MVHS Names Quality Professionals

Marianne Baker, MS, RN, CCM, CPHQ

Jennifer Pekola BS, RN

Michelle Selden, BPS, CPHQ, RHIA

UTICA – Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) has made the following staff announcements:

Marianne Baker, MS, RN, CCM, CPHQ - Director of Quality Management and Regulatory Affairs (MVHS)

Marianne Baker, MS, RN, CCM, CPHQ has been named director of Quality Management and Regulatory Affairs for MVHS. In this position, Marianne is responsible for overseeing the Quality Management department, meeting regulatory requirements and coordinating the efforts of identified committees, departments, and clinical service teams in providing feedback and input into responses to the Department of Health, DNV Healthcare and other accrediting bodies. She also functions as the NYSDOH liaison and Liventa/IPRO liaison.

Prior to this position, Baker was director of Regulatory Affairs for MVHS. She has more than thirty years of healthcare experience beginning as a critical care nurse at Faxton Hospital. She is also a certified emergency medical technician (EMT). Baker received her Master of Science in Health Services Administration and Bachelor of Professional Studies in Human Services from SUNYIT, Utica, New York, and her Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree from Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, New York.


Jennifer Pekola BS, RN - Lead Quality Professional (FSLH)

Jennifer Pekola BS, RN has been named lead quality professional for Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH). In this position, Pekola is responsible for the day-to-day activities of the quality professionals, including the daily operation of the department, assigning investigations, case review and ensuring follow up to issues as they arise.

Pekola has been an employee of FSLH for nine years as a staff RN, relief charge nurse, assistant nurse manager, coordinator of the bariatric surgery program, and quality professional.

Pekola earned her RN from Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, New York, her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Keuka College in Keuka Park, New York, and her Bachelor of Science in Cytotechnology from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York. She is currently working on a Master of Science in Nursing Informatics through Walden University.She is a member of the American Nurses Association (ANA),American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA), and National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ).  She is also currently working on her CPHQ certification.

Michelle Selden, BPS, CPHQ, RHIA - Director of Clinical Data Management

Michelle Selden, BPS, CPHQ, RHIA has been named director of Clinical Data Management for MVHS. In this position, she is responsible for overseeing the Midas+ data management system, clinical quality data reports, board report cards and data abstraction for the entire health system. The clinical analysts and clinical data abstractors report to her.

Selden has worked in healthcare for St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Faxton Hospital and FSLH for 26 years in various roles, most recently as manager of Clinical Data Management for FSLH.

Selden holds a Bachelor of Science in Medical Records Management from SUNYIT Utica-Rome in Utica, New York, and has been a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality since 1999.

Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.