Melissa Reitz, MSc, FNP-BC, RYT-200, IF

“There’s never been a time in my life when I haven’t worked supporting women. It’s my calling,” says Melissa. “In college, I volunteered at our women’s resource center, educating students on sexual wellness and sexual violence prevention.” Her next stop: A stint in the Peace Corps at a women’s cooperative in Ecuador. “I met many nurses who told me that I have a nurse's heart,” she says. “Witnessing the impact of caring for women prompted me to join the field. Eventually, I got my masters, which enabled me to make more independent and individualized decisions with my patients.”

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She pursued hormonal care “because women were coming to me with all kinds of perimenopausal and menopausal issues. I knew I would be experiencing this life stage soon and realized I needed to become the expert for them, and for myself.” Her personal journey through perimenopause has only made her a better clinician. “My sleep is impacted, I can’t drink wine, I’ve had to figure out new ways to manage my weight,” she says. “But I’m grateful, because I’ve gained so much empathy for my patients.”