As President and  CEO of California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems (CAPH), Melissa most recently led the association’s work to develop and negotiate with the state and federal governments the 2010 California Medicaid Waiver. This $10 billion waiver provides a pathway toward reform for California’s public hospital systems that includes program and financing for coverage expansion and delivery system transformation. Prior to her appointment as President & CEO in December 2005, Melissa led CAPH’s state and federal legislative program for six years as Vice President and Director of Policy. Before joining CAPH in 2000, Melissa was Regional Vice President with the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California. Melissa holds a Masters degree in Public Health from the University of California at Berkeley and a Bachelors of Science in Biology from Saint Mary’s College of California.