Chapter Advisory Board

MSN, RN, CPC Nurse Investigator, Utah Office of Inspector General, yvonne.ellison@aapcca.org

With more than 20 years of experience in clinical practice, medical coding, and healthcare compliance, Yvonne Ellison works alongside healthcare professionals to advance excellence in patient care. In her current role, she reviews Medicaid claims to ensure adherence to coding standards, policies, and regulations, while empowering medical coders to safeguard their roles, understand their rights, and expand their expertise. As executive chair, she values the opportunity to mentor board members and promote collaboration, helping local chapter officers build a strong community centered on networking, professional development, and healthcare innovation. She is affiliated with the Provo, UT chapter, and has held officer positions of president and vice president.

CPC, COC, CPCO, CPMA, AAPC Approved Instructor Audit and Compliance Professional Coding Specialist, Deaconess Health System – Healthcare Resource Solutions, nicole.snyder@aapcca.org

Nicole Snyder has over 30 years of expertise in RCM, medical coding, compliance, and education. As a dedicated AAPC member for two decades, she is passionate about sharing knowledge and is committed to making a lasting impact in her field through teaching, mentoring coders, and educating providers to foster growth and professional excellence. She is affiliated with the Evansville, IN chapter, and has held officer positions of president, vice president, secretary, and education.

CPC, CPCO, CDEO, CPMA, CPPM, CRC, CPC-I Revenue Cycle Manager, UB Associates

Kathy Parkhurst has worked in healthcare for 30 years. Her passions are coding, compliance, and education. Parkhurst enjoys talking with chapter members and serves as a mentor through AAPC’s mentorship program. She is affiliated with the Buffalo, NY chapter, and has held officer positions of president, vice president, treasurer, and member development.

BS, CPC, CPB, CPMA, AAPC Approved Instructor Billing and Coding Manager, Salem Chest Specialists

Amber Ayers has 16 years of experience in medical billing and coding. She enjoys mentoring fellow coders and billers, helping them to find their way in their careers. She is affiliated with the Winston Salem, NC chapter and has held officer positions of president, vice president, secretary, and education.

CRC, CCDS-O Lead CDI RN, Maine Health

Michele Hamilton has over 30 years of nursing experience in multiple specialties, including oncology, maternal and child health, geriatrics, skilled rehabilitation, education, and clinical leadership. She has a strong background in process workflow development, project management, quality assurance/improvement, and system implementations. She is a member of the clinical documentation integrity (CDI) compliance committee and the CDI education workgroup that support Maine Health’s vision and mission statement, is a member of the Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS), and is currently participating in her second year on the ACDIS leadership council. Michelle's chapter affiliation is with Lewiston, Maine, where she has held the office of president.

CPC, CPCO, CPMA, CEMC, COPM, Coding QA & Compliance Manager, Align ENT & Allergy

Kim Steffenhagen is a strategic healthcare leader with over 25 years in the industry, including 20 years specializing in ENT and allergy revenue cycle management (RCM), medical coding, and compliance. In her current role she leads documentation integrity and education initiatives across ENT, allergy, and expanding specialties, fostering mentorship, scalable documentation programs, and electronic workflow transitions that support a sustainable, empowered compliance culture. Steffenhagen is passionate about helping others grow and develop their billing and coding skill sets and provides education that builds technical proficiency and empowers individuals to exceed their professional goals. She is affiliated with the Reading, PA chapter and has held member development officer position.

CPC, CDEO, CPB, CPMA, CRC, RCMS, COBGC, AAPC Approved Instructor Coding Educator/Auditor, Northeast Georgia Physician’s Group and Georgia Heart Institute

Crystal Tompkins is a seasoned auditor and coding educator with 13 years of experience. In her current position, she plays a pivotal role in ensuring accurate coding, billing, and reimbursement processes. Her expertise spans various facets of medical billing and coding, including denial management and revenue cycle optimization. Tompkins is an AAPC virtual instructor-led training (VILT) instructor and a national speaker. She is affiliated with the Gainesville, GA chapter, and has held officer positions of president, vice president and secretary.

CPC, CPMA, CRC, CPC-I, COBGC, CGSC, OHCC, ICDCTCM, Coding Improvement Coordinator, INOVA

Myra Simmons brings over 30 years of healthcare experience to the board, including 15 years in medical coding education. She is passionate about empowering students and coders to advance in their careers. She is affiliated with the Alexandria, VA, chapter and has held officer positions of president and education.

CPC, COC, CRC, CPCD, AAPC Approved Instructor Solutions Auditor, Norwood

Angelika Bodie is a medical coding auditor and AAPC adjunct instructor with nine years of experience in healthcare. She supports the coding community through mentoring, education, and promoting chapter engagement. Passionate about service to others, she enjoys helping new coders build confidence and fostering connections within the profession. Angelika is affiliated with the Augusta, GA chapter, and has held officer positions of president, vice president and secretary.

CIC, CCS, COC, CRC, CPB, CPC-I, Medical Records Technician/Inpatient CDIS, Veterans Health Administration

Renee Baucum is an inpatient CDI specialist with over 20 years of experience in inpatient, facility outpatient, physician fee, and surgical coding. She began her career as a medical records clerk for a home healthcare firm in Honolulu, Hawaii. As an instructor for AAPC’s VILT program, Baucum’s passion for coding has allowed her to serve a greater purpose by helping others achieve their goals while realizing their worth and potential. She is affiliated with the Covington, GA chapter, and has held officer positions of president, vice president and secretary.

CPC, MHA, Owner, Exceptional Medical Billing and Consulting Group (EMBCG)

Rennie Williams is the owner of Exceptional Medical Billing and Consulting Group (EMBCG), a revenue cycle management firm based in Memphis, Tennessee. She holds a Master of Arts in Health Administration and is a Certified Professional Coder. Rennie has served the AAPC Memphis Local Chapter as both Vice President and President, and is currently in her second consecutive year as Chapter President.

CPC, CPC-I, CPMA, CEMC, Director Medical Records, Cherokee Nation Health System

Lewanda Riggs has worked in RCM for more than 20 years. She played a pivotal role in founding the Tahlequah, Oklahoma, local chapter. Teehee is at her best when sharing her knowledge and helping others succeed. She is affiliated with the Tahlequah, OK chapter, and has held officer positions of president, vice president and treasurer.

CPC, CPC-I, CCS, Senior Consultant: Revenue Cycle & Community Health Transformation, Texas Association of Community Health Centers

Patricia Shirley has over 30 years of experience in healthcare, with expertise in practice transformation, value-based care, compliance, provider and staff education, project management, and RCM. She is a dedicated mentor and has served as a continuing education instructor at various academic institutions and as a consultant across multiple facets of healthcare operations. In her current role, she supports healthcare facilities across the state of Texas by focusing on practice transformation, value-based care initiatives, and high-quality clinical documentation through coding, auditing, and training. Her published healthcare curriculum reflects the depth of her knowledge and commitment to the field, and she actively contributes to national healthcare boards and serves on the NAHRI Leadership Council, the Central Piedmont College Business and Accounting Advisory Committee, and the Seen, Heard, and Known Homeless Ministry Advisory Council. She is affiliated with the Galveston, TX chapter, and has held the officer position of president.

CPC, Senior Reimbursement Manager, Medical College of Wisconsin, Department of Medicine

Lisa Weger has over 20 years of medical coding experience across academic and specialty settings. She provides practical education to providers, coders, and administrators and helps CDI teams strengthen documentation and coding consistency. She is affiliated with the Milwaukee, WI chapter and has held officer positions of president, vice president, education.

MHA, RHIA, CPC, CPCO, CDEO, CPB, CPMA, CPMS, CPPM, CRC, CVBA, CEMC, CGIC, CPEDC, CRHC, AAPC Approved Instructor, Medical Coding Compliance Specialist, Michigan Medicine

Kelly Shew is a healthcare coding leader with over 15 years of experience in risk adjustment, auditing, compliance, and education. She has led nationwide teams of auditors and provider educators and served as manager for a physician organization where she designed documentation and education programs. She has also taught in academia as a HIM program coordinator and adjunct faculty member. Shew is an AAPC VILT instructor and former chair of AAPC’s Subject Matter Expert (SME) Advisory Committee and Documentation Advisory Committee. She is affiliated with the Ann Arbor, MI chapter, and has held officer positions of president, vice president, and education.

CPC, CDEO, CPMA, CRC, CVBA, AAPC Approved Instructor, Senior Coding Educator, Humana

Danielle Bagnell has over 15 years of healthcare experience, building her career through roles in auditing, management, and education as a licensed PMCC instructor. With more than a decade in medical coding instruction, she helps clinicians and coders strengthen their documentation and coding accuracy. She is the founder of MCDEducation, where she provides CME/CEU educational events, courses, and consulting with a focus on value-based care. She also serves as a SME and VILT instructor for AAPC. She is affiliated with the Ogden, UT chapters, and has held the officer position of president.

CPC, CPCO, CPMA, Compliance Audit and Training Specialist, Geode Health

Rebecca Morris has over 14 years of experience in billing, coding, and documentation improvement, with 12 years in behavioral health services. She is a published author in AAPC’s magazine and speaks to local chapters around the country about how to educate providers. In 2024, she was invited to speak at AAPC’s national health conference on behavioral health billing and coding. Morris enjoys helping providers and coders better understand the ins and outs of how documentation and coding go hand in hand. She is affiliated with the Iowa City, IA chapter, and has held officer positions of president, vice president, and education.

MBA, CPC, LSSGBH, Administrative Coordinator, Providence Saint John

Krystal Mays is a dedicated healthcare professional with over 20 years of diverse experience in the healthcare industry. Mays remains committed to quality improvement and operational excellence. She is affiliated with the West Los Angeles, CA chapter, and has held officer positions of president, vice president, member development, education.