Dan Utech, MBA, RHIA, CHPS, FAHIMA
Biography
Dan Utech, MBA, RHIA, CHPS, FAHIMA, is a health information leader with more than 17 years of experience across HIM, healthcare IT, privacy, operations, governance, and education. He currently serves as Treasurer on the AHIMA Board of Directors and has also served as president of TxHIMA, DFWHIMA, and NMHIMA. Throughout his career, Daniel has worked to strengthen the role of health information professionals in improving care, supporting compliance, protecting trust, and helping organizations navigate change.
Daniel’s professional background includes leadership roles in large, complex health systems, where he has worked across teams and disciplines to connect people, process, data, and technology. His experience spans operational improvement, enterprise decision-making, privacy and security, digital transformation, and the practical realities facing professionals across coding, information governance, release of information, compliance, and health data operations. He also serves as an adjunct faculty instructor, reflecting his commitment to supporting students and emerging leaders entering the profession.
Daniel believes AHIMA is strongest when it remains grounded in the real work of its members while also helping lead the profession forward. He brings a collaborative, thoughtful, and service-oriented leadership style and is committed to helping AHIMA stay strong, relevant, and member-focused in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment.
Position Statement
AHIMA's core values are Integrity, Bold, and Inclusive. How would you incorporate these into your service if elected to the AHIMA Board of Directors?
If elected to serve as President/Chair Elect of the AHIMA Board of Directors, I would approach the role the same way I have approached leadership throughout my career and volunteer service: with a strong sense of stewardship, a willingness to engage hard issues directly, and respect for the people and perspectives around the table.
To me, Integrity starts with doing the Board's work the right way. That means being prepared, asking the hard questions, honoring fiduciary responsibility, and making decisions based on what is best for AHIMA and its members over the long term. I take governance seriously. I believe trust is built when leaders are transparent, consistent, and willing to make principled decisions even when they are not the easiest ones.
Being Bold means helping AHIMA lead the profession through change rather than react to it. Health information professionals are navigating major shifts in digital health, privacy, AI, data governance, workforce expectations, and the broader healthcare environment. I would bring a future-focused mindset to Board service, but I would also keep it grounded in practical execution. Bold leadership is not just about big ideas; it is about making thoughtful decisions that move the association and the profession forward.
Inclusive, to me, means more than ensuring people have a seat at the table. It means creating an environment where people are truly heard and where different professional experiences strengthen the discussion. I have worked across HIM, IT, operations, strategy, and education, and I have learned that better decisions come from hearing a range of perspectives and testing assumptions openly.
If elected, I would support a Board culture where members can speak candidly, disagree respectfully, and stay aligned on mission. If elected, I would serve with integrity in stewardship, boldness in direction, and inclusivity in how I engage others. Those values are not separate from governance; they are what make good governance possible.