Melanie G. Phelps, DrPH, JD

I am a health policy and advocacy leader based in Wilmington, North Carolina, dedicated to improving health and wellbeing for all people. My career has focused on transforming health care payment and delivery systems and redefining how we understand and pursue health.

I bring extensive experience in policy development, strategic leadership, partnership building, program design, and collaborative learning. My work spans health system transformation, health equity, the drivers of health, population and community health, maternal and child health, person-centered care, and team-based care. I earned my DrPH in Health Leadership from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health in 2023, strengthening my skills in leadership, research, strategy, finance, communications, and evaluation.

Most recently, I served as Senior Advocacy Advisor for Health System Transformation at the American Heart Association, focusing on delivery and payment reform and elevating the patient and consumer voice. Previously, I spent more than 21 years with the North Carolina Medical Society as Senior Vice President for Health System Innovation and Deputy General Counsel, leading efforts to support the transition to value-based care, improve population health, and connect health providers and systems with community organizations to address social drivers of health.

I have also taught and mentored emerging health leaders at Campbell University, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, and through the NCMS Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership.

My board service includes the Health Care Transformation Task Force, PCPI, the NC Health Information Exchange, and the North Carolina Partnership for Compassionate Care. I am a member of the North Carolina Institute of Medicine and have led major statewide collaboratives such as the Toward Accountable Care Consortium and Initiative, the NC Population Health Collaborative, and the NC ACO Collaborative.

My career began in Government Affairs at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, during which time I earned my JD from North Carolina Central University School of Law. I have been a licensed attorney in NC for over 25 years.

Outside of work, I enjoy life on the North Carolina coast, staying active, being outdoors, and traveling. I look forward to partnering with organizations committed to transforming care delivery, advancing health equity, and strengthening communities through collaboration and innovation.