Longtime Long Beach resident and Long Beach Memorial Chief Medical Officer Dr. Susan Melvin was recently named one of the country’s top physician leaders by Becker’s Healthcare, it was announced Wednesday.
Dr. Melvin is a prominent figure in family medicine, medical leadership and physician education and training, according to a release from MemorialCare.
“Dr. Melvin is committed to improving and innovating patient quality and safety, exhibits dedication to clinical leadership and contributes to establishing standards of excellence,” according to Becker’s Healthcare national media organization.
In 2015 Dr. Melvin was named in Becker’s Healthcare Top Hospital & Health System Women Leaders. She partners with physician leadership to advance doctors and advocated for patients as CMO, the release stated. Her work as a “bridge” between the 2,000-member medical staff and management fulfills “the vision of communication, education, collaboration and quality of care provided by the hospital’s mission.”
She began her career as the Long Beach police surgeon in 1987 and four years ago went from Long Beach Memorial’s associate chief medical officer to chief medical officer.
Her past positions include president and CEO of Memorial Family Medicine and director of the Family Residency Program, according to the release. Dr. Melvin has also served on MemorialCare Health System’s board of directors and chaired the 2,000-member MemorialCare Physician Society.
Dr. Melvin holds academic appointments as clinical professor at UC Irvine’s College of Medicine and Western University of Health Sciences, the release stated. She was appointed by former state Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006 to the Osteopathic Medical Board of California and was reappointed in 2009 for a second three-year term, working as an officer of that board.
The chief medical officer is an American Academy of Family Physicians fellow and holds a certificate of added qualifications in geriatric medicine. Dr. Melvin is a member of the American Association of Physician Leadership and completed USC’s Management Development Program, according to the release.
Above, left: Photo courtesy of MemorialCare.