Stephanie Mercado is CEO of the National Association for Healthcare Quality, or NAHQ, the leading organization advancing healthcare Quality & Safety. Stephanie is widely recognized as one of the most consequential leaders in the industry – she has not only put Quality & Safety “on the table,” but has put the professionals who do the work squarely on the radar. Stephanie pioneered NAHQ’s Healthcare Quality Competency Framework. She has elevated the profession through the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (the CPHQ) credential and the launch of innovative micro-credentials, and recently launched NAHQ-U. NAHQ-U represents a shift toward a more integrated, learner-centered experience —bringing education, membership and professional development together in one seamless platform. A CPHQ and Health Evolution Senior Fellow, Stephanie has been recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare for three consecutive years.