Melanie West

Melanie Grayce West is a Partner on the FGS Global Health team, where she develops and executes communications strategies for clients across the healthcare industry. She brings deep expertise in media relations, crisis and issues management, executive profile raising and reputation management, working closely with clients to sharpen their narratives, protect their reputations and communicate with confidence in even the most complex situations.

Before joining FGS, Melanie spent 15 years as a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, covering health and the New York City metro beat. She approaches client work with a journalist's instinct for compelling storylines or an unexpected angle, with a practical understanding of how media engagements are won and lost. She is an enthusiastic collaborator and listener who brings clarity and focus to communications challenges. Earlier in her career, Melanie worked as a major gifts fundraiser for a prominent political action committee and several Washington, D.C.-based nonprofits, giving her a grounding in mission-driven communications and stakeholder engagement.

Melanie holds an MA in Journalism from Columbia University and a BA in Government from Cornell University. She serves on the board of directors of United Hospital Fund, a nonprofit focused on critical healthcare issues in New York. A Texan, she lives in Manhattan with her husband, son and daughter.