Meet the Changemakers: Lynne Hairston

HIMSS serves the global health information and technology communities with focused operations across North America, Europe, the United Kingdom, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. Our members include more than 80,000 individuals, 480 provider organizations, 470 non-profit partners and 650 health services organizations. The HIMSS staff is made up of changemakers who collaborate with members to reform the global health ecosystem through the power of information and technology.

Lynne Hairston is Program Marketing Manager at HIMSS.

How long have you been at HIMSS?

In September, I will have been on the HIMSS team for six years.

How do you support our mission statement?

I take our mission – to reform the global health ecosystem through the power of information and technology – to heart in everything I do. Reform requires new learning, new understanding, new energy and new paradigms. I support our professional development and public policy teams, which are both focused on educating across the health ecosystem on skills, imperatives and technologies needed to drive change. Managing integrated marketing strategies that enable these teams to engage their constituencies and then seeing the successes they achieve is truly gratifying.

How do you know your work at HIMSS makes a difference?

I’ve seen it. Over the years I’ve been with HIMSS, I’ve seen the impact our communications have had on the growth of future health information and technology leaders. I’ve seen the awareness building about the criticality for people to have access to the information they need to make decisions about their health. And I’ve seen the rise in our vast network coalescing around campaigns to advocate for much needed healthcare reform.

What’s one thing you wish everyone knew about the work you do at HIMSS?

Marketing isn’t just about making it pretty. It’s looking at the big picture and taking a strategic approach to anticipate the “what else” to make the greatest impact or to improve the user experience.

Which of HIMSS’s values has made the greatest impact on how you approach your work?  

I am driven by curiosity! Curiosity is the crux of innovation. What does our audience really need? How can this data help us achieve a better outcome? What else can we do to inspire action? I am passionate about digging deeper and seeking insights to create positive change.