President, City of Hope Cancer Center Atlanta
Melissa Childress, MBA, is President of City of Hope® Cancer Center Atlanta, bringing more than two decades of leadership experience across nationally recognized cancer programs. Childress has a proven record of building high-performing teams, improving operational performance and expanding access to care in complex, multisite environments — positioning her to lead City of Hope with vision, expertise and purpose.
Before joining City of Hope, Childress served most recently as a Partner at Chartis Healthcare Consulting, advising cancer centers nationwide on strategy, growth and operational excellence. Her leadership has been distinguished by her strong ability to align teams and design care models that improve both outcomes and experience for patients, families and staff. That focus is directly aligned with what City of Hope is building today and looking ahead.
Childress received her Master of Business Administration degree from Franklin University, Columbus, Ohio, after receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Renaissance Studies at Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio.
She was named a Woodruff Leadership Academy Fellow at Emory University Health Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, and awarded Emory’s Women in Leadership Certificate. In addition, she received both a Half Tuition Scholarship for Academic Merit award and a Dorothy Getz Memorial Scholarship Fund from Ohio Wesleyan University.
During her distinguished career, she has served as a Partner at Chartis Healthcare Consulting, Chief Operating Officer at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Vice President of Cancer Services at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Associate Executive Director of Business Development at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and James Cancer Hospital, Adjunct Professor at Franklin University and Senior Administrative Manager, Hematology and Oncology, at The Ohio State University, among other appointments.
She has also published a wide variety of articles on healthcare, cancer services, patient-centered care and related topics.
In her new City of Hope role, Childress is expanding the development of the Atlanta network, advancing integration, performance and coordination of care across the region. She works closely with clinical and administrative leaders to ensure care delivery reflects the highest standards of quality, safety and compassion.