Gerrilynne Siren Walk of Allen, Texas passed away October 29, 2014 at the age of 57.  She was born February 22, 1957 to Raymond Lewis and Constance Louise (Sherman) Siren in Princeton, New Jersey.  Gerri graduated from Upper Saint Clair High School in 1975 and graduated in 1979 magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.S. Degree in Health Records Administration from the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. She married David H. Walk on August 12, 1983 in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania and took up residence in Scott Township, PA until 1996 when they moved the family to Allen, TX. 

She began her career in health information services as a medical data analyst with Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, MD, moved to a Data Control Supervisor at the Presbyterian-University Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA; served as the Director of Medical Records at Sewickley Valley Hospital, Sewickley, PA; then a consultant for Coopers & Lybrand; an Assistant to the Director and Project Manager for Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA; and then for the past 23 years a Senior Manager with Health Records Services Corporation of Baltimore, MD.   Her assignments were broad ranged including ICD-9-CM and CPT coding of records in all settings, conducting coding quality reviews, backlog assistance, preparing training manuals for clients and new coders, and continually conducting training and education workshops.

Since 1979, she was an active member of American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) holding designations as a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), Certified Coding Specialist – Physician-Based (CCS-P), and an AHIMA approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer. Currently a member of Texas HIMA, and former member of Pennsylvania HIMA (DRG-Ad Hoc Committee and Education Committee) and Western Pennsylvania HIMA (Treasurer, Chairman Membership Committee, DRG/Prospective Pricing Committee). She served as the Historian for the Western Pennsylvania HIMA organization until 1996. She was a frequent presenter at the annual AHIMA Convention and Exhibit, and made presentations for WPHIM, PHIMA, UTHIMA, TXHIMA and HCPro.

She authored articles for the Journal of AHIMA, Radiology Today, Advance for Health Information Professionals, Advance for Enterprise Imaging, HCPro, and ICD-10 Monitor. The links to these articles can be found on our website:  http://www.hrscoding.com/hrs/news-events/hrs-articles/

Gerri was very active with the Allen Eagle Band Boosters Association, Allen High School, Allen, TX from 2000 until 2010 serving in several officer positions. Thoroughly enjoying reliving her high school marching band days as a bass clarinetist with her boys performing with the largest high school marching band in the land.

She was an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and an active member of the Trinity Presbyterian Church in McKinney, Texas serving in the chancel choir, the bell choir, music director search committee, and Women Ministries since transferring membership in 1996. She served on a minster search committee for the former John Knox Presbyterian Church of Scott Township, PA.

Gerri was preceded in death by her sister-in–law Jacqueline Whitney, wife of her brother Eugene Siren.

Gerri is survived by her husband, David Walk of Allen, Texas; sons, Joseph Walk of Melbourne, Florida; Stephen Walk and wife Tara of Grand Forks, North Dakota; and Benjamin Walk in Allen, Texas; parents, Dr. Raymond and Connie Siren of Upper St Clair, Pennsylvania; brother, Eugene Siren with nephews Christopher and Edward of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania; sisters, Susan DeLeo, and husband Doug with niece Morgan of Kingsville, Maryland; and Gail Heinl and husband Roy with nephew Andrew of Port St. John, Florida; and niece Denise Heinl of Tampa, FL.

A celebration service of Gerrilynne S. Walk’s life will be held 3:00 PM on Friday, December 5, 2014 at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 5871 Virginia Parkway, McKinney, Texas 75071 with Pastor Patrick McCoy officiating. (P: 972-542-4629 Visit www.tpcmckinney.org to view a live streaming of the service).

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to:

Trinity Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund

5871 Virginia Parkway, McKinney, Texas 75071

P: 972-542-4629 (www.tpcmckinney.org)

Make checks payable to “Trinity Presbyterian Church” with “In memory of Gerri Walk” in the memo line.

To donate online use the following link to the TPC Memorial Fund: https://secure.accessacs.com/access/oglogin.aspx?sn=108030&f=21

University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences:

• To donate by mail – make checks payable to “University of Pittsburgh” with “In memory of Gerri Walk” on the memo line. Checks should be sent to    Patty Kummick, University of Pittsburgh—SHRS, 4031 Forbes Tower, Pittsburgh, PA 15260.
• To donate by phone – call Patty Kummick at the University of Pittsburgh, 412-383-6548.
• To donate online – go to https://secure.giveto.pitt.edu.  On the second screen, choose School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences      from the drop down list of Schools/Colleges/Departments and then type  “Gerri Walk” in the memorial/honorary box.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society:

• Online at http://www.lls.org/#/waystohelp/donate/
• North Texas Chapter, 8111 LBJ Freeway, Dallas, TX 75251 P: 972-996-5900)