5 recent health system AI chief moves

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Health systems are reshuffling the deck on AI leadership, with three organizations marking major transitions in the first months of 2026.

Here are three AI leadership moves as reported by Becker’s since January:

Editor’s note: This article was updated Aug. 20 and will continue to be updated with the latest news.

  1. Drew Smith was named chief data and AI officer of Newark, Del.-based ChristianaCare. He stepped into the role in July.

  2. Phoenix-based Banner Health named John Almasan, PhD, senior vice president and chief artificial intelligence, data and infrastructure officer.

  3. Orange, Calif.-based UCI Health named Deepti Pandita, MD, as its new chief medical informatics and AI officer.

  4. Salt Lake City-based University of Utah Health appointed Kensaku Kawamoto, MD, PhD, as its inaugural chief health AI transformation officer.

  5. Divya Pathak, chief data and AI officer of NYC Health + Hospitals announced she would be leaving the organization.

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