Melissa Kennedy serves as CEO of International Rett Syndrome Foundation, an advocacy organization with a mission to accelerate research to find a cure for Rett while empowering families to live their fullest life today.  She joined the Foundation in September 2017 after dedicating 25 years to serving patients and their families in various health systems leadership roles.  Upon receiving a Master of Health Administration from the Ohio State University College of Medicine, Melissa co-founded HealthCare Research Systems, a patient experience and health outcomes research company. The company grew exponentially, culminating in the sale of the company to National Research Corporation. Melissa then joined the Health Improvement Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati as Operations Director.  During this time, she also served as Project Director for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Cincinnati Aligning Forces for Quality program.  Those activities earned her “Exemplary Service” recognition from the Ohio Senate.  And immediately prior to joining the Foundation, Melissa served as Executive Director of Women’s Services at TriHealth, the largest provider of health care services to women and babies in the Ohio Valley region.