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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
IHS Office of Quality

Office of Quality Staff

CAPT. Laura Herbison, RN, BS, BSN is a graduate from the University of Oregon and Oregon Health Sciences University. She serves as the acting director of the Office of Quality for the Indian Health Services. The IHS, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is the principal federal health care advocate and provider for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

As the acting director of the Office of Quality, CAPT. Herbison will work to ensure that AI/AN people receive the highest quality, patient-centered, safe, and reliable health care through the IHS Direct Service health care programs. Under the oversight of the Deputy Director for Healthcare Quality and Risk Management, the OQ Director accomplishes these activities by providing accountable, transparent quality leadership to IHS Direct Service programs. The OQ Director is also responsible for ensuring quality-based guidance is implemented in a consistent and standardized manner across IHS Direct Service programs.

As a Commissioned Officer of the United States Public Health Service, Capt. Herbison has worked for the Indian Health Service since 2002 beginning at the Northern Cheyenne Service Unit as staff nurse, and later the Director of Nursing. She was then detailed to Rockville as the Quality Innovations Learning Network (QILN) Collaborative Director for the Division of Improving Patient Care (IPC). Throughout her career, CAPT. Herbison has provided consultation and leadership to both federal and tribal service units, conferences, and numerous Direct Service Tribes meetings on improving patient care. She has been with the Portland Area Western Oregon Service Unit since 2012. Currently, CAPT. Herbison is the Chief Executive Officer at Chemawa Indian Health Center.

CAPT. Herbison served as the Chair for the National Council for Chief Executive Officers from 2017-2020 and currently serves on the IHS Director’s Policy Advisory Council. CAPT. Herbison has received numerous awards from the IHS and USPHS. She was recognized by the Direct Service Tribes Advisory Council for leadership as a Chief Executive Officer and received the IHS Luana’s Leadership award for agency contributions to meeting the mission of the Indian Health Service.

Lisa Majewski, RN, PhD, Associate Director of Quality Assurance and Patient Safety, is an enrolled member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and joined the OQ in 2018. Dr. Majewski began her IHS career in early 2016 as a nursing supervisor at Warm Springs Health and Wellness Center, an IHS ambulatory health care facility. Prior to joining IHS, Dr. Majewski has over 30 years of nursing experience, includes emergency and critical care nursing, nursing leadership and nursing faculty.

As Associate Director of Quality Assurance and Patient Safety, Dr. Majewski embraces her values through being able to provide program leadership to the Divisions of Quality Assurance and Patient Safety and Clinical Risk Management to support and collaborate with IHS facilities to ensure safe, culturally appropriate and high quality care is being provided throughout IHS to support the mission of IHS.

Dr. Majewski completed her associate nursing degree in 1989 from Clark College, Vancouver, Washington, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2006 from McKendree College, a Master of Science in Nursing in 2008 from McKendree University, Lebanon, Illinois, and completed her Doctorate of Philosophy in Health Education in 2015 from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale.

Philippe Champagne, MD, MPH, Physician Senior Advisor is a board-certified physician in internal medicine and pediatrics focused on primary care. He began his career with the IHS as the Medical Director and then Clinical Director at the Chemawa Indian Health Center in 2015 until 2022 when he joined the Office of Quality. Dr. Champagne received his MD from the USC Keck School of Medicine in 2010. He completed his residency and his MPH at UCLA in 2014 and 2017 respectively.

Kent Jeanotte, Staff Assistant, IHS Office of Quality, is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Tribe. Jeanotte was an Office Automation Clerk for the IPC Program, then the IPC Staff Assistant. Jeanotte served in Human Resources for two years prior to joining IPC. He believes that the Office of Quality is one the most important programs within IHS because “we need to improve the health care of all Native Americans around the country.”

Innovation and Improvement Staff

Susan Anderson, MPA, BA, Improvement Advisor, Division of Innovation and Improvement, is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. As a management analyst and improvement advisor for IPC, she identifies best practices and how to adopt them, while conducting analytical and evaluative studies for the program. Anderson also serves as the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for the IPC program. Prior to joining IPC, Anderson was a program analyst in the IHS Office of Direct Services and Contracting Tribes. She has a background in grant writing and administration, organizational and community development, corporate training and quality improvement initiatives.

Anderson began her career in Oklahoma and has more than 20 years of experience in program management and leadership. She served as a director in local government, Tribal organizations, behavioral health organizations and federally funded grant programs and has worked with universities and Tribal colleges administering undergraduate student medical and recruitment programs. She also provided oversight in health care and higher education programs in Indian communities for a nonprofit organization and in a university setting in New Mexico. Anderson has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in English from the University of Central Oklahoma and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Oklahoma.

Benjamin Feliciano, BSN, MSHA/MBA, Improvement Advisor, Division of Innovation and Improvement, has been a nurse consultant/improvement advisor for the Improving Patient Care (IPC), Division of Improvement and Innovation, Office of Quality since its inception in December 2018. He previously worked with the Office of Clinical and Preventive Services (OCPS). Ben has been with the IHS since 2014. He collaborates with Office of Quality team members in analyzing and evaluating clinical and administrative processes that improve the overall effectiveness of the IHS. He also serves as a mentor, coaching clinical staff and none clinical team members on improvement tools and methodologies for improving patient outcomes.

Ben has completed multiple trainings in the area of Safety & Quality to including Institute for Healthcare Improvement(IHI) Improvement Coach, IHI Breakthrough Series College, TeamSTEPPS Master Training Course, Core Strengths Facilitator Certification and Improvement Advisor, PKP Inc. Ben served 20 years as an Air Force Nurse Corps officer. In addition to being a staff officer for US Central Command, his service incorporated a clinical focus on medical, surgical, ER, ICU and primary care. He also has been a nurse manager in gastroenterology and anticoagulation clinics and is a specialist in international health. Throughout his years as a nurse, he played key roles on numerous process-improvement projects. Feliciano retired from active duty service at Joint Base Andrews in Prince George's County, MD, where he served in the medical director's office as lead disease manager/populations’ health. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from University of Puerto Rico and his Master’s degree in Health Services Administration, as well as a Master’s degree in Business Administration, from Trident International University.

Patient Safety and Clinical Risk Management Staff

LCDR Michelle Livingston, USPHS; MSN, RN, CNL, CIC, CCM, CPPS, Patient Safety Coordinator, Division of Patient Safety and Clinical Risk Managementhas served in the role of patient safety coordinator since January 2022. Prior to taking on her role in Patient Safety at the Office of Quality she was the Director of Nursing and Infection Preventionist at Chemawa Indian Health Center for almost 6 years. LCDR Livingston also served as Portland Area Nurse Consultant form 2018 – 2021.

LCDR Livingston is a native New Yorker and a graduate of both Rutgers University and The Medical College of Georgia. She has her Masters Degree in Nursing and holds certifications in Infection Control, Patient Safety, Case Management, and Clinical Nurse Leadership. LCDR Livingston has worked in both the inpatient and outpatient setting in a variety of specialties. She has also worked in both the private sector and in government healthcare systems prior to joining the IHS. LCDR Livingston is an Army Veteran of 10 years. Prior to joining the Indian Health Service she had the honor of working with military members and their families as an RN at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany. LCDR Livingston has had the privilege of serving with the Indian Health Service since 2016.

CAPT Michael Lee, PharmD, BCPS, IHS Adverse Events Coordinator, Division of Patient Safety and Clinical Risk Management is the IHS Adverse Events Coordinator serving in the Division of Patient Safety and Clinical Risk Management, IHS Office of Quality. In this role, he leads and coordinates activities associated with IHS adverse events and the IHS Safety Tracking and Response (I-STAR) system. During his 20+ year career, he has served in numerous clinical and administrative capacities in Oklahoma and IHS Headquarters. CAPT Lee has worked on multiple interagency and interdepartmental collaborations with other stakeholders throughout the federal government, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Bureau of Prisons, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). CAPT Lee graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and received his Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from the University of Oklahoma. CAPT Lee is a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS). CAPT Lee is a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation.

Jimi Risse RN, CIC, Infection Prevention and Control Coordinator is an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe. Ms. Risse joined the team from the Quality Management Infection Prevention and Control Program at the Pine Ridge Service Unit. Ms. Risse brings hospital and ambulatory service experience as well as experience in the Infection Control and Prevention Program Management.

She earned her Associate in Nursing from Oglala Lakota College in Pine Ridge South Dakota in 2011 and worked on the Medical Surgical Units and Emergency Departments in small rural hospitals locally. She started her career in the Pine Ridge Service Unit in January 2016 and has been growing herself and her career since then. She received her Bachelors in 2019 from Dakota Wesleyan University and had the opportunity in March of this same year to start her career in Infection Prevention and Control. Her drive and self-motivation led her to achieving her Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC) in June of 2021 from the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC).

Throughout her career she has worked with state and tribal entities building and fostering relationships to best serve the people. Throughout her service with the Pine Ridge Service Unit she has gained experience from working with CDC, accreditation and regulatory organizations. During her time in the Infection Control position she helped lead the service unit to passing The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) survey and once again being accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC) with no findings in the Infection Control standards. Jimi has been involved in many performance improvement and quality assurance projects, including implementation of process through utilization of the scientific methods to improve the infection control process to sustain compliance. Ms. Risse’s expertise has been used in the Great Plains Area to facilitate Area wide improvement efforts to improve compliance with accreditation standards.

After completion of the American Hospital Association Certified Health (AHA) Care Environmental Services Technician (CHEST) training program, Ms. Risse was instrumental to the implementation of the processes to improve quality and safety related to infection control and environmental services at Pine Ridge and other facilities. Through these efforts, many service unit wide improvement efforts have been put in place to mitigate risks and decrease the spread of infections.

Her national work includes IHS collaborative infection prevention and control trainings with CDC. Ms. Risse also works in collaboration with the CMS contracted Partnership to Advance Tribal Health (PATH) in the Great Plains Area on improvement efforts to improve quality and safety through reporting in the National Healthcare Safety Network.

Dr. Paul Fowler, DO, JD, FCLM, FAAFP, FAOCOPM, Risk Management Coordinator, Division of Patient Safety and Clinical Risk Management, is both a physician and an attorney and has been IHS Director of Risk Management since 2008. He has also served OCPS Acting Director and as Acting Division Director of the Division of Clinical and Community Services (DCCS). Previously, he served as Legal Medicine Officer to the Surgeon General of the U.S. Army. Dr. Fowler is regarded as one of the nation’s foremost experts in medical malpractice and has personally reviewed more than 4,000 medical malpractice claims. He is retired from the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Corps Branch as a disabled veteran. Dr. Fowler is past president of the American Osteopathic College of Occupational and Preventive Medicine, a fellow of the American College of Legal Medicine, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Osteopathic College of Occupational and Preventive Medicine. He is board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Practice, the American Board of Forensic Examiners, the American Board of Disability Analysts and the American Osteopathic Board of Preventive Medicine.

Quality Assurance Staff

CAPT Dione Harjo, MPH, BA, CPCS, Credentialing Program Coordinator, Division of Quality Assurance, in the IHS Office of Quality. CAPT Dione Harjo is an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma. CAPT Harjo is nationally certified as a Certified Provider Credentialing Specialist (CPCS) by the National Association Medical Staff Services. Her role is to assure data integrity through regular assessments of the enterprise wide credentialing system, provide training, education and guidance in the use of the enterprise wide credentialing software program, as well as in medical staffing processes that align with regulations, standards, policies and procedures that support the safety and quality of care delivery.

During her 28+ year career, she has served in numerous administrative capacities in Oklahoma and IHS Headquarters. CAPT Harjo graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications from Oklahoma City University and received her Master of Public Health in Health Promotion Sciences from the University of Oklahoma, College of Public Health.

Nicole Flom, MSA, BSIS, CHC, Quality Assurance (QA) Coordinator, is an enrolled member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. She has over 16 years of experience working in the healthcare industry and the public health field. The majority of her career years have been working to serve American Indians and Alaska Natives in the Great Plains region with accreditation activities, healthcare compliance, quality assurance and performance improvement.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Science degree from the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in 2006 and then began working with the Indian Health Service in Rapid City, South Dakota. She went on to work in various other positions that included grant management and hospital accreditation to expand her professional development while also earning a Master of Science in Administration degree from the University of South Dakota, specializing in both Health Services Administration and Organizational Leadership in 2014.

Life Safety Code and Environment of Care

Kenith Franks, REHS, Life Safety Code and Environment of Care Coordinator, Division of Quality Assurance and Patient Safety, Kenith Franks is an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Kenith Franks received a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health from Fort Lewis College. Several Internships with the Office of Environmental Health in the Great Plains Area were completed during his time at Fort Lewis College. In 2013, Mr. Franks started working with Indian Health Service. His career began as an Environmental Health Officer with Great Plains Area Office promoting Industrial hygiene, NFPA, OSHA, EPA, Injury Prevention, Health Promotion, Sanitation, Pest Control with the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Tribes various programs. Kenith Franks is a Registered Environmental Health Specialist. In 2019, Mr. Franks transferred to become Safety Officer at the Pine Ridge Service Unit Hospital. Mr. Franks has collaborated with other Great Plains Area Service Unit Safety Officers with best practices regarding Life Safety Code and EOC compliance.

Mr. Franks’ role supports the Office of Quality’s (OQ) collaborative efforts through serving as a technical authority on Life Safety (LS) and Environment of Care (EC) accreditation and compliance certifications and standards. The role of the LS/EC Coordinator will create and manage the EC/LS program within the OQ to work in collaboration with internal and external stake holders and leadership to plan, coordinate develop, implement and evaluate facility quality assurance programs related to accreditation and federal requirements applicable to life safety code and environment of care. As the LS/EC Coordinator, he will provide subject matter expertise, training and technical assistance to IHS Area Offices and Service Unites related to EC and LS accreditation standards for IHS federally operated service units and area office Kenith Franks will be providing learning opportunities through training of safety officers in Life Safety, Risk assessments, Environment of Care accreditation and compliance standards. A collaborative effort will be made with the OEHE and the Institutional Health Program. Best practices and guidance will be provided through a proposed list serve and newly formed IHS wide EC/LS Office Hours for anybody looking to expand their knowledge in EC and LS accreditation and compliance standards and requirements.

Raven Ross, PhD, MSW, Evaluation and Efficiency Officer, is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and joined the OQ in June 2019. Prior to that, she served as a National Data Coordinator for the IHS Division of Behavioral Health in the Office of Clinical and Preventive Services (OCPS) since 2017 and she was a Project Officer for the Methamphetamine and Suicide Prevention Initiative from 2010–2013. She is also part of the first cohort of the Health Improvement Professional (HIP) Certificate training program. Prior to joining IHS, she worked for the National Indian Health Board and for Sen. Tom Udall, New Mexico. Dr. Ross received her PhD in 2018 from the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis, where she also received her MSW in 2008.