Dr. Aliysa Rajwani, BDS, MPH, CPHQ is currently the Director of Quality & Patient Safety at Mount Auburn Hospital which is part of the Beth Israel Lahey Health System in Massachusetts. She received her Master's degree in Public Health (MPH) with a focus in Health Management from the Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health. She is also a trained dentist and practiced dentistry clinically before working full time in the area of quality, safety and performance improvement.

Prior to Mount Auburn, Aliysa worked at Tufts Medical Center & the Tufts Medicine system as the Assistant Director of Performance Improvement leading PI initiatives focused on improving patient safety, patient health outcomes, operational efficiency and integration by using continuous improvement problem solving methodologies including Lean & Six Sigma. She also led the 'Quality Academy' program & other PI training & capacity building initiatives for the organization.

Aliysa has also worked at Cambridge Health Alliance in the Quality & Safety department in the domains of performance improvement, population health & value based healthcare. She has a CPHQ and has been trained in Lean & Six Sigma methodologies. In addition, she also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the New England Association of Healthcare Quality (NEAHQ).

Leigh has been in Quality for over 18 years with a primary focus on patient safety and regulatory readiness.  She is currently the Regulatory Manager at Dartmouth Hitchcock in Lebanon NH.  

Experienced Healthcare Quality Professional dedicated to improving patient care outcomes and driving excellence in healthcare organizations. With a deep understanding of quality improvement methodologies and industry standards, I am committed to ensuring the delivery of safe and efficient healthcare services.

Throughout my career, I have successfully led and implemented quality improvement initiatives that address patient care gaps, enhance patient experience, and drive overall performance for the business. I have a proven track record of working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement evidence-based practices to drive quality outcomes.

My expertise includes developing and implementing quality improvement plans, conducting performance evaluations, and analyzing data to identify areas for improvement. I am skilled in designing and delivering training programs to educate staff on quality improvement principles and best practices.

In addition to my technical skills, I possess excellent interpersonal and communication abilities, enabling me to effectively engage stakeholders at all levels of the organization. I am passionate about fostering a culture of continuous quality improvement and empowering healthcare professionals to provide the highest standard of care.

I am an active Board Member of NEAHQ and regularly participate in conferences and workshops to expand my knowledge and network with industry experts.

Director of Performance Improvement at Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital in Westborough, MA since 2006. Involved with quality and patient safety initiatives, risk management, and accreditation at the long term acute care hospital.

Doctor of Nursing Practice and Leader in Patient Safety

Senior Director of Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham Massachusetts. 

Rita received her ASN from New Hampshire Technical Institute and completed her BSN and MSN in Nursing Leadership at Franklin Pierce University. She completed her DNP at MGH Institute of Health Professionals and holds Certifications as a Nurse Executive, Advanced, Professional in Healthcare Quality and Lean in Healthcare.

Rita has worked in various acute care settings, including critical access hospitals, community hospitals, and academic medical centers. Her primary clinical background has been in critical care settings; intensive care, surgical services, and emergency care. 

Rita is serving on the Alumni Association Board for Franklin Pierce University and on the New Hampshire Nurses Association Finance committee. She previously served the Massachusetts Association of Healthcare Quality (MAHQ) as President, assisting in the move toward a more regional approach as the New England Association of Healthcare Quality (NEAHQ) in 2019. 

Rita’s areas of focus are improving clinical care and patient safety in healthcare practice.

Experienced Healthcare Quality, Patient Safety and Risk Management Professional

Dr Mercado has diverse experiences in hospital management, diagnostics, ancillary, medical and nursing safety and quality, accreditation, operations management and policy development.

Originally from a Social Science background, I segued to become a Registered Nurse with subsequent trainings in Demography and in Work Environment Policy.  My work in System Redesign  allows me to collaborate on solutions that  keep both the patient and the worker safe.   I have worked in frontline clinician and administrative capacities.  I am a CPHQ and a CPPS . I am always keen to talk about the connection between patient safety and worker safety

 On the Board of Directors of the New England Association for Healthcare Quality (NEAHQ). 

Seasoned healthcare executive with extensive experience in quality improvement, patient safety, accreditation, and patient experience. 

As a strategic leader, I have demonstrated a passion for delivering safe patient care and exceptional patient experiences through continuous quality improvement initiatives. 

Known for spearheading organization-wide initiatives and managing cross-functional teams, I have consistently delivered measurable value and successful outcomes within budget constraints.

Accomplished healthcare quality professional, with more than 40 years of experience in nursing and healthcare quality. Areas of expertise include quality reporting, regulatory readiness, patient safety, and process improvement. Experience in critical care, nursing management, case management, risk management and quality improvement in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

On the Board of Directors of the New England Association for Healthcare Quality (NEAHQ) since 2006. Qualified instructor for Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) examination preparation courses.