Melissa began her nursing career as a certified nursing assistant in a small medical-surgical (Med/Surg) unit while earning her LVN certificate in 2001. She pursued her nursing education in a stepwise fashion, earning an Associate of Science in Nursing in 2007, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2011, and a Master of Health Leadership in 2022.

Her clinical background spans Med/Surg, orthopedics (acute care), perioperative services, progressive care, critical care, and ambulatory care. In 2019, Melissa transitioned from clinical practice to lead a community hospital through its 4th Magnet® designation. This achievement solidified her passion for ambulatory care, especially as the 2019 ANCC Magnet manual elevated the visibility and importance of nurses practicing outside the acute care setting. She has since become a strong advocate for shared governance across the full spectrum of nursing practice.

Melissa served as the Principal Investigator for the ELEVATE nursing research study, which examined the impact of an educational workshop on nurses’ perceptions of shared governance using Dr. Robert Hess’ Index of Professional Nursing Governance (IPNG). The study was published in the October 2023 issue of the Journal of Nursing Administration. She has also delivered poster and podium presentations nationally on topics related to nursing practice and shared governance.

Melissa currently advances ambulatory care shared governance at an academic children’s medical center, where she has successfully established local practice councils across all the specialties under her leadership. She actively contributes to the profession through committee service, including the Conference Committee for the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, the Research and Evidence-Based Practice Committee for the Association of California Nurse Leaders, and the Nursing Excellence Task Force for the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing.

She maintains active membership in the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN), American Nurses Association (ANA), American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), and the Association of California Nurse Leaders (ACNL).