Melissa is a native of the pacific Northwest who received her undergraduate degree in biochemistry, biophysics, and molecular biology from Whitman College. She will welcome the increased sunshine as she moves to the Springfield area. As a medical student, Melissa worked in clinics for the underserved and was vice-president of a group designed to give parents of pediatric inpatients respite time. Her husband is completing an MD-PhD at Dartmouth and she is excited about being closer to him.  In her spare time, Melissa enjoys running, hiking, reading, playing the piano, and knitting.