Nicole I. Zonin, RN, MEA-BC, EMT

Nicole I. Zonin, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, EMT, is an accomplished healthcare executive with over 20 years of combined experience in clinical nursing, administration, accreditation, and consulting.

Her expertise in NCQA accreditation encompasses utilization management, case management, and quality management, spanning roles from subject matter expert to executive consultant.  In addition to NCQA and CMS compliance, Nicole is a leader in policy implementation and strategic sourcing, achieving cost efficiencies and compliant outcomes. Nicole joined MHR in April 2025 as an Independent Clinical Consultant.

 Nicole’s clinical career began in medical-surgical, behavioral health, and mental health nursing, as well as emergency department nursing and case management. She progressed to managing the case management (CM) and utilization management (UM) departments, where she was responsible for ensuring compliance with NCQA standards, Stars, and HEDIS.

In her roles as director at national health plans, Nicole directed strategic operations for CM, UM, and Learning Development, and supported provider contracting and vendor relationships. Her strong collaboration with stakeholders across the organizations ensured compliance with NCQA and regulatory standards.

As founder of Zonin Consulting, Inc., Nicole has provided executive healthcare consulting services, specializing in NCQA accreditation, regulatory compliance, and operational workflow enhancements.  She has served as an interim supervisor, leading quality improvement initiatives and ensuring compliance with industry standards while driving operational enhancements across the medical and pharmacy utilization departments.  Nicole has played a pivotal role in program development, audit preparation, and cost-savings initiatives. Her deep understanding of NCQA, healthcare management, patient-centered care, and evidence-based practice has positioned her as a trusted leader in the industry.

Nicole holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Western Carolina University, is board-certified as a Nurse Executive Administrator (NEA-BC), and is certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

Nicole resides in North Carolina and is a volunteer EMT in her community. She enjoys spending time with her family, including her husband, four children, and three grandchildren, as well as three dogs. She finds golfing and spending time at the beach, immersed in the sand and sun, exceptionally energizing.