Meet the Changemakers: Karen Groppe

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.

Karen Groppe is Senior Director of Strategic Communications at HIMSS.

How long have you been at HIMSS?

I joined HIMSS in 2014 as a consultant to the Government Relations team. I became a full-time employee in 2017, and I was promoted to Senior Director in 2018.

How do you support our mission statement?

I have the chance to share news, break news and make news for the organization. When I share news—such as Global Conference details—that is the necessary part of my job. But when we make news—urging health-related legislation to pass on Capitol Hill or exploring how an emerging technology can impact patient care—that’s when I know I am supporting our mission to reform the global health ecosystem through the power of information and technology.

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

They say when you are working with the press, you are as only as good as your last covered story. But for me, my role is about working with reporters to share and explain what HIMSS is, what we can do, what our members our doing and sharing our global impact. And I know the difference my team and I make each day when I see the coverage of HIMSS in the media and am able to help trigger additional public conversations around vital, life-changing topics.

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

Before you see HIMSS covered in the media, there is a team working behind the scenes to make sure our message is thoughtful, purposeful and accurate. My team and I take pride in building relationships with the media on the foundation of transparency, responsiveness, and candor. We have had many stories to tell of recent—and at times, the whole story might not be able to be revealed—but there are many of us working to make sure the right story, at the right time, with accurate information will be told.