Melissa Scala, MD

Dr. Melissa Scala is a neonatologist and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University. Her research primarily focuses on understanding physiologic mechanisms and best care practices for inpatient infant developmental care in the neonatal intensive care unit. Particular areas of interest have included skin-to-skin care, infant language exposure and parental mental health. The use of medical technologies to predict infant brain health and future neurodevelopmental outcomes is also an area of past and future exploration. Her lab leverages technology to change and understand the NICU care environment through bedside monitor data, brain imaging and sound devices. She also serves as program director for the neonatology fellowship at Stanford, mentoring the next generation of leaders in neonatology. Mentorship of young investigators is core to her career.  She completed her medical training at Georgetown University, pediatric residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and fellowship at Georgetown University.