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UCSF ObGyn&RS

Residency Program

About Me

I am a second generation Mexican-Uruguayan immigrant, first generation female college graduate, and the proud daughter of Martha Acevedo who raised me as a single mother, instilling in me the value of inner strength fueled by gratitude and love. I have three sisters who are each beautifully unique human beings and four wonderfully rambunctious young nephews that I wouldn’t trade for the world. I have a deep-seated appreciation and need for building community through authentic meaningful relationships, emotional honesty, and open-mindedness. Nature and moving my body are my form of spirituality and re-charging, combined with spending time with my loved ones. Last but not least, I whole heartedly believe I dedicated entire past life times to women’s health work.

I didn’t always want to be a doctor, but from a young age I was drawn to the complexities of caring for women, exemplified by my mother who so selflessly navigated us through the testing path my family faced through substance abuse, mental health illness, domestic violence, criminal justice system encounters, my older sister's teen pregnancy, and food and housing insecurity. This first-hand exposure in my multigenerational household showed me the far-reaching impact that the social determinants of health could have in the lives of young mothers and their children. It laid the foundation for me choosing to join the field of OBGYN to practice humanistic and patient-centered medicine that empowers disadvantaged women with the knowledge, psychosocial support, and medical treatment that they need to achieve health agency and equity. This is at the core of UCSF’s values and why I feel it is my greatest honor to pursue my OBGYN residency training here, learning from such a diverse group of individuals dedicated to reproductive justice and health equity. My family’s experiences remind me of the importance of this work and drive my resolve to uplift communities by uplifting women through interdisciplinary healthcare.

Valeria Melo, MD
Resident Physician - PGY 3

[email protected]

If you are a patient, please do not contact a physician by email without their prior expressed consent due to confidentiality concerns.

Main Address

UCSF OB/GYN&RS Residency Program
490 Illinois Street
10th Floor, Box 0132
San Francisco, CA 94143

Location Office Phone Fax
Mission Bay (415) 476 - 5192 (415) 476 - 1811
Mount Zion (415) 353 - 9240 (415) 353 - 9509
San Francisco General Hospital (628) 206 - 3061 (628) 206 - 3112

Research/Clinical Interests: Perinatal mental health, teenage pregnancy, social determinants of health, health disparities, public health messaging and community outreach, burnout and wellness in medical training

Education/Training

Year

 Institution Degree Field of Study
current University of California, San Francisco Residency Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
2022 Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine; Rochester, MN MD Medicine
2018 Augustana College; Rock Island, IL BA Public Health, Biology, Biochemistry

Research & Professional Experience

Year  
2021 - 2022 Graduate Student Researcher – development of a research database for an ongoing study assessing the impact of a mindfulness-based childbirth and parenting program on parenting confidence, resiliency, and mindfulness and maternal mental health outcomes; Mayo Clinic, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rochester, MN.
2021 - 2022 Graduate Student Researcher - retrospective chart review assessing the risk of thrombosis in women with cancer undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for fertility preservation; Mayo Clinic, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility, Rochester, MN
2020 – 2021 Graduate Student Researcher – case report on parent child interaction therapy and treatment of disruptive behavior disorders in young children with chronic illness; Mayo Clinic, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Rochester, MN
2019 - 2021 Graduate Student Researcher – retrospective chart review assessing the risk factors for villitis of unknown etiology and the associated maternal and fetal health outcomes; Mayo Clinic, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rochester, MN
2019 Graduate Student Researcher – mixed qualitative and quantitative study on the efficacy of a community, health outreach and education program for low-income, uninsured and underinsured women and men; The Center Clinic, Dodge Center, MN
2018 - 2020 Graduate Student Researcher – mixed qualitative and quantitative study on burnout drivers, sources, and interventions among pre-clerkship medical students; Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Rochester, MN
2018 - 2019 Graduate Student Researcher – a qualitative study on the perceived barriers and facilitators to pursuing professional medical careers among underrepresented undergraduate and post-baccalaureate learners; Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Pre-Med Insight Program, Rochester MN
2017 - 2018 Hispanic Community Outreach Coordinator (work experience) – language concordant ovarian cancer community outreach and education; NormaLeah Ovarian Cancer Initiative, Rock Island, IL
2017 - 2018 Ovarian Cancer Survivor Toolkit Developer (public health B.A. capstone) – ovarian cancer education and resources for navigating the healthcare system and addressing both psychosocial and system-based challenges; NormaLeah Ovarian Cancer Initiative, Rock Island, IL
2017 Texas Medical Center Summer Research Internship Program (undergraduate student researcher) – basic science research on circadian clock pathways and the epigenetic mechanism by which maternal high-fat diets contribute to metabolic disease in offspring; Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Houston, TX
2016 – 2017 Undergraduate Cardiovascular Medicine Internship – UnityPoint Health, Rock Island, IL
2016 Undergraduate Student Researcher – organic chemistry research on the synthesis of organic compounds for immune system induction through toll-like receptor activation; Augustana College Chemistry Department, Rock Island, IL

Achievements & Recognition
Year Major Honors
2021 Gold Humanism Honor Society, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
2018 Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Augustana College
2018 Tribeta Sigma Gamma Biological Honor society, Augustana College
2018 NCAA Division III Track & Field Academic All-American, Augustana College
2018 NCAA Woman of the Year Nominee
2016 – 2018 Captain, Track & Field, Augustana College
2014 – 2018 Board of Trustees Fellow, Augustana College

Poster Presentations

MELO V, Peng L, Saifuddin H, Wolanskyj-Spinner A, Marshall A. “‘MyStory’ Series: A Medical School’s Approach for Building Community and Promoting Wellness among Medical Trainees.” Healing the Heart of Healthcare- Gold Humanism Virtual Conference. (2022)

MELO V, Vega B, Castillo K, Gutierrez C, Warring S. “Development of a Peer-Led Medical Spanish Course with a Combined Cultural Competency and Community-based Service Learning Focus.” Latino Medical Student Association National Conference; Philadelphia, PA. (2022)

Rose S, Rangel L, MELO V, Vega B, Kazemi N, Cheek E, Theiler R, Enninga E. “Obesity and Hypertension are Risk Factors for Villitis of Unknown Etiology”. Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine 42nd Annual Pregnancy Meeting; Orlando, FL. (2022)

Case H, MELO V, Vande Voort J, McKean A. “Overcoming Barriers and Facilitating Mental Health Help-seeking Through a Novel, High School-based, Mental Health Psychoeducation Video.” Annual Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation National Medical Student Conference; New-Orleans, LA. 2020

MELO V, Peng L, Saifuddin H, Gruszczynski N, Wolanskyj-Spinner A, Marshall A. “A Mixed Study Approach to Assessing Burnout in Medical Students in Pre-Clinical Years”. AAMC Learn Serve Lead Conference; Phoenix, AZ. 2020

Batbold S, Barnett J, Hargiss B, MELO V, Peng L, Saifuddin H, Somasundaram V, Falla A. “Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies: Community Engagement Program”. Mayo Clinic’s 20th Annual Family Medicine Forum; Rochester, MN. 2019

MELO V, Kavensky J. “Helping Teal Warriors Thrive: An Ovarian Cancer Survival Toolkit” Augustana College’s Celebration of Learning; Rock Island, IL. 2018

Oral Presentations

Bischoff K, Kuruvilla P, MELO V, Vanegas G, Sumser B, Rabow M, Pantilat S, Chen LM. A Population Health Approach to Assessing for and Addressing Palliative Care Needs in Outpatients with Advanced Gynecologic Malignancies. Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care; Pheonix, AZ, 2024

MELO V, O’Neil D, Aagaard K. “The role of Npas2 in regulating the hepatic circadian clock”. Augustana College’s Celebration of Learning; Rock Island, IL. 2018

Publications 

MELO VD, Liseth OY, Schmidt WM, Pruthi RK, Marshall AL. Risk of Thrombosis in Women with Cancer Undergoing Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation for Fertility Preservation.J Assist Reprod Genet. 2022 Dec;39(12):2847-2856. doi: 10.1007/s10815-022-02661-3. Epub 2022 Nov 25. PMID: 36427171

MELO VD, Zaccariello MJ, Croarkin PE, Romanowicz M. Internet Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (I-PCIT) in Medically Ill Child: A Case Report. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Oct 15;100(41):e27547.PMID: 34731157

Joseph J, Dao D, Hwang SM, Dotzler, SM, Chesak SS, Weiskittel TM, Lang ME, MELO VD, Anderson JB, Vega B, Englund M, Boruch P, Bhagra A. Perceptions of Barriers and Facilitators to Becoming a Medical Professional Among Underrepresented Undergraduate and Post-baccalaureate Learners. Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes. 2021 Apr 23;5(2):347-358. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2021.01.003. eCollection 2021 Apr. PMID: 33997634

Vijayvargiya P, Izundegui DG, Calderon G, Tawfic S, Batbold S, Saifuddin H, Duggan P, MELO VD, Thomas T, Heeney M, Beyde A, Miller J, Valles K, Oyemade K, Brant JF, Donato LJ, Camilleri M. Increased Fecal Bile Acid Excretion in a Significant Subset of Patients with Other Inflammatory Diarrheal Diseases. Dig Dis Sci. 2021 Apr 22. doi: 10.1007/s10620-021-06993-5. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33886031

Wang C, Hu Y, Nakonezny PA, Melo VD, Ale C, Athreya AP, Shekunov J, Croarkin PE, Romanowicz M. A Retrospective Examination of the Impact of Pharmacotherapy on Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2021 Dec;31(10):685-691. doi: 10.1089/cap.2021.0043. Epub 2021 Jul 28. PMID: 34319785

MELO V. Gender and Sexuality Portfolio Post One: An Introduction to the Special Interest Topic of Motherhood. First Place Short/Reflective Mary Wollstonecraft Writing Award.2018

Advocacy

2021: Perinatal Mental Health Workgroup (member) - multidisciplinary workgroup for improving access and quality of perinatal mental health care; Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

2019: Healthy Minds Healthy Bodies (co-leader) – community outreach and education for low-income, uninsured and underinsured women and men; The Center Clinic, Dodge Center, MN

2018 – 2020: Student Life Wellness Committee (c0-chair, member) – student/faculty committee advocating for medical student’s well-being; Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Rochester, MN

2018 – 2020: Pre-Med Insight Program (co-leader, associate director, mentor) – community outreach and education for pre-medical students from minority and/or disadvantaged backgrounds; Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Rochester, MN