The PQA Kelman Quality Leadership Program helps individuals at various career stages become leaders in health care quality that is focused on safe, effective and appropriate medication use. Through education, training and mentorship, the program has components for students, early career professionals and emerging leaders that support long-term professional development and advancement towards leadership positions.
Now in its fourth year, the program was renamed in 2026 in honor of former Center for Medicare Chief Medical Officer Jeffrey Kelman, MD, MMSc. Kelman served on the PQA Board of Directors for 10 years and then as a CMS Special Advisor to the board. Kelman, who passed away in 2024, was a trusted advisor to PQA since its establishment in 2006.
Student Scholarships for the 2026 PQA Annual Meeting
PQA is providing scholarships for health care professional students to attend the 2026 PQA Annual Meeting, May 12-14, in Baltimore, Md., and participate in the pre-meeting Medication Use Quality Live workshop on May 12. This scholarship is part of the Kelman Program and PQA’s commitment to inclusion and building the capacity of the nation’s health care quality workforce.
This competitive scholarship opportunity is open to students who have completed at least their second year of study in a pharmacy or other health care degree program.
Self-nominations will be accepted through a form on the PQA website through March 15. Selected participants will be notified by March 20.
PQA respects the value of unique life experiences, such as education, income, and the environment and conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and recognizes how these factors impact our work. We are eager to consider the self-nominations and statements of interest from all individuals interested in participating in this program.
Emerging Leaders at PQA Member Organizations Shadow Measure Panels
The PQA Quality Shadowing Program provides individuals with the opportunity to observe the PQA Quality Metrics Expert Panel and the PQA Measure Update Panel. This shadowing experience, for full-time professionals at PQA member organizations, helps build knowledge that can support selection for and participation in future panels. Individuals self-nominate for the program each fall for the following calendar year.
Quality Metrics Expert Panel
- Matthew Helbling, Prime Therapeutics
- Jason Hurwitz, UnitedHealth Group
- Jennifer Nguyen, CVS Health
Measure Update Panel
- Theresa Horn, Aetna
- Leva Jaberizadeh, Elevance Health
- Nancy Youssef, Centene Management Company
In addition to shadowing the monthly panel meetings, these individuals will receive support to attend the 2026 PQA Annual Meeting.
The 2026 PQA Kelman Quality Leadership Program is possible in part by the generous support of Merck & Co., Inc., Pfizer, and McKesson. In addition to the student scholarship program and the shadowing program, additional scholarships for educational opportunities and the PQA Leadership Summit will be provided later this year.
If you have questions about the program, contact us at Engagement@PQA.org