MaineHealth Behavioral Health Names New VP of Medical Affairs

January 3, 2025

Contact: Valerie Compagna
207 699-7178 / valerie.compagna@mainehealth.org

Melissa Bowker-Kinley
Dr. Melissa Bowker-Kinley

Westbrook, MaineMaineHealth Behavioral Health (MHBH) announced today it has selected Dr. Melissa Bowker-Kinley for the role of Vice President of Medical Affairs (VPMA), Child and Adolescent Services. In this role, Dr. Bowker-Kinley will assist in developing and coordinating the behavioral healthcare of children and adolescents across MaineHealth in all levels of care. 

Dr. Bowker-Kinley has more than 20 years of experience as a psychiatrist and in leadership roles, including a tenure as a child and adolescent psychiatrist and Medical Director of Child and Adolescent Services at MHBH at Spring Harbor from 2009 to 2014. Most recently, she served as a child and adolescent psychiatrist at InterMed, P.A. in Portland and Medical Director of Health Affiliates Maine in Auburn. 

As a respected educator, Dr. Bowker-Kinley has provided clinical supervision at the MaineHealth Maine Medical Center-Portland department of psychiatry since 2009. She brings valuable operational skills to the VPMA role with experience in electronic health record deployment, physician recruitment, compliance, and quality improvement.

“Melissa’s vast experience makes her uniquely qualified to lead behavioral services for the vulnerable youth in our communities,” said MHBH President Kelly Barton, MPH, FACHE. “She is a passionate advocate for children and their families and will be a vital asset to our clinical leadership team.”

A graduate of Indiana University School of Medicine, Dr. Bowker-Kinley earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Indiana University and completed two fellowships with MaineHealth, one in child and adolescent psychiatry and another in physician leadership development. She is Board-certified in psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry. 

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About MaineHealth
MaineHealth is a not-for-profit, integrated health system whose vision is, “Working together so our communities are the healthiest in America,” and is committed to a mission of providing high-quality affordable care, educating tomorrow's caregivers and researching better ways to provide care. MaineHealth includes a Level 1 trauma medical center, eight additional licensed hospitals, comprehensive pediatric care services, an extensive behavioral health care network, diagnostic services as well as home health, hospice and senior care services. With more than 2,000 employed providers and approximately 23,000 care team members, MaineHealth provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. MaineHealth hospitals include MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor in Westbrook, MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington, MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, Biddeford and Sanford, MaineHealth Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital in Rockport, MaineHealth Stephens Hospital in Norway and MaineHealth Waldo Hospital in Belfast. MaineHealth also includes the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland, MaineHealth Behavioral Health in Westbrook, MaineHealth Home Health and Hospice in Saco, the MaineHealth Institute for Research in Scarborough, the MaineHealth Medical Group and MaineHealth NorDx in Scarborough. MaineHealth affiliates include Maine General Health in Augusta and Waterville and St. Mary's Health System in Lewiston. It is also a significant stakeholder in the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization in Portland and a joint venture partner in the New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland.