Leadership profile

Carl Cromer, DNP, RN

Carl Cromer is Director of Nursing at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital–Upstate. His healthcare career began in 2011 at Greenville Memorial Hospital (part of Prisma Health) as a Nursing Support Technician. Cromer attended Clemson University while working and graduated with a BSN that year.

He then worked in Neuro-Trauma ICU, transitioned to Nurse Manager of the Children’s Emergency Center and, in 2018, became Director of Nursing at Children’s Hospital, all at Greenville Memorial campus. He completed his FNP at Clemson University in 2016 and DNP in 2019. Before becoming a nurse, Cromer spent 15 years as a Process/Quality Improvement Manager.

Although Cromer always wanted to enter the medical field, it wasn’t until his triplets were born that he knew his true calling. The premature trio spent two months in the NICU; during that time, Cromer watched the amazing physicians and nurses save young lives. Their unflinching dedication inspired him to pursue a second career as a nurse.

He has experienced several areas within nursing and ultimately chose to become a Director of Nursing in pediatrics. Cromer believes it is an incredibly rewarding experience to care for a vulnerable, sick or injured child and to support parents during difficult times. He strives to promote an environment where all children can receive quality nursing care while keeping them safe.

Something he especially enjoys is connecting with staff on the units while listening to their thoughts about how things are going. Cromer makes sure they all know he is available and willing to help them secure what they need to provide quality patient care.

Favorite pastimes include playing with his golden doodle, watching Clemson University sports and visiting Disneyworld. Kelly Melton, MSN, RNC-OB

Kelly Melton is Executive Director of Nursing for Women’s and Children’s Services at Prisma Health Richland Hospital and Prisma Health Children’s Hospital–Midlands.

A team member for 20+ years, Melton holds a BSN and MSN from the University of South Carolina. During her undergraduate capstone rotation in Women’s and Neonatal Services (WNS), she was drawn to obstetrics and accepted a position as a postpartum and OB/GYN nurse as a new graduate.

During her tenure at Richland Hospital, she has been a staff nurse, Assistant Nurse Manager in Labor & Delivery, Operations Nurse Manager for WNS and then Director of WNS in 2018. In 2021, she transitioned to the dual Executive Director role covering Women’s Services and Children’s Services.

As far back as kindergarten, Melton knew she wanted to be a nurse. As she cross-trained throughout Women’s Services, she felt a ubiquitous sense of something both holistic and grounding in caring for women. The miracle of birth never grows old for her, and it has become a passion. Children’s Hospital was a natural progression, as she now sees families of children who began their journey in our birthing suites.

As her children grew, Melton longed for a more fixed schedule and loved the leadership path. “The passion that drives me beyond the bedside is coaching and developing other nurses for the future,” she said. “As a leader, I ensure that I am their voice, while helping them discover their own voice, which is very powerful. Nurses must own their practice, and I would like to think that behavior is modeled by each of them every day.”

The Meltons have four children ages 16, 13, 12 and 11.