We are thrilled to announce the promotion of Debbie McCarron to Associate Vice President of External Affairs at the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI).
In her new role, Debbie will lead NPHI’s external engagement efforts, working closely with key partners, sponsors, and vendors to advance our mission and expand our impact. Her dedication and expertise have been vital to our organization’s success, especially through her contributions to the Center for Education initiatives and the essential communications support she provided as Director of Special Projects.
Debbie’s promotion reflects her outstanding contributions to NPHI, and we are excited to see the continued positive impact she will make in her new role.
Read Debbie’s Full Bio
Debbie McCarron, Associate Vice President of External Affairs, brings a wealth of experience in stakeholder engagement, strategic communications, marketing, event planning, and project management. In her role, Debbie leads NPHI’s external engagement with key partners, sponsors, and vendors, driving efforts to further the organization’s mission and amplify its impact. Previously, as Director of Special Projects, she played a crucial role in advancing NPHI’s Center for Education initiatives and provided vital strategic communications support.
Prior to NPHI, she served as the Deputy Director of the Communication and Outreach Division at Ripple Effect, a government consulting firm. There she led healthcare policy projects for federal agencies such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Office for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP), and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). As the Project Director of the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network (LAN), she led a multifaceted communications team to fully support LAN communications, events, and stakeholder engagement.
Additionally, she utilized her marketing and branding expertise to grow a small community business from one location to three. She assisted in the day-to-day operations of the three facility sites, including budget management, human resources, support, facilities management, and internal and external communications. She co-owned Quality Design Solutions, a full-service company specializing in web design, marketing, and database development for non-profit and small businesses.
Early in her career, she supported NIH medical research grants at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She also has over four years of clinical research experience at the University of Maryland, Department of Cardiology, where she worked with interventionists developing glycoprotein IIb/IIIa platelet inhibitors.
Debbie grew up in Maryland, received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Virginia Tech, and has completed coursework at the University of Maryland at Baltimore in Instructional Systems Design. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America, the Association for Talent Development, and the Society for Health Communication. She is passionate about community service. She serves as a committee member for the American Cancer Society Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk of Central Maryland and volunteers her time for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Smithsonian’s National Zoo, and the Carroll County Arts Center.