Rooted in Care,
Driven by Purpose
At NorthMed Health, compassion meets commitment. Founded in 2025 by two dynamic women with over 19 years of combined experience in the staffing industry, NorthMed Health was born out of a shared vision: to bring a personal, values-driven approach to connecting healthcare professionals with the organizations that need them most.
Based in the heart of New Hampshire, our founders bring not only deep industry expertise but also a genuine passion for people. Their journey is built on trust, transparency, and a belief that great staffing is about more than just filling roles—it’s about building relationships that last.
Our tagline, “New England Heart, National Reach, Personal Touch,” reflects our philosophy: We lead with heart, we operate with integrity, and we serve healthcare communities across the country with personalized care.
Behind Every Placement You’ll Find our Passionate Team
Faces behind Northmed Health’s dedicated care.
Heidi Lough
Cofounder, Executive Recruiter
Melissa Carleton
Cofounder, Business Development Executive
Heidi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Northeastern University and brings 16 years of experience in sales, with the past five years focused on healthcare recruiting. She has extensive experience in both contract and permanent staffing and has been part of the grassroots efforts to launch two healthcare staffing companies, including NorthMed Health.
Heidi is passionate about helping clients and candidates find meaningful, mutually beneficial fits built on honesty, integrity, and respect. She specializes in sourcing and placing candidates in hard-to-fill roles, with a talent for uncovering top talent and matching the right people with the right opportunities—skills that could rival even Nancy Drew.
Outside of work, Heidi lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire with her husband Phil, also a recruiter in the aerospace industry, their two dogs, a beloved (and occasionally tolerated) cat, and six chickens. She loves embracing the country lifestyle while helping healthcare professionals find purpose-filled permanent roles.
Melissa is the driving force behind NorthMed Health’s business development and operations strategy — blending over a decade of staffing experience with a lifelong passion for people and problem-solving.
Armed with a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Connecticut, she began her staffing career in 2011 as a recruiter in the life sciences industry and quickly rose through the ranks to launch and lead a new division. By 2018, Melissa found her calling in healthcare staffing, where she could combine her strengths in relationship-building, strategic growth, and simplifying complex hiring challenges for both clinicians and organizations.
Melissa’s approach is casual but intentional, shaped by the challenges of building through uncertainty (including navigating “nonessential” healthcare staffing during the COVID-19 pandemic and learning to harness her ADHD as a creative superpower).
Born and raised in New England, Melissa brings that signature regional energy to everything she does: fast-paced, loyal, and endlessly curious. She lives in southern New Hampshire with her husband, Greg, and their dog, Chompers. Outside of NorthMed, you’ll find her traveling, working on creative projects, or cheering for UConn basketball. She’s also a three-time Boston Marathon finisher with Tedy’s Team, raising funds for stroke research — proof that she is as driven by purpose as she is by progress.
To her, “New England Heart” means grit and authenticity. “National Reach” represents the mission to grow NorthMed’s network nationwide. And “Personal Touch” is her reminder that while technology powers connection, genuine relationships drive lasting success, and a little laughter can go a long way.
