Autumn 2025 Newsletter 
A Message from your Board
On behalf of the KARQM Board of Directors, we extend a heartfelt welcome to our newest members and a sincere thank you to our longstanding colleagues. Whether you are just beginning your journey in healthcare quality, safety and/or risk management or have been leading change for years, your presence strengthens our collective mission: to advance excellence, protect patients, and build resilient systems.
As a board, we remain deeply committed to fostering a community grounded in mentorship, education, and advocacy. These pillars are not just ideals—they are the foundation of our work together.
- Mentorship: We believe in lifting each other up. Through shared experience and guidance, we aim to cultivate the next generation of leaders in risk management, quality, and safety.
- Education: Continuous learning is essential in a field that evolves rapidly. We are dedicated to providing meaningful opportunities for professional growth, certification support, and knowledge exchange. In this issue, you’ll learn about our newest scholarship to promote certification – The KARQM Catalyst Award, as well as details on our upcoming Fall Conference and an ASHRM supported webinar.
- Advocacy: Your voice matters. We will continue to champion policies, practices, and innovations that elevate care standards and empower professionals across all settings.
To our new members: welcome to a network that values your insight and invests in your success. To our current members: thank you for your ongoing dedication and leadership. Together, we are shaping a safer, smarter future for healthcare.
KARQM Officer Elections
Current open positions include Secretary, Vice President, and President-Elect. The board will conduct the official vote for open positions at the Fall Conference. There will be an opportunity for floor nominations prior to the official vote.
The President-Elect shall serve as a voting officer of the KARQM board and perform the duties pertaining to the office of the President during their absence or inability to act. Candidates for President-Elect shall preferably have served at least one year on the KARQM board. The President-Elect shall coordinate the new member orientation, mentor program, and maintain membership in the American Society of Health Care Risk Management (ASHRM).
The Vice President shall serve a a voting officer of the KARQM Board and play a key role in advancing professional development. Duties include organizing continuing education activities for KARQM members and performing additional duties as determined by the KARQM Board.
The Secretary shall serve as a voting officer of the KARQM Board and shall prepare and keep a permanent record of the agendas and meetings of the organization and of the KARQM Board. Shall submit such records for approval at the following meeting of the respective group, shall carry on the official correspondence of the organization under the direction of the KARQM Board, shall prepare, and give notices of all meetings in the manner prescribed by these Bylaws, and shall perform such other duties as the KARQM Board may determine.
President-Elect
Nominee: Sarah Hoy is the current Southeast Kansas District Director. Sarah Hoy, RN, BSN, CPHRM, serves as the Chief Nursing Officer at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center, where she is dedicated to nursing excellence and delivering high-quality patient care. As a Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management (CPHRM), Sarah brings a wealth of expertise to her role, guiding CRMC through a rapidly changing healthcare landscape. Her commitment to equipping the nursing team for future transitions reflects her passion for building a healthcare environment that adapts to new challenges while remaining focused on providing exceptional care.
Vice President
Nominee: Shawna Blanka is the current KARQM Vice President, is also the COO at Cheyenne County Hospital, where she has served for 22 years. She’s also the Director of Quality and Risk Manager and serves as the HIPAA Privacy Officer, HIPAA Security Officer and Public Relations for the facility. She has been a KARQM member since 2013. Shawna completed the KHA Leadership Institute and received her Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications from Kansas State University. She lives on a farm and ranch and has two boys.
Secretary
Nominee: Cody Utz, current KARQM Secretary is running for a third term. Cody serves on the leadership team at Holton Community Hospital as Director of Quality Risk Management and Informatics. She has worked in health care more than 25 years, initially as an imaging specialist (X-ray and ultrasound) and transitioned to quality in 2015. For the past 20 years Cody has had the privilege to work and serve in her hometown community at Holton Community Hospital. She leads the PFAC council, Quality Council, and is Vice Chair of the Service Excellence Council. Cody lives on a family farm with her husband and has three adult children.
Information from KHA
KHA liaison, Larry Van Der Wege, provided the board with a presentation reporting on the Top Survey Citations for our region. Hope you find this information inciteful and beneficial to know where surveyor have been focused.
Scholarships
KARQM Catalyst Award
The KARQM Board is proud to offer two scholarships designed to support members pursuing certification in risk management, healthcare quality, or patient safety. Each recipient will receive up to $1,000 to cover expenses directly related to obtaining certification.
Why Certification Matters: Achieving certification in risk, quality, or safety reflects a deep commitment to improving patient outcomes, strengthening healthcare systems, and advancing safer care. Here's how certified professionals make a difference:
- Protect Patients
- Certification equips professionals to identify, assess, and mitigate risks that could harm patients. It promotes evidence-based practices that reduce medical errors, infections, and adverse events.
- Empower Change Agents
- Certified professionals often lead initiatives in patient safety culture, risk reduction, and quality improvement - becoming champions for resilient, high reliability healthcare environments.
- Improve Organizational Performance
- They drive continuous improvement, enhance patient satisfaction, boost operational efficiency and support regulatory compliance.
- Strengthen Compliance & Accreditation Readiness
- Certification provides the tools needed to navigate complex regulations and prepare for audits, inspections, and accreditation surveys.
- Boost Professional Credibility and Career Growth
- Certified professionals are recognized as experts in their field, opening doors to leadership roles and specialized career opportunities.
Eligibility Criteria:
To apply for the KARQM Catalyst Scholarship, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a KARQM member for at least one full calendar year
- Be a member of the certifying organization and meet its eligibility criteria to sit for the exam
- Not have received this scholarship within the past five years
How to apply:
Eligible members may apply by completing the KARQM Catalyst Award Application.
- All applications will be reviewed by the KARQM Board prior to the KARQM Spring Conference
- Recipients will be selected based on the strength and completeness of their application
- Winners will be announced at the Spring Conference and are strongly encouraged to attend
- Each recipient will receive the relevant certification texts (cost is part of the $1000 award)
- Winners may either:
- Submit receipts for certification-related expenses to the KARQM President for reimbursement, or
- Request KARQM to register for the certification on their behalf
Faith Ball Scholarship
In recognition of the contributions Faith Ball made to healthcare across the State of Kansas and specifically to KARQM, an educational stipend has been established. Faith served as a charter Board member and President for KARQM. The intent of the Faith Ball scholarship is to provide financial assistance to an active member of KARQM who would not otherwise be able to attend a national seminar. A scholarship for up to $2,500.00 will be awarded. The scholarship must be used to pay for expenses associated with a national seminar or conference regarding risk management or quality improvement.
- The applicant must have been a member of KARQM for one full calendar year.
- The applicant must have served in a KARQM leadership role in the past 5 years as a board member or district officer.
- The applicant has not won this award in the past 5 years.
Members who have met the above criteria may apply and must be present at the fall conference to win.
Calendar of Events
KARQM Fall Conference
The Kansas Association for Risk and Quality Management (KARQM) invites you to join us for our biannual Conference, a premier gathering of healthcare professionals dedicated to advancing excellence in risk management, quality improvement, and patient safety.
- A focused discussion on complaint and investigation management with the Board of Healing Arts
- An overview of the Kansas Nursing Assistance Program, highlighting support pathways for healthcare professionals
- Risk management updates from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)
- A dynamic panel of quality and risk leaders exploring strategies to effectively bridge the disciplines of quality, safety, and risk management
- Introduce the inaugural KARQM Catalyst Award, recognizing emerging leadership in our field awarded at the Spring Conference
- Conduct the official vote for open board positions
- Announce the recipient of the Faith Ball Scholarship Award
- Provide attendees with a curated selection of leadership resources and books focused on quality, safety, and risk management
We look forward to welcoming both new and returning members to this enriching event. Join us in Manhattan, KS on October 22, 2025, as we learn, connect, and lead the way toward safer, more resilient healthcare systems across Kansas. Registration closes October 10th. Register Now
Upcoming Event: Core Elements of Proactive Risk Management
Format: Virtual
Program Description: An effective risk management program is driven by an organizational commitment that focuses on both value protection and value creation. This presentation will address key documents, relationships, reporting, and leadership that support proactive risk identification and risk mitigation. Elements of a risk management plan, committee, and data management will be discussed. Action steps that support an enterprise risk management process will be illustrated.
Featured Speaker: Cyndi Siders, MSN, RN, CPHRM, CPPS, DFASHRM
Principal, Siders HealthCare Consulting, LLC
Event is on our website but need to click on Venue Website in event to register or Register Here
Save the Date: KARQM Spring Conference 2026
Location: Salina Hilton Garden Inn, Salina, Kansas
Join us for the KARQM Spring Conference, a signature event dedicated to advancing excellence in risk management, quality improvement, and patient safety. This is another powerful opportunity to learn, network, and collaborate with peers who share a commitment to delivering exceptional care.
Stay tuned for the full agenda, speaker lineup, and registration details. We look forward to seeing you there as we continue to elevate care across Kansas.