Melissa Peterson grew up in Michigan and attended the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, where she studied international health with a minor in medical anthropology. Following her undergraduate studies, she served for two years in the Peace Corps in Guatemala, where she became fluent in Spanish.

After returning to the United States, Melissa earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Michigan–Flint. She worked at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing before moving to Chicago, where she developed a strong interest in community health nursing. She completed her nurse-midwifery education at Frontier Nursing University and trained clinically at Prentice Women’s Hospital.

Melissa began her work in maternal-child health in 2024 and completed her Certified Nurse-Midwife education in 2025. She is certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board and is licensed in the state of Illinois as a Registered Nurse (RN) and Advanced Practice Nurse (APN). She maintains active certifications in CPR and Neonatal Resuscitation and participates in continuing education to meet professional standards.

In her spare time, Melissa enjoys knitting, listening to audiobooks, and spending time with her black cat, Pippa.