Effingham, Illinois – February 26, 2025– Vantage Surgical Solutions is pleased to announce the addition of Jim Chiappetta as a Surgical Sales Representative and Melissa Vega as an Operations Manager. Their expertise and leadership will help Vantage continue its mission of providing rural hospitals with seamless, high-quality specialty surgical solutions that enhance both patient care and financial sustainability.
Strengthening Support for Rural Hospitals
As rural hospitals face increasing challenges—staffing shortages, financial pressures, and the need to retain patients locally—Vantage is growing its team to provide deeper engagement, operational support, and specialized expertise. Jim and Melissa bring a customer-first approach that will further strengthen hospital partnerships and ensure rural communities have access to essential surgical care.
“At Vantage, our focus is on transforming rural healthcare by making specialty surgical services more accessible and financially sustainable,” said Jason Carpenter, Senior Vice President of Operations at Vantage Surgical Solutions. “Melissa’s extensive operations experience will help streamline our service delivery, while Jim’s track record for building strong relationships will enhance our ability to serve hospitals in need of specialty care solutions.”
About Jim Chiappetta
Jim joins Vantage as a Surgical Sales Representative, reporting to Add Owen, Regional Vice President, Sales. With an extensive background in medical device sales, business development, and customer relationship management, Jim has a track record of helping healthcare providers integrate new solutions that improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency.
His career includes leadership roles with companies like Biomet Orthopedics, Stryker Orthopedics, and Acell, Inc., where he specialized in educating surgical teams, expanding market reach, and driving adoption of innovative medical technologies. As a former entrepreneur in the medical device space, Jim understands the complex needs of healthcare providers and is passionate about working alongside hospitals to identify and implement solutions that keep specialty care local and financially viable.
Outside of work, Jim is an active community leader, having coached youth football, developed high school feeder programs, and supported numerous charitable initiatives. He brings this same commitment to teamwork and service to his role at Vantage, ensuring hospitals receive the highest level of support.
About Melissa Vega
Melissa joins Vantage as an Operations Manager, reporting to Jason Carpenter, Senior Vice President of Operations. With over 12 years of experience in healthcare operations and call center management, Melissa is skilled in optimizing service delivery, ensuring compliance, and driving efficiency within healthcare organizations.
She has held leadership roles at Texas Orthopedics, Rapid Radiology, and Stanford Healthcare, where she managed large teams, enhanced clinical workflows, and implemented process improvements that improved both provider efficiency and patient experience. Her expertise in quality assurance, telehealth integration, and workforce management makes her an invaluable asset as Vantage continues to scale its surgical service offerings.
Melissa’s leadership will help ensure that Vantage’s turnkey specialty surgical solutions are seamlessly integrated into hospital operations, minimizing administrative burdens while maximizing patient impact.
A Commitment to Transforming Rural Healthcare
The addition of Jim and Melissa reinforces Vantage Surgical Solutions’ mission to provide sustainable, high-quality specialty surgical services that empower rural hospitals to retain revenue, improve patient outcomes, and expand access to care. By strengthening its sales and operations teams, Vantage is further solidifying its position as a trusted partner for rural hospitals looking to optimize their surgical capabilities. Read our recent blog post entitled “Unlocking Revenue Potential: Overcoming Barriers to Sustainable Growth in Rural Hospitals”.
For more information on how Vantage Surgical Solutions supports rural hospitals, visit www.vantage.healthcare.