Vanessa Martinez, DNP, MHA, RN, CPHQ

Dr. Vanessa A. Martinez is an accomplished healthcare professional with over 29 years of nursing experience in critical care and leadership with a strong commitment to patient safety and quality. Currently serving as the Senior Director of Quality & Safety Improvement at Kaiser Permanente, she oversees Virtual Nursing Care programs, significantly advancing healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. Dr. Martinez has been instrumental in leading various virtual nursing programs, including the Advance Alert Monitor (AAM), Virtual and Quality Safety Oversight (VALUE/eHospital), and Perinatal Early Risk Alert (PERL). Under her leadership, the AAM program received prestigious awards, such as the Kaiser Permanente National Lawrence Patient Safety Award in 2020, the IHF Gold Winner of the Austco Excellence Award for Quality and Patient Safety in 2021, and the John Eisenberg Award for Local Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality from The Joint Commission (TJC) and National Quality Forum (NQF).Her educational background is impressive, with a Doctorate Degree in Nursing Practice from Loyola University New Orleans, dual master’s degrees in nursing and health care administration from the University of Phoenix, and Strategic Leadership from Cornell University. Dr. Martinez is also recognized as a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality, a Quality Professional Fellow, a Patient Care Improvement System Advisor, a Caritas and HeartMath Coach, a TeamStepps Master Trainer, and a faculty member for the Watson Caring Science Institute and Kaiser Permanente. Dr. Martinez’s dedication to advancing nursing and healthcare quality is evident through her numerous accolades, including the Kaiser’s Emerging Leader Award, recognition as a Culture of Health High-Performing Manager, and awards for Care Experience Leadership and a Kaiser Permanente Nurse Scholar. Actively contributing to the healthcare community, Dr. Martinez engages in podium and poster presentations, publishes research findings, and provides podcast commentaries. Her commitment to promoting leadership and diversity in healthcare is demonstrated by her service on the board of directors of Women Healthcare Executives of Northern California. Her enthusiasm for shaping the future of healthcare delivery and improving patient outcomes reflects her unwavering dedication to advancing quality, safety, and innovation in virtual nursing care.