NAHQ Names Vice President of Products, Programs, and Certification

NAHQ Names Vice President of Products, Programs, and Certification

Jennifer Pitts takes on a new leadership role

CHICAGO (April 20, 2022) – As part of an ongoing commitment to strategic growth and improving healthcare quality across the industry, the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) has announced the promotion of Jennifer Pitts to vice president, products, programs, and certification.  

For the last six years, Pitts was NAHQ’s senior director, products and programs. In her expanding role, Pitts is responsible for NAHQ’s Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality® (CPHQ) program, individual education and training solutions, and annual events at NAHQ. She has expertise in product strategy, virtual and live training and delivery, project management, learning design, and talent development. And, as a member of the executive team, she works closely with senior leaders to set and implement decisions on NAHQ strategy.  

Pitts first started at NAHQ in 2015 as director of education and has grown her team from two to seven while growing in her own capacity and leadership. In her expanded role, Pitts will help advance the NAHQ mission to prepare a coordinated, competent healthcare quality and safety workforce as she leads significant R&D in education and certification efforts at NAHQ. In 2023, NAHQ will launch micro-credentials and more, thanks to the leadership and hard work of her and her team. 

“As I reflect back on my first work-study job at the campus career service office, I think ‘Wow, my career has come full circle.’ Helping people learn, grow and thrive in their career is something I have the privilege of doing at NAHQ. I work with some of the most passionate, dedicated, glass-half-full people I have ever met.” Pitts goes on to say, “My vision is to enhance the academic and career pathways for healthcare quality professionals through innovative products and services that meet people where they are and take them where they want to go.” 

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Toledo in Ohio and a Master of Arts, with a focus on non-profit management in the healthcare sector, from the University of Chicago in Illinois. 

“I am proud to congratulate Jen on her new role at NAHQ,” said NAHQ chief executive officer and executive director Stephanie Mercado, CAE, CPHQ. “Jen is an example of the great leadership at NAHQ and lives our values to develop self and teams to advance healthcare quality and safety. As a growing organization, NAHQ is both hiring new staff and promoting leaders from within the organization to advance our cause.” 

About NAHQ

The National Association for Healthcare Quality® (NAHQ) is the only organization dedicated to healthcare quality professionals, defining the standard of excellence for the profession, and equipping professionals and organizations across the continuum of healthcare to meet these standards. NAHQ believes that to reduce variability in healthcare delivery, we must first reduce variability in healthcare quality competencies, so we focus our efforts on healthcare quality competencies and workforce development. NAHQ published the first and only Healthcare Quality Competency Framework and validated it twice in the market. We offer the only accredited certification in healthcare quality, the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality® (CPHQ), extensive educational programming, networking opportunities and career resources to help healthcare quality professionals enhance their competencies and their value. Learn more at  nahq.org.