HCA Midwest Health names Melissa Russo Division VP of Physician Services Group

Overland Park, Kan. — HCA Midwest Health, Kansas City’s largest healthcare provider, today announced that Melissa Russo has been appointed as division vice president of HCA Midwest Physicians Services Group. Russo assumed her new role on Dec. 31, 2023.

HCA Midwest Physicians is the largest network of experienced, multi-specialty physicians located throughout the greater Kansas City metropolitan area. The group encompasses more than 600 doctors and healthcare providers representing more than 80 specialties providing care in more than 150 physician locations throughout the community.

Russo has most recently served as the chief operations officer for Mercy Health Physicians Medical Group. Based in Youngstown, Ohio, she had oversight for 50 multispecialty practice locations and 380 employed providers. In this capacity she led regional and market-based expansion, facilitated process improvement initiatives, and developed strong provider and community-based relations.

Prior to this role, Russo held progressive leadership positions within Mercy Health including director of operations-primary care, director of strategy execution, and director of care network, which was a newly developed, clinically integrated network (CIN) and accountable care organization (ACO).

“Melissa brings the depth of experience as a respected operational leader with a focus on innovation in clinical care and managing complex multidisciplinary services,” said HCA Midwest Health president Keith Zimmerman. “She will provide support to our extraordinary physician family and joins us at an important time in our continuing efforts to elevate the patient experience and improve outcomes, while increasing accessible healthcare throughout the region.”

“It is an honor to join this exceptional group of world-class physicians dedicated to the well-being of the communities we serve,” Russo said. “I look forward to helping lead this family of providers and staff as it continues to offer the region the most advanced, high-quality, accessible and compassionate multidisciplinary healthcare services.”

Russo earned her bachelor’s degree from Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio, and her Master of Healthcare Administration from Ohio University in Athens.