Alumni Profile: Anita Taylor

From social worker to college professor
As a high school senior, Anita Taylor '86 wasn't sure what she wanted to do. As a Health Information Technology professor at Oakton, she's found her niche-and she's helping today's students find theirs.

I attended Oakton as a nontraditional student. When I came here, I already had a bachelor's degree and was working as a social worker in a hospital oncology unit.

It was a stressful job, and I ended up burning out. I took a position in a medical records department and learned to do medical coding, quality assessment, and utilization review. It was a fascinating field, but I knew it required additional credentials in health information technology.

Oakton had an excellent reputation in the field, so I enrolled in the College's Health Information Technology program. As a student here, I found the education and credentials I needed to move forward. I also had practical experience that helped me put everything I'd learned into a larger perspective.

My Oakton education made it possible for me to reach a higher level in the job market. In my career I've been a coding manager, a quality coordinator, a health information manager, and more.

My Oakton education also allowed me to return to Oakton-as a professor. After 10 years working in the field, I joined the Oakton faculty; today I am chair of the College's Health Information Technology department. I love teaching at a place that helps students build confidence, discover their interests, and find their place in the world.

Anita Taylor '86, MEd, RHIA, CCS