Chief Digital and Information Officer - UABHS

Position Overview

The Chief Digital & Information Officer (CDIO) provides strategic direction and operational leadership for the organization’s information and digital systems that support the clinical, education, and research missions of the academic health system. This executive ensures that IT initiatives are aligned with the health system’s mission and business strategy, while optimizing patient safety, experience, and operational excellence. The CDIO is the senior leader responsible for the continued development, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of enterprise-wide IT systems, policies, and processes. As a collaborative and inclusive leader, the CDIO must inspire and engage senior leadership to integrate business intelligence, analytics, and technology solutions that drive innovation and care delivery. Responsibilities will also include MedWest and Cooper Green as well as the extensive ambulatory operations of UAB Medicine.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Provides strategic leadership for the Information Technology team, developing and executing a roadmap that ensures high system availability while identifying innovative opportunities to leverage AI and digital solutions in support of broader organizational goals.
• Fosters strong, collaborative relationships with clinical, administrative, operational, and research leaders to ensure optimal use of IT resources and data in delivering exceptional support and service.
• Builds trusted partnerships with the Chief Medical and Quality Officer, Entity Chief Medical Officers, Chief Nurse Executive, Department Chairs, Divisional Chiefs, and other clinical leaders to support the effective use of health information systems, ensure compliance, and enhance clinical practice.
• Partners with fellow executive leaders and other health system leaders on a variety of strategic imperatives for the enterprise.
• Collaborates closely with the University CIO to align IT leadership strategies and priorities, ensuring seamless integration and shared solutions across UAB.
• Ensures a strong partnership with the Heersink School of Medicine so that researchers can access and utilize data in a secure manner for research that may then be utilized in the clinical setting as UAB Health System looks to move toward a learning health system model.
• Oversees and coordinates all aspects of IT operations, ensuring efficient and effective service delivery in a timely manner and within budget constraints.
• Effectively advocates for the IT organization to ensure that resources, staff, and systems are right‑sized to a large and growing academic health system.
• Leads continuous optimization efforts for the Epic EHR and ancillary clinical systems to enhance support for clinicians and improve patient care.
• Serves as the primary liaison with vendors for system negotiations, implementations, and contract renewals.
• Delivers regular updates on IT initiatives and performance to senior leadership and other key stakeholder groups to promote transparency and understanding of IT initiatives and priorities.
• Establishes and enforces IT principles, standards, and policies to ensure consistency, integration, and coordination across all services, recognizing information as a critical organizational asset.
• Drives the evolution of analytics governance, reporting, and tools to empower clinical teams with actionable insights that improve care, efficiency, and patient safety while reducing provider burnout.
• Represents UAB Health System in engagements with external organizations, providers, and vendors in a manner that represents the best interest of the institution.
• Cultivates leadership within the IT team to strengthen collaboration and responsiveness to stakeholder needs.
• Provides executive oversight to IT directors, managers, and supervisors in managing operational, administrative, and financial responsibilities and identify opportunities to mentor and advance IT leaders.
• Leads fiscal planning and management of the IT department’s budget, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and resource needs.
• Contributes to long‑term strategic planning, including capital budgeting, to ensure IT and technology priorities are fully integrated into organizational growth plans.
• Monitors industry trends, economic shifts, and regulatory changes, recommending strategic responses to support UAB Health System’s expansion and innovation efforts.
• Identifies and implements emerging technologies, leveraging UAB Health System’s internal expertise and partnerships with Epic and the University’s research community to drive innovation.

Qualifications

Requires an undergraduate in Computer Science, Business, Healthcare related or other information technology related field, with Master’s degree in Information Technology, Business, Information Engineering, Health Informatics or other related health care or information technology degree and ten (10) years’ high level management of information management and technology services in a healthcare environment. Incumbent must have broad technical knowledge of information management and technology. Proven skills in information technology leadership and management as well as skills in diplomacy, consensus building, and the ability to make technical issues understandable both verbally and in written formats. Proven successful leadership in institution wide IT projects.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Approximately four (4) to ten (10) direct reports.

Budget Responsibilities

Management of funds with signatory and/or budget authority.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Strategic vision
• Excellent communication skills
• Change leadership
• Decisive decision‑maker
• Advanced collaboration skills with proven success in influencing cross‑departmental and cross‑institutional initiatives.
• Team building
• Ability to mentor and lead others
• Analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Strong business acumen