UH Seidman Cancer Center Welcomes New Chief Operating Officer

A Message from President & Scientific Director Theodoros Teknos, MD

Melissa Childress, MBA

We are pleased to announce Melissa Childress, MBA, as the new Chief Operating Officer for University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center. Melissa will provide leadership and direction for all UHSCC operations.

Melissa comes to us from the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta. As Vice President of Cancer Services, she was responsible for all clinical, administrative, quality and business operations for cancer services at a system that includes more than 300 faculty and 1,160 staff across eight locations in metro Atlanta. During her five years at Winship, Melissa led the expansion of cancer services at multiple locations, including the addition of an infusion pharmacy, opening of a proton center and a significant increase in patients enrolled on their tumor registry and in their clinical trials.

Prior to Emory, Melissa spent seven years in business development and operations at The James Cancer Hospital at The Ohio State University. She led strategic planning, focused on referring physicians and faculty recruitment.  She also was involved with the construction of the cancer hospital and worked to align health access and shared services for operational effectiveness, as well as creating a global medicine office that facilitated patients from more than two dozen foreign countries.

Melissa also has more than 15 years of experience managing physician practices in both Ohio and Florida. She has taught healthcare management classes at Franklin University, where she earned her MBA. She is a cum laude graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University with a bachelor’s degree in art history and Renaissance studies.

Please join me welcoming Melissa to our team.