Employee Spotlight: Melissa Bahnan
At DocStar Medical Partners, we know that the heart of our success lies in the people who helped build it from day one, and Melissa Bahnan is one of those foundational individuals. Melissa’s journey with DocStar began before the company even officially launched. With over a decade of experience in the locum tenens industry, she took a short break to start her family, but it wasn’t long before she felt the pull to return to what she loved: credentialing and licensing. That’s when she received a phone call from a former colleague, and now our COO, Paul Gagne.
“I’ll always remember Paul telling me that a provider once said, ‘If he and I joined forces, we could build an incredible company!’ That provider couldn’t have been more accurate,” Melissa recalled. “I’m very thankful for that call, and in 2019, our journey together at DocStar began.”
In those early days, Melissa and Paul worked side by side to build the company’s back office from the ground up. With her wide-ranging knowledge and hands on experience, Melissa drafted processes for credentialing, licensing, risk management, documentation, and more—often taking on recruitment and account management tasks along the way to ensure the foundation was solid.
“It’s amazing to look back and see how far we’ve come. From choosing an email provider to developing credentialing workflows, we were doing everything, and what we were doing to grow DocStar was working.”
Since then, Melissa has earned a reputation as the go to problem solver across departments. Whether it’s onboarding, IT, insurance, or provider documentation, her ability to navigate challenges and find solutions has become one of her greatest strengths.
“I think I became that person because I’ve always been told I don’t take ‘no’ for an answer,” she said. “I’m willing to try every avenue and talk to whoever I need to make sure a provider gets to the healthcare facility where they’re needed.”
Melissa credits her background, along with the support of her colleagues, for preparing her for such a dynamic role. After graduating from Suffolk University with a degree in Business Administration, she began her career in locum tenens in 2009. Not long after, she discovered her passion for credentialing and licensing, building out the licensing division at a previous company, experience that laid the groundwork for her success at DocStar.
Looking back, she’s proud of many things, but what stands out most is the continued trust and opportunity she’s been given by the leadership team. “I’m very proud that Paul Gagne, Jared Corra, Nick Purvis, and Keith Gershman gave me and continue to give me the opportunity to help grow DocStar Medical Partners.”
Melissa’s role has evolved as the company has grown, becoming more defined while still allowing her to be the “jack of all trades” she’s known for. She remains deeply aware of the impact her work has, not just within the company, but across the healthcare industry.
“I always think about how our roles in credentialing and licensing affect so many people, from our account managers and recruiters to the healthcare providers and the facilities we serve. That responsibility drives me every day.”
For anyone stepping into a similar role in a startup or growing company, Melissa has one key piece of advice that was given to her: “Give yourself some grace. There will be challenges, but it’s how you overcome them that determines your success.”
Thank you, Melissa, for your unwavering dedication, your leadership, and your commitment to excellence. You’ve helped shape what DocStar is today, and we’re so excited to see where you take us next.
