Rising from an intern to the corporate executive level by the time she was 40 years of age, Melissa Gardner has used her roles at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield to follow her passion in health, community, and providing opportunities for women for all of Upstate New York including the Oakfield-Alabama community.
Melissa now advocates for social justice and health equity in her role of Chief Population Health Officer. She also leads the Women’s Leadership Group at Excellus which gives hundreds of women opportunities for enhanced personal and professional development.
Outside of work, Melissa is the Chairperson of Common Ground Health, an organization committed to improving healthcare and reducing health care disparities throughout Upstate New York. She also is a Board member at Hillside Children’s Center which provides services to youths and families who have experienced trauma in hopes of overcoming these challenges so they can thrive in their communities.
Some of her many public honors have come from being nominated by Young Athena, as a Women Worth Watching by the Women of Diversity Journal, and by Rochester Business Journal’s 40 under 40. Melissa’s self-proclaimed most exemplary achievement is building a loving family to her three children.