651-758-9500


NEWS RELEASE

For More Information, Contact:
Riley Karbon, Director of Advancement
rkarbon@unitedfamilymedicine.org
651-241-1103

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ST. PAUL, MINN. – Oct. 8, 2019 – United Family Medicine (UFM) CEO Melissa Parker will leave her role to focus on a new career opportunity, and UFM board member Ann Nyakundi will serve as interim CEO while the board searches for a permanent replacement. Nyakundi will leave the board and transition to her interim CEO role effective Oct. 29, and Parker will depart Oct. 30.

“Melissa has been a part of the UFM family for more than 18 years, serving in a variety of management roles, including chief operating officer, before becoming CEO last year,” said UFM Board Chair Kim Hyers. “She also played an important role as project lead in the design and development of the new Peter J. King Family Health Center. We thank Melissa for her service and wish her well in her future endeavors.”

“This decision was not an easy one and involved many hours of thoughtful consideration, particularly with the respect I have for the clinic, the providers, the patients, the community, and the staff,” said Parker. “I wish the clinic and residency program continued success into the future and will always cherish my time at United Family Medicine.”

Nyakundi brings a wealth of healthcare experience to the role. She managed a public health clinic and multi-specialty spine practice and has worked extensively with family medicine residency programs. In 2008, Nyakundi raised more than $1.9 million for Hennepin County Medical Center to expand its residency program; she was also critical in leading the effort to implement their health care home model. In addition, she has considerable experience working with Saint Paul and Minneapolis community health centers in the areas of quality improvement, grant funding and collaborating as a quality coach.

“We are excited to bring in such a talented individual to serve as our interim chief executive,” said Hyers.  “Ann is strongly dedicated to improving safety-net community health systems and has over 19 years of experience in healthcare administration, health policy, and healthcare philanthropy, in addition to serving as a UFM board member for a year.”

Nyakundi has an Executive Masters in Healthcare Administration from the University of Minnesota, a Bachelors’s in Medical Anthropology and Spanish from the University of Michigan, and a certificate in quality improvement coaching. She will spend the month of October working side by side with Parker and the UFM community in preparation for the transition in leadership.  

About United Family Medicine

United Family Medicine is an independent, nonprofit provider of primary health care, mental health, dental, obstetrics, disease screening, preventative care, chronic disease management, with on-site lab and x-ray facilities, plus guided access to local pharmacy discount programs, social services, legal counsel and interpreter services.

Each year, UFM clinicians work with more than 14,000 patients. The mission of United Family Medicine is to meet the needs of the medically uninsured, underinsured and underserved residents. For more information, visit: UnitedFamilyMedicine.org

United Family Medicine

United Family Medicine