Melissa B Nelson, MD
Originally from Basking Ridge, New Jersey, she received her Bachelor of Science from Virginia Tech and her Doctor of Medicine from the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University (MCV/VCU). She completed her residency training at the Weill Cornell University Medical Center at the New York Presbyterian Hospital. She has additional fellowship training in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics from the Rose F. Kennedy Center at Albert Einstein University.
In 2004, Dr. Nelson moved to Richmond with her family, where she joined Pediatric Associates of Richmond until February 2023.
Recognizing the increasing need to support children and young adults with mental and behavioral health challenges in our community, Dr. Nelson returned to her original fellowship training skills and began formally retooling in 2019. In addition to her coursework, she became a Blue Ridge LEND Fellow (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities). In 2023, Dr. Nelson joined the team at Summit Emotional Health until she launched her solo practice in 2025.
Dr. Nelson specializing in mental and behavioral health, with a career rooted in service, leadership, and advocacy for children and families. She was honored by her pediatrician peers as the 2023–2025 Bundy Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Children’s Hospital of Richmond—a distinction recognizing her commitment to advancing pediatric care.
Dr. Nelson currently serves as the vice chair of the Virginia State Board of Health. Her longstanding relationship with Virginia Tech includes her current position on the Virginia Tech Alumni Board and her prior service on its Board of Visitors.
Previously, Dr. Nelson chaired the Department of Pediatrics at Bon Secours – St. Mary’s Hospital and served on the Medical College of Virginia’s Alumni Board of Directors. Her work has consistently earned the respect of her peers, as reflected in her recognition in Richmond Magazine’s “Top Docs” issue across multiple years (2010, 2013, 2016–2025). In 2015, she was named one of the YWCA’s Outstanding Women for her leadership in advocating for an independent children’s hospital in Richmond.
In her free time, Dr. Nelson and her husband, Dr. Kinloch Nelson, enjoy spending time with their family and friends.