Onyinyechi U. Daniel, PhD, MPH
2024 Health Policy & Administration Alumni Achievement Award
About
Dr. Onyinyechi U. Daniel is the Vice President of Data & Analytics Strategy and Partnership at Highmark Health, where she is responsible for development of the Data & Analytics Strategy and alignment and collaboration with the broader enterprise stakeholders across all business units. She developed the industry-leading enterprise Responsible AI/AI Governance program, including culture, process and policy components. She also has accountability for internal and external strategic partnerships, including research relationships with Carnegie Mellon University, Johns Hopkins and other institutions. She is also accountable for Data Governance (both operations and data sharing) and Quality, D&A Product Commercialization, People Analytics, D&A Talent and workforce development and engagement and D&A-focused Public Policy. She is passionate about the application of data and analytics to drive evidence-based health outcome improvements and address health inequities and leads the enterprise SDOH and Health Equity data strategy. Prior to Highmark, Dr. Daniel was the Senior Director of Data & Analytics Strategy at Health Care Service Corp. She has also had prior professional experience managing Data Operations at Change Healthcare.
Dr. Daniel holds masters' degrees in Medical Humanities and Bioethics and Health Policy & Administration from Northwestern University and University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health respectively. She also holds a PhD in Health Policy and Administration with a focus on Public Health Informatics, and Health Economics from the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, where she is also an adjunct instructor. She also earned the Certified Health Insurance Executive (CHIE) designation by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). She serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Sinai Health System in Chicago, a network of 4 hospitals, 17 community clinics, 1 community institute, and 1 nationally recognized research institute all serving communities on Chicago's West and Southwest sides, where she chairs the Technology Committee. She also sits on the Governance and Budget and Finance Committees. In addition to board service, she is a member of the Institute of Physician Diversity, an executive group tasked with increasing the number of physicians of color throughout the medical school and physician faculty pipeline and also sits on the Loyola University AI Business Consortium Steering Committee. Dr. Daniel was named one of Becker's Hospital Reviews 75 Black Healthcare Leaders to Know 2022, 2023 and 2024, CDO Magazine's Global Data Power Women 2022, 2023 and 2024, Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Women in STEM 2023, and most recently Modern Healthcare’s Innovator Awards 2024. She resides in Chicago, IL, with her husband and three young children.