From an early age, Melissa Reeves, DO, knew she wanted to be a doctor. But her family lacked the resources for college. She joined the Air Force, where she trained as a medical technician. In the service, she gained valuable experience in emergency, critical care and pediatrics. She was also part of a team delivering care after Hurricane Katrina closed hospitals in Mississippi. She was on the right path.
After leaving the Air Force, she earned her medical degree from Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, New Jersey. She did her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Inspira Health Network, Vineland, New Jersey. She is also certified in robotic surgery and looks forward to perfecting her skills on AtlantiCare’s da Vinci system. Reeves set her sights on a career in emergency medicine. But a clinical rotation changed her trajectory. “In a single day, I was involved in routine well exams, birth control counseling and cervical cancer screening,” she says. “Then, we brought two new babies into the world, one C-section and one normal delivery. It was the full spectrum of care.”
The experience cemented her commitment to women’s health. “I get to help women of all ages and in all conditions,” she says. “And, I get the chance to get to know them, building relationships for a long time. It’s a wonderful specialty.”
She has also done some exciting research in total vaginal hysterectomy. “It’s a difficult surgery to practice, since you have to know exactly where everything is, without seeing it,” she explains. She joined the research team of Dr. Woojin Chong at Inspira, working to perfect an anatomically correct model crafted entirely from paper. “It simulates the real-world surgical experience, accurately and inexpensively,” she says.
