Leadership

Melony G. Griffith is the president and CEO for the Maryland Hospital Association. Melony assumed the role in December 2023 after retiring from a 22-year career as a Maryland state lawmaker. She was first elected in 1998 as a delegate representing District 25 in Prince George’s County.

Melony, who has served as a licensed clinical social worker and hospital discharge planner, was elected to the state Senate in 2019 and chaired the powerful Senate Finance Committee in 2023 before resigning in October 2023 to join MHA.

Melony held myriad pivotal roles during her time in the legislature, including President Pro Tempore, chair of the Budget and Taxation Committee’s Health & Human Services Subcommittee, and leader of the Senate President’s bipartisan Work Group on Equity and Inclusion. Her leadership extends to roles such as chair of the Special Joint Committee on Pensions. She served on the Joint Covid-19 Response Legislative Work Group, the House Emergency Medical Services Work Group, and the Council for the Procurement of Health, Educational, and Social Services among others.

Beyond her legislative contributions, Melony served as the vice president for external and government affairs of the Greater Baden Medical Services, program director at the Prince George’s County Health Department, and deputy director for the Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council. She also served as project coordinator for the National Basketball Players Association Health Education Project at Johns Hopkins University.

Melony has earned numerous accolades, including the Health Care for All Leadership Award, the Maryland Health Care for All Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Courageous Leadership Award, the Howard University Bison Breaking Barriers Award, and the Maryland Hospital Association Outstanding Legislator Award, among others. She is an honorary board member for the Open My Heart Foundation and a former board member of Non-Profit Prince George’s.

An alum of Howard University with a Master of Social Work, Melony further honed her leadership skills through the Morehouse School of Medicine’s Satcher Health Leadership Institute Community Health Leadership Program. Melony also earned a Bachelor of Science in human services from Montana State University in Billings.

Kristy Daphnis joined the Maryland Hospital Association (MHA) as chief operating officer in January 2025, bringing more than 20 years of leadership experience from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 

Kristy most recently served as OMB’s acting deputy associate director for Performance and Personnel Management, concurrent with her duties as chief of the Federal Workforce Branch. In various roles at OMB, she has led efforts in government-wide human capital and strategic workforce management, strategic planning and organizational performance management, information technology and cybersecurity policy, health information technology, legislative analysis, and regulatory reform. Her contributions supported both national and international government management initiatives. 

At MHA, Kristy oversees the association’s administrative, finance, operations, strategic analytics, strategic initiatives, and non-dues revenue teams. She focuses on strengthening connections with MHA members and advancing the Association’s mission to support the health and well-being of Maryland communities through robust hospital systems. 

Kristy began her career as a presidential management fellow in the Justice Management Division at the U.S. Department of Justice. She previously served as acting associate administrator for communications and consumer information at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

She holds dual undergraduate degrees— a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science—from Michigan State University, a Master of Public Health in health management and policy from the University of Michigan, and a certificate in executive leadership from American University’s School of Public Affairs. Kristy serves on advisory boards for the Griffith Leadership Center at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and the Society of Health Policy Young Professionals. She also supported Montgomery County’s COVID-19 response as a member of the COVID-19 Community Recovery Advisory Committee. 

Amy Goodwin joined MHA in early 2019 and is responsible for leading a comprehensive communication strategy establishing the Association as the preeminent voice advancing health and health care in Maryland. Her team builds and implements communications and campaigns to advance MHA members’ objectives.

With over 20 years of experience creating and executing hospital and health systems public relations, marketing, and internal communications programs, Amy most recently served as the executive director of public relations and corporate communications for Children’s National Health System and prior to that she was the senior director of strategic communications and public affairs for Johns Hopkins Medicine, director of media relations for Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States, director of public relations at Virginia Hospital Center, and an area director for the American Cancer Society.

Amy holds a Master’s in Strategic Communication from Johns Hopkins University, and in 2012, Amy earned her accreditation in public relations. She is a former vice president of the Public Relations Society of America’s National Capital Chapter. She mentors Baltimore city high school students through the YMCA and public relations students at area colleges.

Andrew Nicklas is the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs & Policy at the Maryland Hospital Association. In this role since 2024, he leads MHA’s legislative advocacy and health care policy implementation for Maryland hospitals and health systems. 

Previously Andrew served as deputy general counselor and associate vice president of government relations at Adventist HealthCare, where he represented the organization to elected officials and advocated for health care policies. He also provided legal advice to ensure compliance with laws and regulations. 

Prior to his role at Adventist HealthCare, Andrew was the director of legislative affairs at the Baltimore City Health Department, successfully lobbying for public health initiatives and advising the Health Commissioner on policy and legal matters. He also worked as an attorney at The Law Office of Frank D. Boston, III, lobbying state and local officials on various issues and managing the firm’s litigation practice.  

Andrew earned his J.D. cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law and holds a B.A. in political science and philosophy from Loyola University of Maryland. He is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association and a state-certified mediator. 

Tequila Terry is the Maryland Hospital Association’s senior vice president of care transformation and finance. In this role since 2024, she is responsible for leading the association’s advocacy strategy for Maryland hospitals in quality improvement, health equity, health care payment, and population health.

Tequila previously served as the director of the CMS Innovation Center’s State Innovation and Population Health portfolio where she led teams responsible for the design, implementation, and management of national health care payment reform and delivery models across Medicare and Medicaid. In this role, Tequila partnered with states on innovative models designed to transform health care delivery systems, improve health outcomes, and reduce health care costs. She also led prevention and population health models related to chronic disease prevention, behavioral health, opioid use disorder, and social determinants of health.

Prior to her role at CMS, Tequila was with the state of Maryland where she was a principal deputy director and led the Center for Payment Reform & Provider Alignment within the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC). There, Tequila was part of Maryland’s work with the CMS Innovation Center on the Total Cost of Care Model where she was responsible for collaborating with hospitals, physicians, and other stakeholders on care transformation and payment reform, and led legislative affairs, communications, and grant strategies.

Tequila was the vice president & executive director of the DentaQuest Institute where she led a team of clinical, quality improvement, and analytics resources responsible for supporting the transformation of the oral health care and financing systems. At DentaQuest, she was also the vice president of policy implementation where she was responsible for integrating public policies and emerging health care trends into practice across all DentaQuest business units. She also served as DentaQuest’s executive director of the Maryland Healthy Smiles Medicaid program where she led provider network management, operations, and member outreach services.

With the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Tequila was appointed as the chief plan and partner management officer for the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange (MHBE) where she developed and oversaw insurance product strategy through partnerships with commercial insurance companies. Additionally, while at MHBE, she was responsible for the channel partner program which included insurance broker and third-party benefit administrator certification, oversight, and support.

Tequila also served as vice president of operations for a commercial vision insurance company where she had responsibility for group enrollment, claims processing, and consumer assistance. Additionally, she held leadership roles with a national health care data clearinghouse, where she worked with large hospital systems, pharmacies, and private practitioners from around the country to institute best practices for revenue cycle management and patient payment processes.

Tequila earned a Master of Business Administration from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, a Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Towson University.

Patrick Carlson serves as the Vice President of Health Care Payment at the Maryland Hospital Association, a role he assumed in 2024. In this capacity, Patrick works closely with Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) staff and commissioners to develop fair and effective hospital rate-setting policies and is an advocate for MHA’s member hospitals.

Patrick serves as a hospital field’s expert on reimbursement, financial policy, and legislative and regulatory matters. In addition to advocacy before the HSCRC, he addresses many important issues before the Maryland Health Care Commission, the Maryland Department of Health, and the Maryland General Assembly.

Before joining the MHA, Patrick served as principal policy analyst and counsel to the Senate Finance Committee at the Maryland General Assembly’s Department of Legislative Services. Over his four-year tenure, from January 2020 to May 2024, he provided expert legal and policy advice, playing a critical role in shaping health care legislation. He previously served as associate director of state affairs at Johns Hopkins University and Medicine.

His diverse experience in legal analysis, legislative policy, and health care payment systems equips him with a unique perspective and a robust skill set, making him a key leader in advancing the financial health of Maryland’s hospital systems.

Patrick earned his J.D. from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, and his Bachelor of Arts from The George Washington University.

Natasha Mehu is the Maryland Hospital Association’s Vice President of Government Affairs & Policy. In this role since 2024, she is responsible for leading health care policy and supporting advocacy efforts for hospitals across Maryland. 

Natasha previously served as a lobbyist at Manis Canning & Associates, where she provided strategic advice, issue analysis, and connected clients with key government leaders. Before that, she was the director of the Mayor’s Office of Government Relations for Baltimore City under Mayor Brandon Scott, overseeing the city’s legislative affairs and serving as a liaison to various government agencies. 

Formerly, as the legislative director for the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), Natasha led advocacy efforts in Annapolis, focusing on policy development, analysis, and advocacy across multiple sectors. Earlier in her career, she managed nonprofit grantee housing counseling agencies and legal services providers for the HOPE program at the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. 

Natasha earned a B.A. in Communication from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a J.D. with a certificate in health law from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. She is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association and holds bar membership in Maryland. Additionally, she serves on the boards of the Maryland Government Relations Association (MGRA) and Chase Brexton Health Care and is a member of the National Black Professional Lobbyists Association (NBPLA). 

As vice president of quality and equity at the Maryland Hospital Association, Brian Sims leads the strategic and operational objectives of the Maryland Quality Program—supporting hospitals and their communities. He manages MHA’s equity policy portfolio, driving advocacy, legislative efforts, and policy positions to bolster health equity from both a visionary and operational perspective.

Brian previously served as director of quality and health improvement. In that role, he worked closely with regulatory agencies and other stakeholders to identify issues and develop strategies to advocate on behalf of Maryland’s hospitals and strengthen quality and value-based policies. Additionally, he leads MHA’s efforts to improve health equity and reduce health disparities.

Prior to joining MHA, Brian worked at Maryland hospitals in strategic planning, decision support, and finance.

Brian is a longtime member and officer of the Maryland Chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association. He served as chapter vice president in 2021-22 and is currently the president-elect.

Brian is pursuing a Masters of Healthcare Management and Innovation at The Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School.

Rachel Smith is the Maryland Hospital Association’s Vice President of Strategic Initiatives. In this role, Rachel is responsible for developing non-dues revenue sources to support MHA’s operations and its member hospitals. 

With over 20 years of health care experience across four countries, Rachel has held leadership positions in both nonprofit and for-profit health settings, including public and private sectors. Her ability to blend the best practices from various health systems has enabled her to develop and implement effective strategies. She has led both clinical and non-clinical teams to success in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), ambulatory surgery centers, and hospital settings. 

Rachel was the first co-chair of the National HIV Quality Improvement Committee and has received recognition for her work with minority and underserved populations. She is deeply passionate about improving health outcomes for all. 

Rachel’s global experience, coupled with her leadership in diverse health care environments, underscores her commitment to advancing the quality of care and ensuring equitable access for all patients. 

Erin Cunningham is the Assistant Vice President of Communications & External Affairs. She joined the Maryland Hospital Association as manager of Communication in 2018, before becoming director in 2020. Erin works closely with teams across the Association to support MHA’s mission to advance health and health care.

Erin oversees member communication, MHA’s website and social media, and other internal and external messaging. She creates legislative and other marketing campaigns aimed at educating key external stakeholders and works with local media to promote the work of Maryland’s hospitals.

Prior to joining MHA, Erin was public relations and communications manager at MedStar Health. She previously spent more than a decade working in Maryland news organizations, including The Daily Record, The Frederick News-Post, and The Gazette newspapers in Frederick and Montgomery counties.

Jake Whitaker is the Assistant Vice President of government affairs and policy at the Maryland Hospital Association. He is responsible in this role for advocating for policies and legislation on behalf of MHA’s members—all the state’s hospitals—to advance health and health care in Maryland.

Prior to joining MHA in 2023, Jake served as chief of staff at the Behavioral Health Administration for the Maryland Department of Health. Prior to that, he was the deputy legislative officer for Governor Larry Hogan responsible for health policy. He also served as deputy director of government affairs for the Maryland Department of Health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was a member of the Maryland Attorney General’s COVID-19 Access to Justice Task Force.

He is an attorney with a degree from the Francis King Carey School of Law at the University of Maryland and received a bachelor’s degree from Seton Hall University.

Kelley Bender is Director of Strategic Analytics for the Maryland Hospital Association. In this role, Kelley analyzes hospital and health data trends to help advance health and health care in Maryland.

Before joining MHA, Kelley spent over seven years at the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS). There, she served as the manager of policy and data analytics in the corporate reimbursement and revenue advisory services department.

Additionally, Kelley is involved in the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). At the HFMA Annual Conference in 2019, Kelley shared UMMS’ strategies to reduce total hospital and nonhospital cost of health care for Maryland residents.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in finance from the University of Maryland University College Park and earned a Master of Science in Applied Computer Science from Frostburg State University.

Brian Burkhalter joined MHA in 2021 as director of strategic analytics.

As a data scientist and statistician, Brian is acutely familiar with Maryland’s numerous health care datasets and their synergy with Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) policy. In addition to helping MHA members understand and interpret data, Brian has seven years of experience modelling HSCRC policies and projecting financial trends. He also has an extensive background in data visualization, specializing in translating complex problems into simple, effective graphics.

Previously, Brian spent six years at KPMG where he played a critical role in updating the uncompensated care policy, forecasting the integrated comprehensive care model, and creating innovative, dynamic 10-year financial projections.

At MHA, Brian innovates policy modelling, key performance indicator analyses, and financial reporting. He is fluent in the latest data technology including Alteryx, Power BI, Tableau, SQL, SAS, and more.

Jane Krienke is Director, Government Affairs & Policy at the Maryland Hospital Association (MHA). She has worked at MHA since 2015. Most recently she was a senior analyst and registered lobbyist on the Government Affairs team. Her issue portfolio includes workforce development, workplace violence prevention, sexual assault, human trafficking, pediatric hospital overstays, and the Hospital Bond Program. 

Jane works closely with the Maryland Board of Nursing, Chief Nursing Officers, and other nursing leaders on a variety of issues related to the nursing workforce. Prior to joining MHA, Jane worked with the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) as a Resident Advisor and Foster Youth Intern. While interning with CCAI, Jane worked in the office of Senator Roy Blunt from Missouri. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with a minor in Spanish from Truman State University in Missouri.

Matthew Pace has served as director of IT and operations at the Maryland Hospital Association since 2019.

In this role, Matt oversees and maintains all IT systems and deploys new technology throughout the organization. He also helps support MHA’s website and member communications, including oversight of MHA’s customer management platform. He also manages MHA’s building operations.

Matt previously served as the Association’s IT Manager from 2007-2019.

Megan Roderick is the director of the Hospital Preparedness Program at the Maryland Hospital Association, a role she has held since 2024. She oversees the program and works closely with its team to monitor and coordinate emergency preparedness plans, incident responses, and resources among Maryland’s four health care coalitions. 

Megan joined MHA in 2020 as the health care coalition planner and coordinator for Western Maryland, where she supported coalition partnerships with hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before joining MHA, she was a health care coalition coordinator for the Maryland Department of Health Office of Preparedness and Response, and just prior to that, a health planner for the Center for Zoonotic and Vectorborne Diseases where she managed surveillance efforts for Zika and Lyme diseases. 

She earned a degree in health administration and policy with a focus on public health from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.