Melissa grew up in Halifax County and attended the Nova Scotia Agricultural College before obtaining her DVM from the Atlantic Veterinary College in 2012. She began her career in Brandon, Manitoba, where she spent years working at a mixed animal practice before returning home to Nova Scotia. Her special interests include surgery, dentistry, and ultrasound. In her free time, Melissa and her husband, Mark, are kept entertained by their wonderful daughter, Lily, and sweet Jack Russell Terrier, Prairie, who share their love of camping, swimming, and making the most of life back on the coast.