Melanie Davis Spencer PhD, MBA

My Journey

Since childhood, I have dreamed of contributing to advancements in human health.  This goal led me to pursue a doctorate in Bioinformatics at age 47. My work combined  IT experience in business with new developments in genetics and biology that I have applied to improve human health in ways I never imagined.  My scientific training was enhanced by 20 years of business experience in financial services marketing and information management, writing cases for Harvard Business School, consulting to the Romanian banking system and completing an MBA.  These varied experiences have been pivotal to my work, allowing me to develop a medical research portfolio that has practical applications for patients and in the healthcare industry.  Recent work includes studies in bacterial genomics and infection transmission, antibiotic stewardship, integrating app data into patient care and understanding disparities in health and patient outcomes.  Research and data science are never an end in themselves but derive their significance from the opportunity to improve health for individuals and the public.  My journey is has taken me from the banking center to the health system to the academy and around the world.