Congratulations to Rebecca Rivera, lead radiologic technologist at UCSD, and Rhonda Filipp, program manager, patient safety at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, both recently named level I Fellows of the Society for Healthcare Improvement Professionals (SHIP), a nationwide membership organization for performance improvement leaders.

Recognizing three levels of achievement equivalent to Lean Yellow/Green, Black and Master Black belts, SHIP Fellow status represents a standard of professional achievement outlined by a committee of Lean, Six Sigma and other performance improvement experts from around the country. To obtain Fellow status, candidates must meet academic and experiential criteria, pass an exam and demonstrate professional involvement in the field.

“I pursued the SHIP Fellow credential to convey to my peers and leaders that I’m committed to process and performance improvement,” Filipp said. “I believe that the health care industry is more dedicated than ever to finding ways to provide safe, efficient and quality care. It’s a fascinating and exciting time to be involved in health care performance improvement.”

Established in 2011, SHIP is a not-for-profit professional development organization specializing in Lean and Six Sigma for health care organizations. SHIP sets the standard for performance improvement professionals around the world. For more information about SHIP credentials, or free site membership, please visit www.shipus.org.