Quality Assurance Leader Honored by Baldrige Foundation

By Southcentral Foundation Corporate Communications

Southcentral Foundation Director of Quality Assurance Michelle Aregood was selected as a 2024 recipient of the Baldrige Foundation Award for Leadership Excellence in Healthcare. She received her award at a luncheon at the Baldrige Foundation’s Quest for Excellence® Conference just outside of Washington, D.C.

Aregood was recognized as an exceptional leader who actively supports and promotes performance excellence throughout the United States. Personal dedication and self-sacrifice are also factors in the selection process.

Southcentral Foundation Director of Quality Assurance Michelle Aregood

Aregood has worked in support of the Alaska Native Community for 17 years. Her responsibilities include quality of care, risk management, accreditation, safety and security, workers’ compensation, grievance resolution, and collaborating with partners in these areas for the co-management of the Alaska Native Medical Center. Aregood values customer-centered excellence and a systems perspective as she leads her team of 30 employees. Her values align with the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program’s leadership behaviors and were key to her selection for this prestigious award.

Established by Congress in 1987, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award is conferred by the U.S. president to U.S. organizations for achieving the highest levels of performance excellence. The Baldrige Foundation was created in 1988 as the private-sector partner to the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program.

To view coverage of the awards, please visit youtube.com/@BaldrigeFoundation/videos.