AHIMA names Wylecia Wiggs Harris as new CEO

The search for a new CEO of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) has ended, with Wylecia Wiggs Harris, PhD, set to take over the position Feb. 5.

Harris is a veteran of several healthcare associations. Her resume includes serving as chief operating officer at the American Nurses Association, executive director for the Center for American Nurses and executive director roles at regional affiliates of the America Heart Association. Since Sept. 2015, however, she’s been working outside of healthcare as CEO of the League of Women Voters of the United States.

“Dr. Harris is an exemplary leader with the ability to envision transformative changes and to execute those changes,” AHIMA board president and chair Diann H. Smith, MS, said in a statement. “She has a strong track record for creating high-performing teams, strengthening membership, and fostering internal and external partnerships to support the missions of the organizations she served. The AHIMA Board of Directors sought an executive with experience leading associations with multi-million dollar operating budgets, and we look forward to working with Dr. Harris to be a powerful voice and advocate for AHIMA and the health information management profession.”

Harris holds a PhD in organizational development from Capella University in Minneapolis, and a master of management degree from Northwestern University. Her undergraduate degree was completed at Springfield, Ohio’s Wittenberg University, where she also received a honorary doctor of humane letters degree.

“I’m excited to begin this next chapter with AHIMA and lead this great association at a time when both the healthcare industry and the health information management profession are experiencing rapid change,” Harris said. “I look forward to working with the AHIMA Board of Directors, leadership, staff, and volunteers to grow and strengthen membership while continuing to advance the HIM profession and AHIMA.”

The last permanent CEO of AHIMA, Lynne Thomas Gordon, left the position on July 15, 2017. Pamela Lane, MS, the group’s vice president of policy and government relations, has been serving as interim CEO during the search.