About Me

I'm a product design and research leader who works where people, technology, data, and operational constraints have to come together clearly.

Much of my work starts with problems that are hard to see at first. A workflow may be slow because the real decision happens outside the product. A team may be moving quickly without enough customer evidence. A new AI capability may create as many questions as it answers. My role is to clarify that complexity so teams can decide what to build, what to test, and what to leave alone.

I care most about research and design that improve how teams make decisions. I want AI experiences people can understand, question, evaluate, and trust. I am especially interested in the space between insight and implementation: how teams turn what they have learned into real, usable, and safe product experiences.

Over the last 15 years, my work has spanned healthcare, enterprise software, telecom, public safety, and consumer platforms for organizations such as McKesson, AT&T, Digital.ai, The Home Depot, Cartoon Network, EY, and the CDC. Today, my practice focuses heavily on clinical workflows, design infrastructure, and AI-enabled delivery, building the systems and mentoring the teams that move from insight to execution with clarity.

How I Work

I lead research, strategy, design, and team practices across complex product systems.

Research & Strategy

I turn discovery into product direction by identifying the real problem before teams commit to a solution.

Systems Thinking

I map workflows, roles, rules, dependencies, and edge cases so teams can understand how work actually happens.

Human-Centered AI

I design AI-enabled workflows that people can understand, evaluate, guide, and trust.

Design Leadership

I build the research, design, and delivery practices that help teams move from insight to execution with clarity.

Leadership, In Other People's Words

The best indicator of successful practice-building is the impact it has on the people and teams involved.

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Melissa invests time in understanding her team members, offering tailored advice that catalyzes both personal and professional growth. She doesn't just bring expertise; she brings a drive and enthusiasm that elevates everyone around her.

Aarthi Ravindran

Senior Product Designer · Digital.ai

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With her guidance we were able to put together meaningful research activities including interviews, surveys and more, which ensured we are delivering the right thing the first time.

Terry Densmore

Product Management · Digital.ai

Credentials & Continued Learning

Focused education in AI product design, UX research, and accessibility.

Stanford Engineering UI/UX for AI Products · 2026
Nielsen Norman Group UX Certificate · AI Specialty · 2025
W3C WCAG / 508 Accessibility · 2024
Community & Advocacy

Contributing patient perspective to epilepsy research and clinical strategy.

Epilepsy Foundation Research Ambassador · evaluating new treatments and directing grant funding · 2025–Present
Jazz Pharmaceuticals FOS Epilepsy Steering Committee · patient & caregiver insight on clinical strategy · 2025–Present
Epilepsy Foundation Shark Tank Advocate reviewer for new treatment proposals seeking research grant funding · 2026