Mel Nelson

Mel Nelson is a program manager, pharmacist, and researcher. As the Director of Program Management, she is responsible for supporting PQA’s strategic initiatives related to measure development, maintenance, and use by championing operational excellence and continuous process improvement. Prior to this role, Mel enhanced operational excellence for the research team and executed various research initiatives and experiential education programs to educate the next generation of healthcare quality leaders.

Prior to joining PQA, Mel spent several years in research at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy’s Center for Health Outcomes and Pharmacoeconomic Research. In that role, she served as co-investigator on research and quality improvement initiatives addressing medication therapy management, survey development, and pharmacy education evaluation. Before her time in academia, Mel spent several years in quality improvement and compliance in the corporate restaurant industry.

Mel obtained her PharmD degree at the University of Arizona, where she was awarded the Frontiers of Knowledge Award, an award given to a graduate whose body of research has expanded knowledge in the pharmacy industry. In 2016, Mel was presented with the Future Pharmacist Award by the Next Generation Pharmacist Awards, a national program that honors those who are defining the future of pharmacy. Mel is passionate about continuous quality improvement and is also a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality.