Melissa is a registered specialist in Paediatric Dentistry, having obtained her Doctorate in Clinical Dentistry (Paediatric Dentistry) and Bachelor of Dental Surgery with Honours, from the University of Sydney. 

Melissa is a Senior Staff Specialist at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, in addition to working part time in a private practice in southern Sydney. She is involved in the multi-disciplinary management of children with complex medical needs and orofacial trauma, as well as the training of postgraduate Paediatric Dental registrars. Melissa’s interests are in public health, dental trauma, dentistry for children with disabilities, and behaviour management for anxious children. 

During her training, Melissa received the prestigious Sydney Scholarship from the University of Sydney for the duration of her degree. She was also awarded the W Alan Grainger Memorial Prize and HJV Cusack Memorial Prize for clinical proficiency during her Bachelor of Dental Surgery, and the Dentsply Prize for Postgraduate Research during her Clinical Doctorate in Paediatric Dentistry.

Melissa is a clinical lecturer at The University of Sydney, The University of New South Wales and Charles Sturt University, where she is involved in the teaching of undergraduate dental and medical students, as well as postgraduate dentists in the Doctor of Clinical Dentistry, and postgraduate doctors in the Sydney Child Health Program. 

Melissa has always enjoyed volunteering her time both at home and abroad, with organisations such as the Angkor Hospital for Children in Cambodia, Special Olympics Australia and Lifeline. Melissa is a Fellow of the International College of Dentists, in recognition of her service to the profession and community.