Melanie L. Drace, MPH, is the Director of Research Operations. Ms. Drace joined the IHR in 2018 after working for nearly 20 years managing and leading collaborative research programs in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Her primary role at the IHR is to work in partnership with the IHR leadership team and Investigators to develop and implement strategic objectives for the IHR. She also oversees and directs Research Operations through providing leadership, guidance, and development opportunities for the Research Operations team which includes analytics and health systems research. She is a member of the Innovative Methods to Promote Regional Operational Value and Efficiency (IMPROVE) committee which strives to improve the care delivered to KPCO members and the communities KPCO serves. Ms. Drace completed her Master of Public Health at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. She has participated in many formal and informal trainings in leadership and project management.

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