Articles
Coleman Colleague: Dr. Nikki Blaze, Class of 1998
Feb 5, 2025
From mother to vice president, meet Dr. Nikki Blaze, Health Information Technology, Class of 1998!
Name
Dr. Nikki Blaze
City of Residence
Covington, Kentucky
Hometown & High School
Houston & Ross Shaw Sterling High School
Degree or Certificate Program
Associate in Applied Science, Health Information Technology
Year of Graduation
Class of 1998
Title & Place of Employment
Assistant Vice President, Information Services - Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Why did you choose HCC Coleman College?
I decided to go to HCC Coleman College to further my career in Health Information Management.
Why did you choose your program of study?
I chose the Health Information Technology program because I worked in medical records at the time, and my manager referred me because of the program's reputation.
What did you like best about your college experience?
At the time I was in school, I was a young mother and wife. I liked the fact the school had evening courses to allow me to work during the day and help with childcare assistance.
What did you like best about your program of study?
I liked the opportunity to learn real-life experiences from the professors, as they provided guest speakers and opportunities to visit other health information management departments in the local hospitals.
The program also provided opportunities to expose the students to networking events and gain on-the-job training.
When you were tired, what motivated you to push forward?
I leaned on my advisors and worked with my professors and program director. I felt they understood and helped me to navigate the program. They sat with me to give me encouragement and tips.
And to be fully transparent, all of us students worked together to get through the program.
What advice can you offer to help other students succeed?
To succeed as a student, you must meet regularly with your advisor. Meet with your professors early if you feel you are struggling. Be sure to develop a relationship with other students.
The best advice I received in school was to ask for help early.
How did your education change or improve your life?
My education at HCC Coleman College's Health Information Technology program gave me the courage to do anything. I didn’t stop at my associate degree.
In fact, I recently graduated from UT Health Houston McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics with my Doctorate in Health Informatics in 2024.