INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Hospital Association (IHA) has promoted three staff members in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the organization and exceptional service to members. Karin Kennedy has been named vice president of quality and patient safety; Kaitlyn Boller has been named director of health policy; and Laura McCaffrey has been named director of legislative relations. The promotions took effe ct Jan. 1.
“We have cultivated a very talented and experienced team at IHA, and Karin, Laura and Kaitlyn epitomize our values and offer valuable skills and expertise as we work to improve health care in Indiana,” said Brian Tabor, IHA president. “I am pleased to recognize their accomplishments and thank them for their hard work and dedication over the years.”
As vice president of quality and patient safety, Karin Kennedy oversees IHA’s Indiana Patient Safety Center (IPSC), which leads quality initiatives through education, resource sharing and collaboration to implement evidence-based practices at hospitals across the state. Kennedy joined IHA in 2012 as patient safety and quality advisor and was named administrative director of IPSC in 2015. In her time at IHA, Kennedy has guided the efforts of Indiana hospitals participating in the Hospital Engagement Network (HEN), HEN 2.0 and Hospital Improvement Innovation Network initiatives; enhanced the collaborative work of IHA’s 11 regional patient safety coalitions; and improved partnerships with fellow patient safety organizations around the state.
Prior to joining IHA, Kennedy served as vice president of client services at Health Care Excel where she oversaw the quality improvement and utilization operations for private sector and government clients. She received a bachelor’s degree in business with a specialization in marketing and a master’s degree in sociology from Indiana State University.
As director of health policy, Kaitlyn Boller leads IHA’s public policy analysis and research initiatives; develops strategies to advance sound health policy; and guides efforts to address opioid abuse. Boller served as a patient safety intern for IHA in 2013 before joining the association full-time as patient safety analyst/coordinator in 2014 and being named health policy analyst in 2016. In that role, she monitored state and federal legislation and regulations; conducted research and analyzed relevant data; and represented IHA externally on task forces and committees.
Boller received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Xavier University and a master’s degree in health administration from the Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health.
As director of legislative relations, Laura McCaffrey advocates on behalf of Indiana hospitals at the Indiana Statehouse. McCaffrey joined IHA in 2016 as public affairs specialist. In that role, she was responsible for implementing communications and government relations strategies to support advocacy initiatives on behalf of IHA members. Prior to joining IHA, McCaffrey served for five years at Bose Public Affairs Group, where she executed strategy for state and national public affairs campaigns with an emphasis on grassroots advocacy and coalition building to advance public policy. She also served as a legislative intern for the Indiana State Senate in 2011. McCaffrey received a bachelor’s degree in communications from Ball State University.
