Ms. Melgar serves as CNO at Avala, providing strategic leadership for nursing operations, clinical standards, evidence-based practice and quality improvement initiatives that strengthen patient safety, outcomes and experience. She is deeply focused on building a high-performing nursing workforce by expanding recruitment and retention efforts, growing the preceptor program, and creating ongoing education and skills-development opportunities. Ms. Melgar also drives cross-departmental collaboration and workflow optimization to improve efficiency and consistency across inpatient, outpatient and same-day procedural settings. She pairs culture-building with measurable program advancement, helping Avala earn high-profile orthopedic and spine recognitions like DNV advanced orthopedic and spine center of excellence and Blue Distinction Center+ designations for spine surgery and knee and hip replacement. She also successfully launched the Avala Surgery Center in Metairie, La. in just three months, ensuring the staffing, processes and care standards were in place to deliver safe, personalized specialty care from day one. Beyond the organization, she remains engaged in the profession through active membership in regional and state nursing associations.
