AHIMA Names 2026 Board President/Chair and Board Members
CHICAGO – February 6, 2026 - The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA®) is proud to announce the appointment of Thea Campbell, MBA, RHIA, FAHIMA as President/Chair of the 2026 AHIMA Board of Directors. Her one-year term began on January 1, 2026.
Campbell is an innovative servant leader committed to achieving top performance by leveraging a compelling vision of efficiency, growth, and diversity. Over the course of her career, she has worked with multiple consulting firms specializing in healthcare revenue cycle improvement and health information management. Campbell has been an active AHIMA member since 1995 and has built a decades-long record of leadership, service, and influence across AHIMA and affiliated HIM organizations. She has served on the AHIMA Board of Directors (2022–2024), co-chairs the Mission Statement Task Force, and advanced through President-Elect (2025) to President and Chair of the Board. A recognized thought leader and frequent national speaker, she has contributed extensively on topics including AI, social determinants of health, workforce transformation, patient identification, and revenue cycle evolution.
“It is an honor to serve as AHIMA’s 2026 Board President/Chair at such a pivotal time for health information. I look forward to partnering with our board and members to strengthen the profession, foster inclusive leadership, and drive innovation that supports quality care, compliance, and trust across the healthcare industry.”
AHIMA is also pleased to announce the 2026 Board leadership and members:
President/Chair-elect:
Angie Comfort, DBA, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P, FAHIMA
Past President/Chair:
Maria Caban Alizondo, PhD, RHIT, FAHIMA
Treasurer:
Daniel Utech, MBA, RHIA, CHPS, FAHIMA
Secretary:
Sandra Brightwell, EdD, RHIA, FAHIMA
2026 Board Members:
- Rebecca (Becci) Conroy Bargfrede, MS, RHIA, CCS-P, CHC, SHRM-SCP
- Tonya L. Bates, MSML, RHIA, CHPS, CC
- Kelly Canter, MHA, RHIT, CCS, CRCR, CPM, FAHIMA
- Susan Foster, EdD, MBA, RHIA, CHPS, CHC, CHPC, CIPP/US, CC, FAHIMA – Speaker of the House of Delegates
- Dr. Abel Guevara III, DHA, MHIM, RHIA, eFACHDM, MBA, Adv-CPhT, CDME, PMEC
- Grissel Pabón, MS, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P
- Erika Parker, MHA, RHIA
- Larry Smith, MHA, RHIA
Additional Leaders Include:
- Brianna Kelly, MBA, RHIA – Speaker-elect of the House of Delegates
- Deanna Peterson, MHA, RHIA, CHPS, LNHA – Past Speaker of the House of Delegates
Board Advisors:
- Rekha K. Murthy, MD, FRCP(C), FACP, FIDSA, FSHEA
- Animesh Sabnis, MD, MSHS
The AHIMA Board of Directors, comprised of elected leaders from across the health information profession, 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.
The AHIMA House of Delegates is a deliberative assembly comprised of elected or appointed delegates from each of the Component Associations and the AHIMA Board of Directors. Delegates provide a member forum for membership and professional issues, as well as establish and maintain professional standards of the membership. The House is chaired by the Speaker of the House, an AHIMA official elected by the delegates.
The AHIMA Board Advisors serve in an advisory role to the AHIMA Board of Directors as they work to advance the mission and vision of AHIMA.
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About the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA®)
AHIMA is more than an association–we are a force for change in healthcare. We are the visionary architect at the center of health information equipping over 100,000 members and credential holders to uphold the highest professional standards through education and certification. We believe every patient deserves the best possible health care, and that starts with accurate, secure data. We represent the extraordinary individuals who work tirelessly to keep us all safe. Get to know us at https://www.ahima.org.