Southeast Alabama Medical Center (SAMC) is pleased to announce Melissa Owens, RN, MSN, AOCNS, has been named associate chief nursing officer.

Melissa has been part of the SAMC team for 22 years. For the last eight years, she has served as nursing director for Oncology and Palliative Care on the third floor of the east patient tower. As director of Oncology and Palliative Care, she implemented the Cancer Lay Navigation program at SAMC. She also developed the Palliative and Support Care Program and the Comprehensive Breast Program.

During her career at SAMC, she has also served as interim director of Oncology and Urology patient floors, an oncology clinical nurse specialist, an assistant head nurse and a unit nurse.

Melissa received her Bachelor of Science and her Master’s in nursing from the University of South Alabama in Mobile. Her certifications include: Registered Nurse, state of Alabama; Clinical Nurse Specialist, state of Alabama; Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist and Oncology Nursing Society Certified Provider Chemotherapy/Biotherapy.

A native of Pansey, Melissa enjoys trips to the beach and watching Alabama football with her family. She is married to Zeb Owens and she has two children, Garrett and Sarah.