Keynote
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Elizabeth Garcia, RN, MPA, NEA-BC, CMQ, |
This year’s keynote speaker was Elizabeth Garcia, associate vice president of Patient Experience. Garcia plays an important leadership role at MD Anderson working extensively in patient advocacy and education emphasizing a service excellence approach to empower employees. In 2014, Garcia was honored with a Best Boss Award for her highly valued leadership skills, emphasis on work life balance and implementation of an employee recognition program.
Elizabeth Garcia, RN, MPA, NEA-BC, CMQ, is associate vice president of Patient Experience at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She has partnered with the Chief Patient Experience Officer, Chief Quality Officer and other colleagues to develop short- and long-term strategic planning for patient-centered, value-driven cultural transformation. This work has included a plan for transparency of star ratings, divisional quality data and adding efficiency to the role of Patient Advocate. She was the Director of the Gynecologic Oncology Center at MD Anderson from 2007 to 2015 and has participated in several journal publications and conference presentations including the Institute of Healthcare Improvement and Society for Gynecologic Oncology Nursing during her career. Ms. Garcia is a respected nursing and health care administrator acting as a champion for quality, patient experience and efficiency for more 29 years. She attended Simmons College in Boston, MA; New York University Wagner School of Public Service; and has a Medical Quality Certification as well as the Advanced Nurse Executive Certification.
