Deborah Filipek
About the Author
Deborah Filipek is a senior editor at HFMA, with a broad background as a newspaper reporter and magazine editor. Having been with the HFMA for six years, she plays a central role for the Association in ensuring hfm magazine and website content is clean, clear and to-the-point.
Latest Work
Georgia HFMA Student Leadership council chair shares her HFMA journey
When it comes to HFMA membership, the opportunities for networking and earning certifications appeal to both those new to the field of healthcare finance and seasoned professionals. One of the former, Sharea M. Finn, CRCR, shared with hfm details about her journey as a student member. Finn is the chair of the Georgia Student Corner |…
Arizona and Iowa Chapters partner to help HFMA members achieve certifications
The Arizona and Iowa Chapters held their second joint virtual HFMA certification bootcamp in July, where an estimated 373 participants signed up to prepare for the Certified Healthcare Finance Professional (CHFP) exam. “Virtual events allow us to reach a wider audience, making participation more accessible across all chapters and regions,” said Nicole Helfrich, the former…
Q2 Honor Roll: HFMA certifications were awarded to 3,446 members
HFMA offers 11 certifications for members to validate their expertise and demonstrate their commitment to the profession. The certifications are as follows: Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP), Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR), Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR) – GCC, Certified Specialist Accounting and Finance (CSAF), Certified Specialist Business Intelligence (CSBI), Certified Specialist Physician Practice Management…
HFMA chapters and regions lauded at 2025 Success Awards celebration
Open to all members this year, HFMA’s 2025 Leadership Summit gathered over 650 participants, including chapter and regional volunteers and others in Nashville, Tenn., May 4-6. Attendees participated in content tracks from effective communication skills to strategies for building innovative and high-performing teams. They also celebrated the 2025 Success Award recipients. General session speakers included…
HFMA’s editorial team earns 25 awards
HFMA’s editorial team has earned 25 honors from two media organizations — the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) and the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) — for work spanning its 2024 healthcare industry coverage, special reports, newsletters, podcasts and design. (See the sidebar “4 HFMA editorial pieces earn Neal Award honor,” below.)…
Q1 Honor Roll: HFMA certifications were awarded to 3,329 members
HFMA offers 11 certifications for members to validate their expertise and demonstrate their commitment to the profession. The certifications are as follows: Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP), Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR), Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR) – GCC, Certified Specialist Accounting and Finance (CSAF), Certified Specialist Business Intelligence (CSBI), Certified Specialist Physician Practice Management…
Region 5 chapters surpass student scholarship goal
Four chapters in HFMA’s Region 5 — Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama — awarded a combined total of 100 scholarships as of early March, following the launch of HFMA’s nationwide student scholarship program in June 2024. Regional executives Bridget Cutchen, associate director, cash applications, with Emory Health in Atlanta, and Candi Powers, chief revenue officer…
Inside HFMA: HFMA’s Annual Conference keynotes focus on thinking differently about healthcare finance
The aim of HFMA’s Annual Conference, being held June 22-25 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, is to empower the healthcare finance community to be leaders in the advancement of affordable and sustainable healthcare. “This year’s Annual Conference offers members a wealth of learning opportunities,” said Rick Gundling, FHFMA, CMA, senior vice president of…
How 2 regions increased provider leader attendance at their symposium
Leadership of the January 2025 HFMA Western region symposium, held in Las Vegas, credits scholarships and peer-to-peer outreach for increasing attendance at the event by more than 10% in two years. Event leaders engaged 14 HFMA chapters across regions 10 and 11 to establish a planning strategy. Keys to the symposium’s success were prioritizing provider…
HFMA recognizes 2,637 members who earned certifications in Q4 2024
HFMA offers 11 certifications for members to validate their expertise and demonstrate their commitment to the profession. Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP), Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR), Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR) – GCC, Certified Specialist Accounting and Finance (CSAF), Certified Specialist Business Intelligence (CSBI), Certified Specialist Physician Practice Management (CSPPM), Certified Specialist Payment and Reimbursement…