Melissa Fitzpatrick is president of Kirby Bates Associates, which specializes in healthcare and nurse executive search, interim leadership and executive advisory services. In her role, she provides strategic vision and direction for the organization and serves as the liaison to its parent company, Jackson Healthcare.
With more than 30 years of healthcare leadership experience, Melissa has held 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. During her career, she also served as editor-in-chief of the Nursing Management Journal, chief healthcare strategist at the SAS Institute, and the first vice president and chief clinical officer at Hill-Rom.
In 2019, Melissa joined Kirby Bates Associates as chief operating officer, leading business operations, technology, sales and marketing. In 2020, she was named president of the company and soon after, also became president of Tyler & Company, affording both organizations new synergies and expanded opportunities to serve their clients. In 2021, the companies formally combined, operating under the Kirby Bates Associates brand.
Melissa was named as the first ever nurse to serve on the board of UNC Rex Healthcare in 2020. She earned her Bachelor’s in Nursing degree from Gwynedd-Mercy College and Master’s in Nursing degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
