Even though she only started her role as AHIMA’s CEO in February, Dr. Wylecia Wiggs Harris, PhD, has already been named to a high-profile list of influential leaders in healthcare IT. The list, The Most Powerful Women in Healthcare IT for 2018—Thought Leaders, is part of trade publication Health Data Management’s third annual recognition of the 50 most power women in healthcare IT in three different categories: CIOS/HIT executives at provider organizations, thought leaders, and health IT vendor executives.
Health Data Management notes that “Harris is known for her ability to bring organizational change. She maintains an increased focus on continuing education and exploration of new roles in health information management.”
The award also acknowledges that Harris helped raise the profile of the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS), where she had been the CEO prior to coming to AHIMA. Prior to her tenure at the LWVUS, Harris held senior executive positions at the American Nurses Association, including as chief operating officer, was executive director of the Center for American Nurses, and was executive director of the Maryland-based Sister to Sister Foundation—a national organization supporting women’s health issues and heart disease education. Harris has also previously served as senior vice president and executive director at the American Heart Association.