. While I enjoyed my career, I had reached a point where advancement opportunities were becoming limited because I did not yet have the credentials many employers were seeking.

Pursuing my degree at M State helped open new doors professionally, even before graduation. My employer recognized my commitment to advancing my education and earning my RHIT credential, which created opportunities for growth along the way. Since completing my degree and obtaining my credentials, I have advanced into another position that I had been working toward. I am incredibly grateful for how my education at M State has helped me achieve my career goals and continue growing professionally.

Returning to school in my mid-30s was one of the best decisions I have ever made. M State provides the support, flexibility and resources needed to help students succeed, especially those balancing work, family and other responsibilities. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner.