The association’s incoming CEO brings more than two decades of leadership experience in global health, nonprofit management, and the scientific community.
The Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM) has appointed Melanie J. Wells, MPH, CAE, as chief executive officer, effective Jan 30, 2026.
Wells most recently served as CEO of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine for two years (ACMGF). ACMG has more than 3,000 members and operates with a $10.2 million budget. During her tenure, she reduced organizational expenses by 80% within one calendar year and expanded the organization’s journal portfolio, resulting in a 40% increase in international reach and readership, according to a release from ADLM.
She previously held roles as chief operations officer and director of administration at ACMG and ACMGF.
As ADLM CEO, Wells will lead the association as it implements a strategic plan launched in 2024. The plan includes five goals: promoting excellence in scientific practice and knowledge within diagnostics and laboratory medicine; driving the use of data science in laboratory medicine; increasing recognition of laboratory medicine’s impact and empowering members to advance healthcare; strengthening regulatory and legislative advocacy; and ensuring organizational sustainability and financial security.
“Melanie brings more than two decades of leadership across global health, nonprofit management, and the scientific community, and what stood out most to the search committee was her balanced, relationship-driven approach to leading organizations through growth, change, and long-term strategy,” says ADLM president Dr Paul J. Jannetto in a release. “The ADLM board of directors is confident that Melanie’s leadership will align with the work that ADLM members and staff have already set in motion and that she will help us continue building an ADLM that is stronger, more agile, and more connected to the needs of our members and the public.”
Wells has also served as chief operating officer of the Society for Public Health Education, senior consultant healthcare analyst at Booz Allen Hamilton, and executive director of Capital City Area Health Education Center. Through these positions, she gained experience with public health and workforce initiatives including cancer navigation, HIV/AIDS, minority health, and programs designed to expand access to scientific careers.
“This is an incredible moment to pursue the shared vision of the ADLM board, staff, and its members,” says Wells in a release. “I look forward to partnering with our team to achieve ADLM’s strategic goals and strengthen our foundation for the future. We have an opportunity to transform the world’s understanding of laboratory medicine and highlight the experts whose work is central to medical innovation and patient care.”
Wells holds a bachelor of science in chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master of public health in health policy and management from the University of South Florida. She is an American Society of Association Executives Certified Association Executive.
ADLM, formerly AACC, represents more than 70,000 clinical laboratory professionals, physicians, research scientists, and business leaders from 110 countries. The organization focuses on clinical chemistry, molecular diagnostics, mass spectrometry, clinical microbiology, and data science.
Photo caption: ADLM CEO Melanie J. Wells
Photo credit: PRNewsfoto/Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine
