VCU news

By Carissa Etters

After an extensive national search, Melinda S. Hancock will join the VCU Health System as its chief financial officer and senior executive vice president. She will begin her responsibilities on June 20.

“Ms. Hancock is uniquely qualified for the chief financial officer position because she brings us the experience, vision and strategic financial planning background that will help us tremendously over the next five to 10 years,” said Marsha D. Rappley, M.D., chief executive officer of the VCU Health System and VCU vice president of health sciences.    

Most recently, Hancock served as a partner with the health care practice of Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP. She is currently the 2015-2016 national chair of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and a member of the leadership council for the Virginia Health Innovation Center.    

In her current role, Hancock is responsible for the development of services pointed to the mandatory elements of payment reform, alternative payment models and related innovations of care and finance reform. Hancock helps to lead a team that is addressing some of the most pressing business issues facing health care organizations nationally, including the provider journey to risk capability and the implementation of advanced payment models that support the “Triple Aim” in health care by improving the patient experience of care (including quality and satisfaction), improving the health of populations, and reducing the per capita cost of health care.    

Prior to joining Dixon Hughes Goodman, Hancock had a 10-year career with the Bon Secours Health System and was promoted through the ranks to become chief financial officer and senior vice president for Bon Secours Virginia. In this role, Hancock was responsible for a seven-hospital system in the Virginia market with $1.9 billion in net revenues. Hancock led the system through the financial aspects of payment reform including bundled payments, support for shared savings programs and clinical transformation efforts to reduce variation in clinical practice costs. She also assisted in the reorganization of the system finance functions and the implementation of a new decision support system. She has been engaged in health care finances for more than 20 years and her past related professional experience includes serving as the executive director of Culpeper Regional Hospital Foundation and a senior health care consultant with Ernst & Young.       

Hancock received her bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting from the College of William and Mary, and her M.B.A., health care administration, from the University of Phoenix. She is a certified public accountant and a HFMA fellow. She has published numerous articles and is active with professional and community organizations.