Denise Brady Elliott – Senior Consultant, LSS MBB, FACHE
Denise Brady Elliott is a highly accomplished leader in the field of quality and process improvement within the healthcare sector. Board-certified in Healthcare Management through the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and with a comprehensive educational background in psychology (B.S.) and neuroscience (M.A.) from Baylor University, Denise has distinguished herself as an expert dedicated to enhancing healthcare systems, patient safety, and process flows. Her leadership extends to strategic transformation initiatives, where she has played pivotal roles in redesigning workflows, implementing best practices, and enhancing operational efficiencies. Her ability to lead complex change initiatives while maintaining a focus on quality and patient safety has positioned her as a transformational leader within the healthcare community.
As the Chief Quality Officer/Quality Management Officer for the VA Heart of Texas Health Care Network (VISN 17), Denise was the executive accountable for multiple critical programs focused on Quality, Patient Safety, High Reliability Organization (HRO), and Systems Redesign & Improvement (SR&I). She was responsible for planning, directing, implementing, and evaluating these programs while overseeing a team dedicated to driving high performance and excellence across the network. She ensured that collaborative relationships, mutual goal attainment, problem-solving, and efficient communication were at the center of the organization’s success. Denise’s role encompassed a broad spectrum of leadership responsibilities, including the guidance and strategic oversight needed to foster a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence. She has a proven track record in leading organizational transformation, aligning strategic objectives with actionable plans, and driving sustainable change across all levels of the organization.
As a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Denise spearheaded VISN 17’s Process Improvement training and certification program. Her achievements include training over 5,000 employees in Lean Six Sigma methodologies and realizing more than $100 million in savings through targeted process improvements. Denise’s commitment to fostering continuous improvement is evident in her personal instruction of over 150 students in Lean Six Sigma and Process Improvement techniques.
Throughout Denise’s career within the Veterans Health Administration system, she effectively planned, directed, implemented, and evaluated extensive quality management initiatives. In these capacities, she provided critical oversight for internal and external reviews, risk management, process improvement, and compliance with industry standards. Denise was instrumental in developing systems that encourage transparency and trust, thereby optimizing organizational performance and patient care quality.
Denise Brady Elliott’s distinguished career is a testament to her unwavering dedication to quality and process improvement, ensuring that the systems in place provide the highest standards of care and safety for customers and employees alike.