Melissa Skahan
As the Vice President of Mission Integration, Melissa is responsible for strategy to advance the lived experience of underserved persons in Greater Portland and promoting Mercy’s mission, vision and values throughout the organization. She serves as an internal and external resource; providing education and raising value-based questions and concerns pertinent to organizational decision-making and direction setting. Melissa oversees Spiritual Care, Patient Advocacy, Volunteer Services, Interpreter Services, Mercy’s MeHAF Medical Neighborhood, Financial Counseling, Gary’s House, and serves as the Executive Director of McAuley Residence.
During her tenure at Mercy, Melissa developed a comprehensive approach to Charity Care that afforded the materially poor the same highly coordinated care and the access to services that any insured person would receive. She facilitated a Community Health Needs Assessment in 2010 and 2012/13 with community leaders and developed a Community Health Plan with metrics to align Mission Strategy with distinct community need. Melissa delivers Core Values Training, offers Mission Retreats for Employees; and developed a new Ministry Formation Program, and assisted with the development of the CPE Program. Most recently, Melissa created the Greater Portland Addiction Collaborative, a new entity formed to impact the heroin epidemic.
Melissa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Studies and a Master’s in Leadership, Ethics, and Spirituality. Melissa serves as the Chair of Amistad’s Board of Directors, is a member the United Way Strategic Goal Setting Council; and participates in the Senator Olympia Snowe’s Leadership Institute as well as several other community boards and committees. Melissa was the 2015 recipient of Amistad’s Nancy Andrews Award, as an individual, who has had a major impact on the community, is committed to serving people with mental health challenges, is a dedicated advocate, and demonstrates kindness. Among other achievements, Skahan was instrumental in bringing Amistad peer support workers to Mercy’s emergency room. Melissa lives in Cumberland, Maine with her husband, Patrick and has three grown daughters.