Meet Kelly

 Dr. Kelly M. Smith is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) with a strong background in quality framework implementation and process improvement. She has devoted more than a decade to improving the quality of life and quality of care for seniors through both scientific research and practice. At Q3, Dr. Smith strives to support provider efforts in the formation of integrated, system-based operations using data analytics to drive decision making. As a Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt practitioner, Dr. Smith seeks to transform the delivery of senior services through the design of customized process improvement initiatives, leadership development, and dissemination of best practices.

During her graduate studies, Dr. Smith contributed to two federally funded quality measurement related contracts for the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services while employed by Health Services Advisory Group. Subsequently, she began to study quality improvement frameworks and methodology including the Malcolm Baldridge Framework for Performance Excellence which became the basis of her doctoral dissertation where she examined the relationship between deployment of Baldrige-based principles and subsequent publicly reported quality measures and financial performance.  

Following receipt of her PhD in Aging Sciences, Dr. Smith served as the Director of Process Improvement for Opis Senior Services Group which provided skilled nursing, assisted living, home health services and short-term rehabilitation services. Dr. Smith also serves as a Master Examiner for the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living National Quality Award Program and holds a gubernatorial appointment (by former Florida Governor, Rick Scott) to Florida’s Panel for Excellence in Long Term Care also known as the Gold Seal Program.

Dr. Smith is a member of the American Society of Quality, the National Association of Healthcare Quality, The Gerontological Society of America, Florida Council on Aging, and the Florida Healthcare Association.  She also holds a Courtesy Assistant Professor appointment at the University of South Florida, School of Aging Studies where she continues to participate in research-based activities. 

In her spare time, Dr. Smith enjoys reading, cycling, and spending time with her family.