Once upon a time, Melissa Holderread, Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), started off as an English major in college.

00“I quickly realized that was a terrible mistake,” she said. “I called my mother in a panic, and while talking me down, she told me about a wonderful midwife she’d just met. This conversation brought back memories of midwives I’d read about in books, which had sparked a fascination with these women who were wise, strong, and knew the power of womanhood. Within a month, I switched my major to Nursing, with the goal of becoming a midwife.”

The rest is history. Melissa went on to obtain her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Valparaiso University in 2009, and went on to obtain her Masters of Science in Nursing from Frontier Nursing University, with a concentration in Midwifery.

Prior to joining the Beacon family, Melissa worked in the Labor and Delivery unit at IU Health Methodist Hospital, and then went on to practice as a CNM at BellaNova Women’s Health. She was drawn to Beacon after hearing excellent remarks about the midwives and nursing staff.
Here at Beacon, she tends to women’s health needs. This includes pregnancy and childbirth care, birth control, pap smears, and more.

“I believe that your health is your business,” she said. “I’m here to give you the best information that I have and help you make decisions, not to make decisions for you. After that, I’m here to support you as those decisions play out, giving guidance and comfort as needed.

In Her Own Words

Who is or was the most influential person or role model in your life?
My mom. She is one of the bravest people I know.
What is your favorite food?
I love ALL food, but my favorite food is a really good cheeseburger. Preferably with crispy fries and good coleslaw on the side.
In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about?
My kids, and doing what I can to give them a healthy and safe world to grow up in.
What are your hobbies?
I bake, play guitar, and like to exercise and travel.
Do you have pets?
I have a Calico cat named Lola.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I have written several songs, mostly as jokes or ditties for projects.