Melissa Farrell

Melissa Farrell is the assistant deputy minister of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Health System Quality and Funding Division. She leads a large and diverse team, which is responsible for delivering on the province’s funding and quality priorities in the hospital. The team also works to improve community care access and long-term care sectors.
Prior to this appointment Melissa was the director of the primary healthcare branch with the ministry’s Negotiations and Accountability Management Division. She managed over 2,000 primary care provider contracts, supporting the development of strategies to further enhance primary care services across the province.
Melissa’s previous leadership roles with the ministry include director of implementation with the Health System Accountability and Performance Division.
Her abilities to deliver, transform, connect and inspire have been recognized with six ministry Achievement, Commitment and Excellence nominations and awards. Melissa has additionally attained Gold and Amethyst Public Sector Leadership awards from the Institute of Public Administration of Canada.
Melissa is co-chair of the Hospital Advisory Committee, comprised of membership from the ministry, the Ontario Hospital Association and the Local Health Integration Networks. She also sits on the boards of MaRS EXCITE and Health Quality Ontario (ex-officio).
She holds a bachelor of arts in philosophy and a masters in urban and regional planning, both from Queen’s University.