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Biography

Melissa is a PhD candidate in the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto. She was first introduced to trauma research at St. Michael’s Hospital as an undergraduate summer student in 2019. In 2021, Melissa graduated from Wilfred Laurier University with high distinction and received her BSc in Health Sciences. She then joined Dr. Nolan as a MSc student at the University of Toronto researching prehospital trauma care, resuscitation, and hemorrhage management in critically injured patients.

In 2023, Melissa successfully transferred into the PhD program at the Institute of Medical Science, where her thesis aims to reduce the delays to blood transfusion in the trauma bay by developing and validating a prehospital prediction score for early identification of bleeding trauma patients.

Outside of academics, Melissa is an avid flag football player and competes both locally and provincially at the intercollegiate level. She is the vice-president of the University of Toronto Women’s Flag Football team and is passionate about providing women-identifying athletes with equitable access to opportunities to thrive in sport. Melissa spends the rest of her free time designing and sewing clothing, playing with her pets, and caring for her large collection of tropical houseplants.

Expertise

Trauma; Prediction Models; Transfusion

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Contact Information

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Publications

Predictors of Transfusion in Trauma and Their Utility in the Prehospital Environment: A Scoping Review. Yin G, Radulovic N, O’Neill M, Lightfoot D, Nolan B.Prehosp Emerg Care. 2023;27(5):575-585. 

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Projects

Pre-hospital prediction of acute blood transfusion in trauma (PTP Score)

External validation of the pre-hospital prediction of acute blood transfusion in trauma (PTP Score)