Ellen Shakespeare Karl is the Academic Director for HIM Programs and distinguished lecturer at the City University of New York which includes a BS program in HIM as well as a Medical Coding Certificate program. Prior to entering academia, Ellen was the director and assistant director of HIM departments at hospitals in NY, NJ and FL, after starting in the profession with CDC working on the SENIC project. She was the chair, chair-elect, and past-chair of AHIMA’s Council for Excellence in Education. She also served as a member of AHIMA’s HIE Practice Council. Ellen served as treasurer, president-elect, president, and past-president of the NJHIMA and is now a member of NYHIMA.