UNC REX Healthcare Welcomes Nationally Recognized Nurse Leader to its Board
Melissa Fitzpatrick is the first Nurse Executive to serve on the health system’s board
RALEIGH, N.C. – Oct. 15, 2020 – UNC REX Healthcare is pleased to welcome to its board of directors Melissa A. Fitzpatrick, MSN, RN, FAAN, a nationally renowned nurse leader.
Fitzpatrick is the first registered nurse to serve on UNC REX’s board. Earlier this year, she was named president of Kirby Bates Associates, a firm that provides executive search, leadership coaching and consulting services, and Tyler & Company, a healthcare executive search firm. Both are members of the Jackson Healthcare family of companies.
“I have known Melissa for more than 20 years and have full confidence in her passion for and commitment to clinical excellence and high-quality healthcare for all,” said Ernie Bovio, President of UNC REX. “As a nurse executive and a business leader, she brings important perspective, experience and expertise to our board.”
“It is a pleasure to represent my beloved profession of nursing and the greater Raleigh community as a Board member for UNC REX Healthcare. I look forward to engaging with this innovative organization and its leaders in continuing their pursuit of clinical, operational and financial excellence in service to our community,” noted Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick, who lives in Chapel Hill, has more than 30 years of healthcare leadership experience. She has held a variety of roles including Vice President of Critical Care and Cardiac Services at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and Senior Associate Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nurse Executive at Duke University Medical Center. She also served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Nursing Management Journal and as Chief Healthcare Strategist at SAS Institute. She is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. From 2007 until 2015, Melissa served as the first Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer at Hill-Rom.
In 2019, Fitzpatrick joined Kirby Bates Associates as Chief Operating Officer and led the business operations, technology, sales, and marketing teams. In January 2020, Melissa was named President of KBA. Soon after she was named President of Tyler & Company, affording both organizations new synergies and expanded opportunities to serve their clients. She provides strategic vision and direction for both organizations and is the liaison to their parent company, Jackson Healthcare.
Fitzpatrick has served as a mentor and role model to thousands of clinicians around the globe, and as a consultant to hundreds of healthcare leaders and teams as they strive to improve clinical and operational outcomes. She will be a strong voice for nursing, patients and families on the board and will serve with integrity and pride.
