Melissa

Whisler

MBA, MHA

Whisler was appointed administrative chief of staff in June 2019. In this role, she works closely with the CEO and hospital executives to promote alignment of institutional strategic initiatives and priorities across departments. She works with key enterprise stakeholders, including departmental executive officers, leadership in the Office of the Vice President for Medical Affairs and across campus, and external stakeholders.

She also previously served as interim chief administrative officer for UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital, from January 2023 through July 2024. In that role, she oversaw day-to-day operations as well as planning and management of pediatric care initiatives. She also served as the executive leader for the UI Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD) and Children’s and Women’s Services at UI Health Care.

Whisler graduated in December 2006 with a dual Masters of Business Administration and Health Administration degrees from the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business and College of Public Health. She joined University of Iowa Health Care in 2008 as Manager of Strategic Business Planning. She then held roles as the clinical department administrator for the Emergency Department (2012-2015) and as clinical department administrator in the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics (2015-2019).