Melanie Van Winkle Appointed as Mammoth Hospital CEO

 

Mammoth Lakes, California – April 23, 2026 – Today Mammoth Hospital Board of Directors announced the appointment of Melanie Van Winkle as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), transitioning from her role as Interim CEO to lead the organization on a permanent basis.

 

Van Winkle assumed the role of Interim CEO in January following the retirement of former CEO Tom Parker. Over the past few months, she has guided the organization towards a critical leadership transition while maintaining operational stability, navigating workforce challenges, and advancing key priorities of the hospital. These complexities of leadership were sustained by her while continuing to progress the hospital’s largest capital investment to date—the North Wing expansion project. This project would not have been achievable without her expertise and maximizing her exquisite vocational skills as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

 

Van Winkle brings deep healthcare leadership experience and a strong understanding of the organization. She has been with Mammoth Hospital for over 16 years, serving as CFO, where she strengthened the hospital’s financial position and helped guide long-term strategy and stability. During her tenure, the hospital doubled the number of health care providers and significantly expanded access to care by adding key services, including spine care, otolaryngology, dermatology, neurology, cardiology, rheumatology, and urology. Previously unavailable locally, these service lines reduce the need for residents to travel for specialty care. She has led initiatives that earned state recognition for improving community health outcomes. Van Winkle has served in hospital leadership positions for over 35 years and has accumulated a depth of knowledge on the complexities of healthcare.

 

“During her time as Mammoth Hospital’s CFO, Van Winkle helped stabilize the hospital’s financial position and played a key role in planning and funding the North Wing expansion, one of the largest investments in the hospital’s history,” said Laurey Carlson, Chair of Mammoth Hospital’s Board of Directors. “Her leadership during a period of transition, combined with her deep knowledge of our organization and community, made her the clear choice to lead Mammoth Hospital forward. We are confident in her ability to guide the hospital through its next phase of growth.”

 

As CEO, Van Winkle will oversee the continued development of the North Wing expansion while addressing key challenges facing rural healthcare, including access to care, workforce recruitment and retention, and the rising cost of healthcare services. She has emphasized a focus on expanding specialty care, recruiting and retaining key providers, and ensuring the community of Mammoth and their guests have access to the highest quality of Health Care. She is committed to maintaining transparency through regular communication with the community and strengthening connections with patients, staff, and local partners. Finally, being a long-time resident of Mammoth, she is personally invested in the success of the Mammoth Hospital both immediately and for future generations.

 

“I am honored to step into the role of Chief Executive Officer and continue serving this community,” said Van Winkle. “Mammoth Hospital plays a vital role in the Eastern Sierra, and I take that responsibility seriously. My focus is on ensuring access to high-quality care close to home, supporting and retaining our staff, and being open and transparent with our community as we make decisions about the future of healthcare in our region.”

 

 

 

 

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