Melissa Mitchell will take over leadership of Valparaiso-based HealthLinc on Jan. 1.

Mitchell will serve as as the new chief executive officer of the federally qualified health center, which has grown to 12 clinics since it began as Hilltop Neighborhood House in 1996.

She will replace Beth Wrobel, who is retiring after 22 years as CEO. The board of directors chose Mitchell after a nationwide search conducted with the help of the Meyers Group, an executive search firm in Bethesda, Maryland.

“Melissa will make an outstanding CEO,” Wrobel said in a press release. “She has a deep understanding of health center operations, a wealth of experience in the FQHC space and the support of the board of directors and the staff.”

Mitchell started at HealthLinc 15 years ago, working her way up to chief information officer and chief operating officer. Two years ago, she became chief innovation and strategy officer.

“Our future is remarkably bright, full of limitless opportunities and success due to our unwavering dedication to innovation and excellence,” Mitchell said.

The native of Indiana earned a bachelor's in telecommunications and a master’s in management and leadership. She graduated from the Johnson & Johnson Health Care Executive Program at UCLA and earned her Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification.

She also serves several boards and committees, including chair of the National Association of Community Health Centers Greenway Intergy User Group and board member for the Ivy Tech South Bend campus computer informatics program.

HealthLinc also received a $940,000 grant from the Indiana Economic Development Corp. as part of the Regional Economic Acceleration Development Initiative. The funds will be used to expand the Valparaiso clinic, which will support the Northwest Health Family Medicine Residency.

HealthLinc has clinics in East Chicago, Knox, La Porte, Michigan City, Mishawaka, South Bend and Valparaiso. It also has two telehealth clinics and a mobile medical and dental unit.