HIMSS Kansas Chapter Board of Directors
President: Sara Warnock
Education: BA, Communications Studies, University of Kansas; AS, Health Information Technology, Washburn University
Background: Sara Warnock, Director of Technology Solutions and Senior Project Manager for Kansas Health Information Network (KHIN) and KONZA, supports a team of project managers who work with hospitals, ambulatory clinics, and behavioral health centers to connect them to the Health Information Exchange. Sara and her team work closely with healthcare providers and IT professionals across the state to ensure that data sharing in Kansas remains complete, accurate, and meaningful.
Sara’s areas of focus within health information exchange include eHealth Exchange, HL7 data quality, and large Health System integrations. She’s passionate about expanding and supporting her team members’ skills, but also their career development and satisfaction with the work that they do so well every day.
Vice President: Alisha Herman
Education: BS in Network and Communications Management, EMT
Background: Alisha Herrmann earned her Bachelor of Science in Network and Communications Management from DeVry University in Kansas City, MO. She has been the IT Director and currently CIO, HIPAA Security Officer and Education Coordinator for Edwards County Medical Center in Kinsley, KS since 2009. She became an EMT in 2015.
Secretary and Events Chair: Shawn Weldin
Education: Network Technology Program – Flint Hills Technical College
Background: Shawn has worked in the technology industry over 20 years, and has been with Sabetha Community Hospital as the Director of Information Technology since 2007. As the director he oversees all technology within the hospital, clinic and home health agency operated by SCH.
Treasurer: Melissa Mixon
Background: Director of Information Technology at Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital and Physicians Clinic. She has worked in the Health Information Technology department of MLMH for 18 years, the last 6 as the Director of IT. She has been a member of HIMSS and KSHIMSS since 2018. In her role she is personally responsible for HIPAA security, Promoting Interoperability & MIPS Programs, Quality Health Initiatives, and Data analytics. She was instrumental in connecting the CAH to the HIE and various health exchanges. Mellissa also oversees all technology for the hospital, EMS and clinics ensuring HIPAA compliance as well as overall cyber security for the facility. Mellissa in her off time also serves as the chair of the Lincoln Library Board, is a member of KHSE (KS Home Educators), HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Assoc.), and ACM (Assoc. For Computing Machinery).
Membership Chair: Melissa Talley
Education: MBA, BSN
Background: With nearly 25 years of experience in healthcare, Melissa Talley brings an extensive background in quality, practice management and information technology. Before joining KONZA National Network in 2020 as the Director of Clinical Quality Services, Talley worked at Community HealthCare System in Onaga, KS where she advanced from nursing roles, Director of Information Technology and Specialty Clinics to become the Chief Practice Management Officer. Much of Melissa’s career has been focused on healthcare information technology, data quality programs and leveraging clinical data to help drive and manage patient outcomes. Talley’s expertise also include workflow management, quality, healthcare operations, LEAN methodologies and healthcare management.
Advocacy Chair and Events Co Chair: Sally Othmer
Background: Sally Othmer, Vice President, Data and Strategic Analytics at the Kansas Hospital Association, oversees all data collection and analysis for the association’s member hospitals relative to health information technology, employee compensation, administrative data and numerous quality projects. She has successfully managed the Quality Health Indicator, QHi, Multi-State benchmarking project for over ten years assisting nearly 400 rural hospitals and clinics to strengthen their approaches to quality and financial viability. Sally has a background in math, education, information technology and over 20 years of experience in the realm of healthcare.
Interoperability Chair: Rhonda Spellmeier
Background: Rhonda serves as the HIE Workflow Specialist at KONZA/KHIN and focuses on the continuum of interoperability for the entire healthcare experience. She works very closely with healthcare providers, including hospitals, clinics, and public and behavioral health stakeholders to improve data capture, analysis, interoperability and usage of Health IT to improve outcomes. Rhonda has been with KONZA for over five years and serves as the interoperability chair for KSHIMSS and collaborates with many organizations as an SME.
Web/Communication Chair: Nate Richards
Education: BS in Information Networking and Telecommunications (FHSU); BA in Foreign Language German (Marburg Germany)
Background: Nate Richards earned his Bachelor of Science in Information Networking and Telecommunications with a certificate in Leadership Studies from Fort Hays State University. He also received a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Language German from Philipps-Universitat in Marburg Germany. Nate is currently the IT Director and HIPAA Security Officer at Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems. With over 20 years experience in the IT industry, 16 years have been with Mitchell County Hospital. Nate thoroughly enjoys working in the ever changing and challenging healthcare world.
Member Representative: Kerry Kellerman
Education: Associates of Science in Data Processing
Background: Kerry is the Network Manager for Great Plains Health Alliance. Kerry is a 1984 graduate of Fort Hays State University with an Associate of Science degree in Data Processing. Kerry has worked with information technology for 35 years with the last 21 years being in healthcare. Kerry is an active member of Rotary International, the Kansas Chapter of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, and the Kansas Hospital Association.
Member Representative: Kevin Myers
Member Representative: Jason Bengel
Member Representative: Scott Rohleder
Education: BS in Physics – FHSU
Background: After earning his Bachelor of Science in Physics with a minor in Computer Science from Fort Hays State University, Scott has been involved in various roles in the technology sector for the past 35 years. He has been specifically involved in the Healthcare IT industry for 30 years. His current role is that of Chief Technology Officer with Great Plains Health Alliance. Scott holds certifications as both a Fellow Member of HIMSS (FHIMSS) and Certified Professional Health Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS). His passion is for helping to provide for high quality rural healthcare which is affordable, effective and available for all rural Kansans.
Member Representative: Dan Cochran
Education: Degree in Computer Information Systems K-State Salina
Background: With 30 years of experience in hospital IT, Dan Cochran is a seasoned professional who graduated from Kansas State Salina with a degree in Computer Information Systems. An avid upland bird hunter, Dan enjoys spending time outdoors with his dog, Daisy. He also loves camping with friends and recently acquired the family farmstead, built by his great-grandfather in 1918. Married to Leah, Dan is a proud father of two sons, Joseph and Nathan, and a daughter-in-law, Miranda. Joseph and Miranda are expecting their first child and are also foster parents to two children. Dan cherishes working on small projects around the farmstead with his sons.