JCI Taps Global Health Expert to Spearhead New International Strategy

OAKBROOK TERRACE, IL – April 29, 2026 – The Joint Commission, America’s oldest and largest healthcare accrediting body, has appointed Dr. Carsten Engel as its first International Strategic Advisor, a move signaling a significant strategic pivot for its global affiliate, Joint Commission International (JCI). Dr. Engel, a veteran clinician and most recently the CEO of the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua), is tasked with shaping a new era of international engagement focused on adaptability and local context.

The appointment comes as JCI, which operates in over 80 countries, seeks to deepen its impact on global patient safety and quality. Dr. Engel’s role is designed to align JCI’s strategy with international partners and tailor its services for priority regions worldwide.

“Dr. Engel’s expertise and deep understanding of global healthcare systems, quality and safety, and international accreditation is unmatched,” said Jonathan B. Perlin, MD, PhD, president and CEO, Joint Commission, in a statement. “We are pleased to have Dr. Engel join the organization. He brings experience that will help advance our international efforts and partnerships, ensuring more people around the world can benefit from safer, higher‑quality care.”

A Strategic Shift Towards Global Adaptation

Dr. Engel's appointment is more than a high-level hire; it represents a deliberate evolution in how JCI approaches its mission. Reporting directly to James Merlino, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Joint Commission, who also oversees JCI, Dr. Engel will lead efforts to cultivate high-level relationships with Ministries of Health, regulatory bodies, and global health organizations. His core mandate, however, lies in pioneering what he calls “more differentiated, context-aware ways for JCI to engage with health systems worldwide.”

This philosophy marks a departure from any perception of a rigid, one-size-fits-all approach to accreditation. Instead, it champions a model where global standards are adapted to the unique regulatory, cultural, and economic realities of each country. For health systems in emerging markets, this could mean developing tiered accreditation pathways or focusing on foundational safety practices. For technologically advanced nations, it might involve creating standards for artificial intelligence in diagnostics or ensuring the cybersecurity of digital health platforms.

This nuanced strategy is critical in a competitive global market where organizations like DNV GL and Accreditation Canada International also vie for influence. By emphasizing a tailored, collaborative partnership over a simple compliance checklist, JCI aims to differentiate its value proposition and foster more sustainable, locally-owned quality improvement cultures.

The Architect of Context-Aware Quality

Dr. Engel's career provides a clear blueprint for this context-sensitive vision. With two decades of frontline clinical experience in anesthesiology and intensive care, he possesses a foundational understanding of the practical challenges of care delivery. This is complemented by his recent five-year tenure as CEO of ISQua, the global “accreditor of accreditors.”

At ISQua, he was a key architect of its International Accreditation Program and championed the idea of designing evaluation programs for specific purposes and contexts. A prime example of this was his work expanding the ISQua Fellowship program. Under his leadership, he facilitated joint fellowship agreements with regional partners like CAHO in India and Nama Medical in Saudi Arabia, effectively localizing education to meet regional needs and expand accessibility.

His leadership also focused on translating high-level concepts into tangible action. In 2024, he guided the establishment of an ISQua Patient Safety Task Force to align with the World Health Organization’s Global Patient Safety Action Plan. This culminated in the co-authorship of a 2025 white paper, "Safe care is the Right Care," which provided a practical guide for implementing patient safety strategies at the facility level. Furthermore, recognizing the growing importance of environmental responsibility in healthcare, Dr. Engel initiated plans for sustainability to be incorporated into ISQua's core accreditation standards, demonstrating a forward-looking approach to the definition of "quality."

Navigating a Complex Global Healthcare Landscape

Dr. Engel joins JCI at a time of unprecedented complexity for global health. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep vulnerabilities in health systems worldwide, accelerating trends while exacerbating long-standing challenges. Today, healthcare leaders grapple with persistent staff shortages and burnout, the rapid and uneven adoption of digital technologies, and the looming health impacts of climate change.

In this environment, a context-aware strategy is not just beneficial—it is essential. An accreditation body must be able to provide meaningful guidance to a rural clinic in a low-income country struggling with basic infrastructure, as well as to a metropolitan smart hospital in a high-income nation deploying advanced robotics. Dr. Engel's mandate to identify and develop tailored products and services directly addresses this need for versatility.

His focus on cultivating relationships with Ministries of Health and regulatory bodies is equally crucial. By working collaboratively with national authorities, JCI can better align its programs with national health priorities, ensuring that international accreditation supports, rather than conflicts with, local efforts. This approach can help build resilient health systems capable of navigating future crises, a key concern for global health organizations and governments alike.

The Future of International Accreditation

For healthcare organizations around the world, Dr. Engel’s appointment signals a potential evolution in their relationship with JCI. The emphasis on partnership and differentiation suggests a move towards a more collaborative and less prescriptive accreditation process, focused on continuous learning and improvement that is relevant to an organization's specific circumstances.

“Having lived and worked across many regions of the world, I have developed a global perspective on the complexities and variations that shape patient care from country-to-country,” Dr. Engel stated of his new role, reinforcing his commitment to this new direction. “My focus is on advancing more differentiated, context-aware ways for JCI to engage with health systems worldwide.”

This strategic shift is also a calculated business move. By tailoring its offerings, JCI can unlock new markets and strengthen its position as a global leader in a competitive field. The goal is to create a virtuous cycle where expanding JCI's market presence directly translates into more health systems adopting higher standards of care, ultimately benefiting patients. This appointment positions JCI not just as a setter of standards, but as an active partner in the global quest to build safer, more effective, and more resilient healthcare for all.