Consequent to the announcement made by Linda Kloss in July, the outgoing chief executive of AHIMA, of her resignation, a nationwide search was started by the AHIMA Board for a replacement. On the 2nd of December, the Board of Directors of AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association) released a statement naming its new CEO as Dr. Alan F. Dowling, PhD.
Dr. Dowling’s task of heading the 55000 member AHIMA will begin in January, when he assumes leadership. Dr. Dowling is an associate professor of information systems at Case Western Reserve University. He has also delivered lectures at the Sloan School of Management (Massachussets Institute of Technology), the American University of Beirut, Simmons College, and Georgetown University. The doctor’s experience in health information includes systems management, governance, academia, not-for-profit and executive leadership, and strategic skill.
According to Vera Rulon, the Board President of AHIMA, the doctor is “…the ideal person for the job ahead.” The Board President stated that the doctor had detailed knowledge of the intricateness of problems affecting the members, industry, and association, altogether. His prior experience in health information, healthcare delivery, and informatics would aid him in comprehending the future technology and handling of health data.
At the helm of AHIMA’s outreach plan are activism and association activities on issues such as adoption of ICD-10, the global community leadership of HIM, protection of patients’ health data rights, suggestions for purposeful use, personal health records, and the development of HIM manpower.
Rajeev Rajagopal, the President of OSI, has a wealth of experience as a healthcare business consultant in the United States. He has a keen understanding of current medical billing and coding standards.