Kathleen Nightlinger

Transformational healthcare quality and patient safety executive with over 20 years of experience in pediatric healthcare and a decade in enterprise leadership. Proven expertise in high reliability systems, Clinical Operating System design, Lean Six Sigma methodologies, and enhancing patient experiences across a 20-hospital network. Demonstrated success in implementing Press Ganey platforms, designing safety taxonomies, developing key performance indicators (KPIs), and driving performance improvement initiatives. Strategic thinker committed to advancing regulatory compliance and clinical excellence to achieve optimal patient outcomes.

• Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR/L)
• Lean Six Sigma Leadership
• Press Ganey HRP & Fusion Platforms
• PSO & Safety Taxonomy Design
• Data Analytics (KPIs, Benchmarking)
• Infant Massage Certification
• Vestibular Rehabilitation Certification
• Level IV Spanish Fluency

• “Identifying Emotional Harm at Shriners Children’s” – Press Ganey Pediatric Seminar
• “Improving Survey Response Rates at Shriners Children’s” – Press Ganey National Client Conference
• “Evaluating and Treating Children Post-Concussion” – American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) National Conference
• “Working with Children on the Autism Spectrum” – Compass Health Guest Speaker
• “Suicide Screening in Pediatric Population” – Shriners Children’s internal education series
• “Role of OT in the NICU through the Continuum” – Nova Southeastern University
• “Pediatric Rehab in the Orthopedic Setting” – University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
• Adjunct Faculty / Guest Lecturer:
• Thomas Jefferson University
• Salus University
• Philadelphia University

• Dear Hiring Committee
• I am writing to express my strong interest in the Associate Principal, Clinical Operating System (COS) position. I bring more than 20 years of pediatric healthcare experience and 10 years of progressive enterprise leadership at Shriners Children’s, where I currently serve as Director of Quality & Safety for a 20-hospital international healthcare system.
• Throughout my tenure at Shriners Children’s, I have led large-scale transformation efforts focused on high reliability, patient safety, and clinical operating system development. I have been responsible for building enterprise infrastructure from the ground up, including implementation of the Press Ganey High Reliability Platform (HRP), development of our Patient Safety Organization (PSO) classification system, and leadership of our Lean Six Sigma program.
• In my current role, I serve as the Enterprise Safety Champion for the Press Ganey HRP platform, partnering with system leadership to drive adoption, sustainment, and cultural integration across all 20 hospitals. I also lead system-wide accreditation readiness efforts, including completing mock Joint Commission surveys at 14 hospitals in one year, and have conducted site visits to 18 of our 20 hospitals to support performance improvement and patient experience transformation.
• My experience also includes deep expertise in data-driven performance systems through my role as administrator of the Press Ganey Fusion Platform, where I managed KPI development, benchmarking, and analytics used to guide executive decision-making. Additionally, I have collaborated with national thought leaders such as Dr. Thomas Lee and Dr. Tejal Gandhi on emotional harm and safety science initiatives, further strengthening my expertise in advancing modern approaches to patient safety.
• I am particularly drawn to this opportunity because of Press Ganey’s leadership in advancing Clinical Operating Systems that integrate data, culture, and execution into sustainable improvement. My experience aligns directly with this mission, as I have spent the past decade building and operationalizing many of the same systems and methodologies you are advancing at scale across healthcare organizations.
• I would welcome the opportunity to bring my experience in enterprise transformation, high reliability systems, and clinical operations leadership to your team. Thank you for your time and consideration.
• Sincerely
• Kathleen Nightlinger, OTD, OTR/L

• Nightlinger, K. (2011). Developmentally Supportive Care: An Occupational Therapist’s Role. Journal of Neonatal Nursing
• Schaaf, R., Nightlinger, K. (2005). Occupational Therapy Using a Sensory Integrative Approach: A Case Study of Effectiveness. American Journal of Occupational Therapy