AHIMA Names 2025 Board President/Chair and Board Members

CHICAGO – January 7, 2025 – The American Health Information Management Association® (AHIMA) is proud to announce the appointment of Maria Caban Alizondo, PhD, RHIT, FAHIMA, as President/Chair of the 2025 AHIMA Board of Directors. Her one-year term began on January 1, 2025. 

Caban Alizondo, a prominent leader in health information (HI), currently serves as director of health informatics and information management services at UCLA Health System. With an impressive career that includes leadership roles within AHIMA and the California Health Information Association (CHIA), Caban Alizondo is well known for advancing health IT governance, data integrity, and operational technology integration. Her expertise centers on improving patient experiences through innovative approaches to HI practices. 

“Our profession sits at the heart of healthcare’s transformation,” said Caban Alizondo. “I’m honored to lead AHIMA into this next chapter, working alongside our members, board, and healthcare leaders to elevate health information and its vital role in patient care.” 

AHIMA is also pleased to announce the 2025 Board leadership and members:

President/Chair-elect: 

Thea Campbell, MBA, RHIA 
Campbell brings extensive experience in revenue cycle operations, EHR optimization, and health information strategy. A respected leader, she has successfully led large teams and spearheaded major healthcare initiatives across the industry. 

Past President/Chair: 

Mona Calhoun, PhD, MS, MEd, RHIA, FAHIMA 
Calhoun continues to provide invaluable leadership as she supports the ongoing efforts of AHIMA. 

Treasurer: 

Rachel Podczervinski, MS, RHIA
A champion of patient matching and identity management, Podczervinski has worked across the country to advance HI operations. 

Secretary: 

Aurae Beidler, MHA, RHIA, CHPS, CHC 
Beidler, a respected HI educator and privacy expert, remains dedicated to advancing education and compliance in the profession. 

2025 Board Members: 

• Tonya L. Bates, MSML, RHIA, CHPS
  A compliance, privacy, and security expert with a history of leadership in Ohio HI organizations. 

• Sandra Brightwell, EdD, RHIA, FAHIMA 
  A seasoned HI educator and advocate with 30 years of experience and multiple leadership awards. 

• Kelly Canter, MHA, RHIT, CCS, CPM
  An expert in revenue cycle management and healthcare innovation, focused on reducing administrative burdens. 

• Kimberly Lee, MEd, RHIA, CCS-P 
  A dedicated educator and mentor with 30 years of experience in HI education, auditing, and consulting. 

• Grissel Pabón, MS, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P 
  A leader in risk adjustment data validation and coding, with extensive experience in Puerto Rico’s healthcare sector. 

• Deanna Peterson, MHA, RHIA, CHPS, LNHA
  Speaker of the House of Delegates-- An expert in privacy and security, compliance and regulatory issues, and operations. 

• Dasantila (Tila) Sherifi, PhD, MBA, RHIA 
  An accomplished educator and program director at Rutgers University with a strong background in public health policy. 

• Daniel Utech, MBA, RHIA, CHPS, FAHIMA
  A healthcare IT leader driving innovation and operational efficiency at Parkland Health. 

Additional Leaders Include: 

• Susan Foster, RHIA, CHPS, EdD, MBA, CHC, CHPC, CIPP/US, CC, FAHIMA
  2025 Speaker-elect of the House of Delegates 

• Rekha K. Murthy, MD, FRCP(C), FACP, FIDSA, FSHEA
  Board Advisor 

The AHIMA Board of Directors, made up of 13 elected members—including the president/chair, president/chair-elect, past president/chair, speaker of the House of Delegates, and nine at-large directors—along with the AHIMA CEO serving ex officio without vote, is dedicated to guiding the Association’s mission of empowering people to impact health® while setting long-term strategy, governing activities, and driving the advancement of the HI profession. 

##### 

About AHIMA 

AHIMA is a global nonprofit association of health information (HI) professionals with more than 67,000 members and 100,000 credentials worldwide. AHIMA’s mission of empowering people to impact health® ensures that health information remains accurate, accessible, and trusted—enabling quality care for patients everywhere. For more information, visit ahima.org.