Melissa Gaffney
About Melissa Gaffney
Melissa Gaffney is a Strategy and Innovation Leader at Change Healthcare with extensive experience in healthcare IT and project management.
Current Role at Change Healthcare
Melissa Gaffney currently serves as the Strategy and Innovation Leader at Change Healthcare. Since 2021, she has been instrumental in guiding the company's strategic initiatives and fostering innovation within the organization. Her role includes spearheading new projects, ensuring alignment with client goals, and positioning Change Healthcare at the forefront of the industry.
Previous Experience at Availity
Prior to her role at Change Healthcare, Melissa Gaffney worked at Availity from 2019 to 2021. As the Director of HIT Clinical Portfolio and Strategy, she played a crucial role in managing the company's clinical portfolio and driving strategic initiatives. Her tenure in the Jacksonville, Florida Area was marked by significant advancements in health information technology and clinical strategy.
Background in IT and Healthcare Management
Melissa Gaffney's extensive background spans several high-profile roles in IT and healthcare management. Notably, she worked at Anthem, Inc. from 2015 to 2018 as the IT Account Exec for the Chief Clinical Office and Cost of Care Programs. Prior to this, she was the HIT and Capabilities Director for Provider Collaboration/Payment Innovation at Anthem, Inc. from 2012 to 2014. Her experience also includes leadership positions at CareMore Health Plan, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, and Healthfirst.
Education and Academic Background
Melissa Gaffney's academic journey includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and International Finance from the University of Connecticut, where she studied from 1992 to 1994. She also attended St. Lawrence University from 1990 to 1992 and The Ethel Walker School from 1987 to 1990. Her educational background laid a strong foundation for her career in economics, finance, and health information technology.
Professional Contributions and Technical Expertise
Throughout her career, Melissa Gaffney has developed comprehensive technical collateral for client implementation, including client playbooks, companion guides, and technical contract components. She has acted as a CIO proxy during pre-sales and planning phases, ensuring alignment with customer views and solution variations. Additionally, she has facilitated alignment on client interfaces, application configurations, and data acquisition plans between clients and third-party vendors. Her expertise also extends to conducting mid-implementation quality assurance of solution designs against use case documents, with a focus on performance criteria and latency tests.