San Diego Imperial Leadership

Clinical Finance Director | Healthcare Finance Leader | HFMA Advocate

Professional Summary

Alece Hon is a seasoned healthcare finance leader with more than two decades of leadership in clinical finance and revenue cycle management. Currently serving as Clinical Finance Director in the Department of Psychiatry at UC San Diego — a role she has held for over nine years — Alece brings deep expertise in financial operations, team development, and cross-functional collaboration. Prior to UCSD, she held a series of progressive roles at Scripps Healthcare, where she built a strong foundation across multiple facets of healthcare finance.

HFMA Leadership & Volunteer Service

A proud HFMA member since 2003, Alece has been a driving force within the San Diego/Imperial County Chapter for over 20 years. Known for stepping up wherever she is needed, she has served the chapter in virtually every leadership capacity, including Chair of the Membership, Certification, Social, and Sponsorship committees. Her commitment to the chapter is perhaps best demonstrated by her willingness to serve two full rounds as President-Elect and President — a rare distinction that reflects the trust her peers place in her and her unwavering dedication to the chapter’s mission.

More recently, Alece has expanded her impact to the regional level, serving as an active member of the Western Region Symposium Core Committee and as Provider Committee Chair — roles she has embraced with the same energy and dedication she brings to everything she does.

Credentials

Alece holds two prestigious HFMA certifications: the Fellow of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (FHFMA) designation and the Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR) credential, the latter of which she recently earned — a testament to her commitment to continuous professional growth.

What Sets Her Apart

Alece is recognized by colleagues and peers alike for her ability to get things done. She leads with both passion and pragmatism — equally comfortable celebrating wins, addressing challenges head-on, and proposing thoughtful, diplomatic solutions. Her decades of engagement with HFMA reflect a genuine belief in the organization’s mission, and she brings contagious enthusiasm to every member she mentors or connects with.

Whether leading a chapter initiative, guiding a regional committee, or sharing lessons learned from her own career, Alece is a reliable, resourceful, and inspiring presence in the HFMA community.

Keri Whitehead is the System Director of Patient Financial Services for UC San Diego Health.  She has an extensive background in hospital revenue cycle leadership, including receiving the Leader of Excellence award during her tenure as Director of Patient Access for Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. 

Keri’s experience includes multi-dimensional leadership roles in hospital revenue cycle, to include Patient Access, Patient Financial Services, Denials Management, Charge Capture/Revenue Integrity, Case Management and Contracting.  She has a track record of phenomenal results related to process optimization, financial management, personnel management, staff mentoring and restructuring. She brings deep expertise in some of the leading healthcare information systems, including Epic.

Keri is passionate about optimizing the Patient Experience by achieving greater efficiency in care delivery and operations through visionary strategies and proven change methodologies. She is the Director of Membership for the HFMA San Diego Imperial Chapter.  Keri is a native of California, and she attended San Diego State University.

Fahd Benjalil currently serves as the Chief Financial and Operating Officer (CFO/COO) for SHARP Coronado Hospital. After a decade in the Corporate Finance industry, Fahd joined the SHARP Grossmont Finance team in 2011. His efforts there and reputation for integrity led to his current position as SHARP Coronado Hospital CFO/COO. In addition to his finance and operations experience, Fahd holds a Six Sigma certification and is trained on the principles of a High Reliability Organization (HRO).

Fahd believes that hard work, strong relationships, and the willingness to give back to the community are the necessary pillars for a strong foundation to a successful career. Fahd has been involved with HFMA for over 10 years and has held various roles within the chapter culminating with chapter president for 2018-2019. Fahd currently serves on the HFMA National Advisory Committee.

Fahd holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Masters of Business Administration in Finance from National University in San Diego, CA. He is proud of his recent U.S. naturalization from his home country of Morocco, and also a proud resident of San Diego’s East County where he lives with his wife, Diedre, their three children, a dogs and a cat.

I am honored to serve as this year’s HFMA Board Secretary and have been involved with HFMA for 4 years. I began by attending a Women’s event and was quickly inspired to volunteer for the next one. What brought me to HFMA was the incredible team of volunteers who provided encouragement, support, and a safe space to learn and grow without judgment. The culture is truly centered on empowering others to excel in their roles.

I am a dedicated healthcare revenue cycle professional with 25 years of experience in hospital billing, accounts receivable management, and denials resolution. My career has progressed from frontline operations to leadership roles focused on improving performance, strengthening compliance, and enhance operational efficiency. Currently, I work as a Biller and Follow-Up Representative, specializing in complex government accounts, including Immigration, the U.S. Marshal Service, and State and Federal correctional facilities, where I ensure accurate billing and compliance with regulatory requirements. Previously, as a Denials Management Supervisor, I led a multidisciplinary team and partnered closely with leadership, coding, and clinical teams to address denials, support audit activity, and drive process improvements.

What I value most about HFMA is the opportunity to learn from others, collaborate, and stay connected to industry changes. This year, I look forward to building stronger connections within the chapter and contributing to its continued success. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and kids. My daughter is very involved in club volleyball and recently completed her freshman year as a varsity player, which has been incredibly exciting to support. I also enjoy exploring new coffee shops, trying different brunch spots, and visiting Disneyland.

Lisa Risser, an esteemed leader with a legacy of nearly three decades in healthcare financial and operational management, is the founder and CEO of Jevan Consulting. Leveraging her wealth of experience and proven success, Lisa is committed to offering unparalleled expertise in healthcare financial and operational consulting, executive leadership, and education and training.

Professional Achievements

As the former Corporate Senior Vice President of Ancillary Operations at Scripps Health, Lisa steered the ship for almost six years, overseeing a diverse array of ancillary services critical to the healthcare system’s success. Her responsibilities included strategic management of laboratory, imaging, surgery, supply chain, endoscopy, rehab, and pharmacy services.

Lisa’s journey with Scripps Health began in 1998 at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, where she served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), eventually moving to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla where she served CFO and later Chief Operating Officer (COO). In 2013, Lisa was instrumental in reshaping Scripps as a horizontal, matrixed organizational structure. As Corporate Vice President of Clinical and Support Services, she assumed system responsibility over supply chain, endoscopy, surgery, and pharmacy. Her strategic initiatives led to significant cost savings of $130 million over six years.

Before joining Scripps Health, Lisa made significant contributions as a finance and business manager at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix. Her role also extended to managing financial operations and human resources for Freedom Plaza Retirement Center/Care Center in Peoria, Arizona.

Now at the helm of Jevan Consulting, Lisa is poised to bring her transformative vision, strategic acumen, and unparalleled expertise to help healthcare organizations achieve financial excellence, effective leadership, and operational success. Engage with Jevan Consulting for a future where healthcare financial and operational management is not just navigated but optimized for unprecedented results.

Formal Education

• Master of Business Administration Arizona State University
• Bachelor of Business Administration University of Washington

Certificates & Certifications

• Certified Public Accountant, Arizona State Board of Accountancy
• Fellow, The Advisory Board
• Fellow, American College of Healthcare Executives
• Fellow, Healthcare Financial Management Association

Awards & Recognition

• Healthcare Leaders of Influence, San Diego Business Journal (2025)
• Top 25 Healthcare Supply Chain Departments, Gartner (2019-2023)
• Top 10 People to Watch, Journal of Healthcare Contracting (2018)
• Clinical Excellence Award, Health Trust (2018)
• Medal of Honor, Healthcare Financial Management Association (2014)
• Regent’s Award, American College of Healthcare Executives (2014)

Public Speaking

More than 50 presentations at local, state, national, and international conferences and events since 2010.

Sasha Renning is the Supervisor of Quality, Compliance & Operational Training at UC San Diego Health. She has over 14 years of experience in healthcare operations, with her career primarily focused within Revenue Cycle and Revenue Integrity. Throughout her career, Sasha has held leadership and operational roles spanning Customer Service, Training, Quality, Compliance, and Revenue Cycle Operations.

Her experience includes process improvement, operational training, quality assurance, workflow standardization, staff development, and revenue cycle optimization within hospital billing operations. Sasha is passionate about building collaborative teams, developing scalable training programs, and creating operational efficiencies that improve both staff performance and organizational outcomes.

Sasha holds a bachelor’s degree in management of information systems from Bellevue University.

Sylvia Thompson is the Assistant Director of Revenue Cycle at UC San Diego Health, where she leverages more than 30 years of healthcare experience to optimize revenue cycle operations, improve system performance, and develop high-performing teams through mentorship and collaboration.

In her current role, Sylvia oversees the billing operations for professional services, as well as the Underpayment, Cash Recovery, Credit Recovery, and Claims teams. She partners closely with colleagues across the revenue cycle—including Professional and Facility Coding, Revenue Integrity, Hospital Billing, Contracting, and Self-Pay—to drive operational excellence, improve workflows, and support strategic initiatives. She values the opportunity to work across disciplines to solve complex challenges and advance organizational goals, as well as advancing revenue cycle practices that improve both organizational performance and the patient financial experience.

A passionate and people-focused leader, Sylvia believes an organization’s greatest strength lies in the relationships built among its teams. She is committed to removing barriers, developing talent, and fostering an environment where individuals feel empowered to reach their full potential. Her leadership philosophy centers on collaboration, accountability, and the belief that shared success is the most meaningful success. 

Sylvia maintains multiple professional certifications through the AAPC, including Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Professional Biller (CPB), and Certified Physician Practice Manager (CPPM). She also holds a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB) and Epic certifications in Billing Charge Capture and Billing Insurance Follow-Up, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to continuous learning and operational improvement.

An active member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), Sylvia has volunteered with the San Diego-Imperial Chapter since 2023, serving in several leadership capacities with a primary focus on Communications and Social Media. She is passionate about supporting the chapter’s mission of advancing healthcare financial management while fostering engagement and professional development within the healthcare community.

Jacqueline currently serves as the System Director of Patient Access for UC San Diego Health, overseeing admissions, financial counseling, and authorization operations across the system’s three hospitals and outpatient network. With 21 years of experience in healthcare and 17 years in leadership, she is passionate about operational excellence, patient experience, and building high-performing teams.

She enjoys the connection and collaboration that HFMA brings, especially the opportunity to network with leaders and learn from others across the region. In her new role as Social Chair, Jacqueline looks forward to creating meaningful engagement opportunities for the San Diego Chapter and helping members feel welcomed, connected, and inspired.

Her favorite quote, and one that guides her leadership style, is by Maya Angelou:

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Mr. Chestnut, Vice President of Client Relationship Management, serves as a key point of contact for clients, supporting onboarding, communication and coordination of legal services.  He is committed to providing responsive, dependable service and ensuring that each client feels supported throughout their partnership with the firm.

Prior to joining SAC, Mr. Chestnut played college football at West Virginia University and went on to play in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers.  His background in athletics instilled in him a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and a team-first mindset that carriers over into his client-facing role.

Christopher Hayward currently serves as Director, Financial Planning & Analysis at Kaiser Permanente San Diego, where he provides financial leadership and strategic support across a broad portfolio of healthcare operations. With more than 14 years of experience in healthcare finance, Christopher collaborates with executive leaders, physicians, and operational teams to drive financial performance, support strategic decision-making, and advance organizational goals.

Throughout his career, Christopher has led numerous large-scale initiatives and is passionate about leveraging financial analytics and technology to transform data into actionable insights that improve organizational performance and patient care.

Prior to his current role, Christopher held progressive leadership positions within Kaiser Permanente, where his experience spanned financial planning and analysis, budgeting, forecasting, operational finance, business intelligence, and process improvement.

Christopher holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Colorado State University and is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and Certified Improvement Advisor. Additionally, he earned his Bachelors’ degree in Aeronautical Management Technology at Arizona State University.  He has extensive experience with business intelligence and analytics platforms, including Tableau, Power BI, and advanced financial reporting tools.

A strong advocate for professional development and mentorship, Christopher is committed to helping healthcare finance professionals grow their careers and expand their leadership capabilities. He believes that meaningful relationships, collaboration, and continuous learning are essential to both individual and organizational success.

As the newly appointed Director of Engagement for the HFMA San Diego-Imperial Chapter, Christopher looks forward to enhancing member engagement, creating opportunities for networking and professional development, and fostering connections across the healthcare finance community.

Kellie Hooper is a seasoned, passionate, strategic leader with a love for HFMA. Kellie has been involved with HFMA since 2012 and happily served in many roles across Region 10 and 11. Currently Kellie serves at the President for the San Diego Imperial Chapter and as the co-chair for the largest volunteer conference in the country, Western Symposium. HFMA has brought a tremendous amount of value both personally and professionally. Kellie has gained a endearing family of professionals that offer growth and life long friendships. Much gratitude  for the opportunity to serve HFMA while sharing the value with the future generation as Hooper has brought her daughter to participate in HFMA events such as the Women’s Events and the Family hosted group events. Thank you, HFMA.