Our Council Members

MHQP’s unique position as a coalition of multiple stakeholder groups is reflected in our unique governance and guidance structure.  Our Board of Directors was reconstituted in 2014 to include seven representative stakeholder members (offering provider, patient and health plan perspectives) and five independent members (offering industry expertise).

In addition, we are guided by the wisdom provided by three councils representing key stakeholder groups:

  • Physician Council (formed in 2002). The MHQP Physician Council consists of medical directors from a diverse group of physician organizations across Massachusetts who have come together under MHQP’s umbrella. Their top priority is to guide MHQP in establishing a collective set of clinical and service quality improvement priorities that could best be accomplished through collaboration with other MHQP health care stakeholders. Two members of the Council sit on MHQP’s Board of Directors.
  • Health Plan Council (formed in 2009). The MHQP Health Plan Council consists of medical directors and directors of quality operations for MHQP’s participating health plan member organizations. The purpose of the Council is to advise MHQP on the design and implementation of statewide performance measurement initiatives and establish and collaborate on priorities for statewide quality initiatives. Two members of the Council sit on MHQP’s Board of Directors.
  • Consumer Health Council (formed in 2011). The MHQP Consumer Health Council comprises patients, family caregivers and other members of the public who have been active in, and have advocated for patient-centered care and for improvement in healthcare quality and affordability. The mission of the Consumer Health Council is to increase the quality of care and well-being for all consumers in Massachusetts through robust conversations that build respect, choice, and a holistic view of the individual. Two members of the Council sit on MHQP’s Board of Directors.

Kim Ariyabuddhiphongs, MD, MBA
Associate Chief Medical Officer Performance Network
Beth Israel Lahey Health

Chair, MHQP Physician Council
MHQP Board of Directors 

Carlos F. Cappas, PsyD, MBA
Chief Behavioral Health Officer
Lynn Community Health Center

Nicholas Cordella, MD, MSc
Associate Director of Quality Strategy
Boston Medical Center

Rebecca Cunningham, MD
Senior Medical Director for Primary Care
Mass General Brigham

Mohammad Dar, MD
Chief Medical Officer (CMO)
Community Care Cooperative

Steven Defossez, MD, EMHL, CPE
Vice President, Clinical Integration
Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association

Susan Dargon-Hart, LICSW
Senior Vice President Clinical Health Affairs
Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers

Margaret Fry, MD
CEO and President
Pediatric Physicians’ Organization at Children’s

Jeffrey Hoffman, MD, FACS
Chief Medical Officer
Cambridge Health Alliance
President CHA Physician Organization

Thomas Isaac, MD, MBA, MPH
Medical Director, Department of Quality and Safety
Atrius Health

Kastoori Iyengar, MD, MBA, FAAFP, CMQ
Medical Director of Quality
UMass Memorial Medical Center

Elizabeth H. Johnson, MD, MS, FACP
Chief Medical Officer
Beth Israel Lahey Health

Kimiyoshi Kobayashi, MBA, MD
Chief Quality Officer
UMass Memorial Medical Center

Jodi Larson, MD
Vice President and Chief Quality Officer
Boston Medical Center

Mark Mandell, MD
Chief Pediatric Medical Officer
Steward Health Care Network

MHQP Board of Directors

Yael Miller, MBA
Director of Practice Solutions & Medical Economics
Massachusetts Medical Society

Elisabeth Siannas, MBA
Director of Quality & Population Health Management
Atrius Health

Barbara Spivak, MD
President and CEO
Mount Auburn Cambridge Independent Practice Association (MACIPA)
Massachusetts Medical Society

Luis Ticona, MD, MPP, MPH
Medical Director, Medicaid Innovation
Reliant Medical Group

Pauline Tsirigotis, MD, MPH
President, Mill City Medical Group
Quality Medical Director, Lowell General Hospital PHO

Mark Friedberg, MD
Senior Vice President, Performance Measurement and Improvement
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Chair, MHQP Health Plan Council
MHQP Board of Directors

Linda Brenner
Director, Quality Measurement and Performance
Point32Health

Lora Council, MD, MPH, MHCM
VP & Sr Medical Director Quality & Population Health
Fallon Health

Clara Filice, MD, MPH, MHS
Deputy Chief Medical Officer
MassHealth

Angela Li, MPH
Director, Performance Measurement & Improvement
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

David Morales
General Manager
Wellpoint

MHQP Board of Directors

Desiree Otenti, NP, MSN, MPH
Vice President, Quality and Medical Policy
Point32Health

Maurice Sahar, MPH
Senior Director, Quality Assurance
Mass General Brigham Health Plan

Lucilia Prates
Director, MA Senior Medicare Patrol Program
Elder Services of Merrimack Valley

Chair, MHQP Consumer Health Council
MHQP Board of Directors

Antoinette Austin
Retired

Judy Danielson
Health Market Strategy Consultant

Nancy Finn
Healthcare Journalist & Author
Communication Resources

Denice Garrett
Coordinator for Clinical Billing and Data Operations
Action for Boston Community Development, Inc.

MHQP Board of Directors

Judy George
AHRQ Quality Indicators Program Lead
Division of Quality Management & Improvement, Center for Patient Safety & Quality Improvement
Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality

Cyrus Hopkins
Retired

Rosalind Joffe
President
ciCoach.com

Jim Lomastro
Retired

Ann Naimie
Retired

Pam Ressler, RN, MS
Founder, Stress Resources
Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor
Tufts University School of Medicine

Janice Singer
Retired

Bonnie Thompson
Family-Centered Child Health Care Advocate

Kestrell Verlager
Disability and Technology Advocate