Chief Medical Officer, Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc.
Joined Chiricahua in 2010

Why I Believe in the Mission of Chiricahua

I believe strongly in community medicine. To provide the highest quality and most comprehensive care to our patients, we must work in partnership with one another. At Chiricahua Community Health Centers, providers are supported through care coordination, nursing expertise, and strong administrative infrastructure that allow us to practice medicine the way it should be practiced. This team‑based approach ensures every patient receives the care and respect they deserve.

Professional Background

Darlene Melk, MD, FAAP, CPE, is a pediatrician and physician executive whose path to medicine is deeply shaped by personal experience and commitment to service. Raised by a single mother and as the daughter of a Cuban refugee, Spanish is her first language and remains central to her clinical and leadership work. Diagnosed with Type One diabetes at the age of eight, Dr. Melk developed an early determination to care for children facing medical and social challenges similar to her own.

Her lived experience continues to inform her approach to patient‑centered, community‑based care and her dedication to improving health outcomes for children and families with limited access to services.

Education and Early Career

Dr. Melk earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Arizona State University in Tempe before completing medical school at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson. She then completed her pediatric residency at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Maricopa Medical Center, where she was honored as Senior Resident of the Year.

Following residency, Dr. Melk began her career at a Federally Qualified Health Center in Phoenix. The ability to care for any child regardless of background, insurance status, or circumstance solidified her commitment to practicing medicine in the FQHC environment.

Leadership at Chiricahua

Dr. Melk joined Chiricahua Community Health Centers in 2010 as a Community Pediatrician. Over the next decade, she assumed increasing leadership responsibilities, serving as Director of Community Pediatrics and later Director of Community Medicine. In 2020, she was appointed Chief Medical Officer of Chiricahua, overseeing clinical quality, provider engagement, and integrated care delivery across the organization.

Her leadership focuses on strengthening team‑based care, advancing clinical excellence, and supporting providers in delivering comprehensive services to children and families throughout rural southeastern Arizona.

Regional and Statewide Leadership

Beyond Chiricahua, Dr. Melk has played an active role in regional and statewide health and early childhood initiatives. She served on the First Things First Regional Council from 2016 to 2023 and as Chair of the Council from 2019 to 2023. In 2024, she was appointed by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs to the Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board, the state‑level leadership body for First Things First.

Dr. Melk has also served on the Board of the Western Clinician Network since 2021 and was elected President for a one‑year term in 2023. She previously served on the Steering Committee for the Douglas Education Partnership Council and is currently Chair of the Pediatric Leaders Peer Network Committee for the Arizona Association of Community Health Centers.

Academic and Professional Development

Dr. Melk completed her undergraduate studies at Arizona State University in Tempe, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry. She went on to receive her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Arizona in Tucson and completed her pediatric residency training at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Maricopa Medical Center, where she was recognized for excellence in clinical leadership.