Mervat Abdelhak, PhD, RHIA, FAHIMA
	Office Location 6052 Forbes Tower Office phone 412-383-6650 E-mail address abdelhak@pitt.edu

Academic Appointment

Department Chairman and
Associate Professor

Education

PhD, Information Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 1981
MSIS, Information Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 1975
BS, Health Records Administration, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 1973

Biographical Profile

Mervat Abdelhak, Ph.D., RHIA, FAHIMA Department Chairman and Associate Professor of Health Information Management, University of Pittsburgh since 1981.  Dr. Abdelhak has served as president of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).  She was awarded the designation of AHIMA Fellow in November 2006 and is the recipient of AHIMA’s Literary Award in1996.  Dr. Abdelhak received the Pennsylvania Health Information Management Association’s Distinguished Member Award in 1989 and the University of Pittsburgh, School of Health Related Professions’ 1991 Distinguished Alumnus Award.  She is currently serving on the Educational Strategy Committee of AHIMA and co-authored the “Vision 2016:  A Blueprint for Quality Education in Health Information Management” and is Chair of AHIMA’s Nominating Committee.    Abdelhak chaired the Advisory Committee on Workforce Study and was Chair of AHIMA’s Council on Research.  She also served as a member of the Council of Accreditation, Panel of Accreditation Surveyors, and Council on Coding & Classification.  She serves on Editorial Review Boards for the Journal of the American Health Information Management Association, Topics in Health Information Management, and Educational Perspective in Health Information Management.  Abdelhak is Managing Editor of the 3^rd Edition of “Health Information:  Management of a Strategic Resource.”   She is widely published and speaker.  Dr. Abdelhak has served as a consultant internationally in the areas of education and the practice of health information management.

Research Interests

Health information systems functionalities
Electronic health record
Privacy & security
Outcome research

Recent Publications

Abdelhak, M., (2007).  Managing Editor, Health Information:  Management of a Strategic Resource, 3rd , Elsevier.(textbook/ancillaries, test bank and website)

Abdelhak, M., (2005). Leading with purpose. Journal of the American Health Information Management Association, Vol. 76, No. 10, pg. 8

Abdelhak, M., (2005). The ages of civilization:  Lessons for transforming health care.  Journal of the American Health Information Management Association, Vol. 76, No. 9, pg. 8

Abdelhak, M., (2005). Expecting the best:  Exemplary behavior for leaders. Journal of the American Health Information Management Association, Vol. 76, No. 8, pg. 8

Abdelhak, M. (2005). Are we walking the walk? Measurements, scorecards, and milestones: Part Two, Journal of the American Health Information Management Association, Vol. 76, No. 7, pg. 8.

Abdelhak, M. (2005). Are we walking the walk: Measurements, scorecards, and milestones: Part One, Journal of the American Health Information Management Association, Vol. 76, No. 6, pg. 8.

Abdelhak, M. (2005). Taking the lead together – At envigorated team talks, unity over strategy for future success, Journal of the American Health Information Management Association, Vol. 76, No. 5, pg. 8.

Abdelhak, M. (2005) Writing AHIMA’s next chapter, Journal of the American Health Information Management Association, Vol. 76, No. 4, pg. 8.

Abdelhak, M. (2005). AHIMA’s preferred future – framing AHIMA’s problems and opportunities, Journal of the American Health Information Management Association, Vol. 76, No. 3, pg. 8.

Abdelhak, M. (2005).  Setting AHIMA’s strategic directions, Journal of the American Health Information Management Association, Vol. 76, No. 2, pg. 8.

Abdelhak, M. (2005). “Looking to breakthrough in 2005, Journal of the American Health Information Management Association, JVol. 76, No. 1, pg. 8.

Abdelhak, M. (2005)/  Achieving breakthrough in 2005, South Florida Hospital News.

Courses Recently Taught

HRS 2420 Introduction to Health Information Systems.

Awards and Honors

Fellow of American Health Information Management Association (FAHIMA), November 2006

Edna K. Huffman Literary Award of the American Health Information Management Association - A national award given to Dr. Abdelhak as managing editor and to the co-editors for the text and ancillaries, Health Information: Management of a Strategic Resource, 1996

Distinguished Alumnus Award, School of Health Related Professions, 1991

The President's Award to attend the American Experience Program, 1991

Pennsylvania Medical Record Association Distinguished Member Award, 1989. This award represents the highest honor given by the association to one of its members for recognition of leadership, accomplishments in research and education, and contributions to the profession.

Outstanding Young Women of America, 1982