Member Profile

I was born and raised in the Chicagoland area. I have lived in the north, south and west suburbs of Chicago.

I was fortunate to have two loving parents. My dad was a pathologist, who loved learning, music, and exercising. My mom, unfortunately, was quite disabled from severe rheumatoid arthritis, but was the spirit of our family. She was the one people would come to, to tell their stories. She was a wonderful listener, and always listened with an open heart. She was from Kentucky, and was raised southern baptist, but she had a very buddhist way about her.

Music was a very important part of my upbringing. My father had worked his way through college by planing accordion for the local radio channel. I went to college at the University of Illinois in Urbana, and received a BA degree in music and a minor in dance. After that, I went to Northwestern University and started working on my master’s degree in music, while dancing in their dance company. I started teaching piano, and noticed that I was more interested in my student’s physical and mental health than in the pieces they were learning. I really enjoyed teaching, and the one on one interactions with my students. I then went back to school and took science classes to go into music and dance therapy.

It was then I heard about osteopathic medicine, and I was hooked. I attended Midwestern University, the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. During medical school, I got married, and had my first two children. Baby #3 came during residency. Babies 4, 5 and 6 came after I completed my education. During my family medicine residency. I had the opportunity to be a “junior” faculty for the medical school. This helped me get the position I have now at West Suburban Medical Center as the Director of Osteopathic Education and Full time faculty member of their family medicine residency program. This position allows me to see patients for half the day, and teach for the other half of the day. West Suburban Hospital was a wonderful community of patients and fellow employees, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to server here for 25 years.

I believe my passion is for people, and movement. I love my family. I have six children, 1 girl, 5 boys. I love my patients, and look forward to serving them daily. I also love any sort of movement for therapy and wellness. I’ve been dancing with the Intuit Dance Studio, and I am certified in hatha yoga, and I am a regular practitioner. I started yoga when I was in college, and it was then I was also introduced to meditation. I love quiet walks amongst trees, swimming, kayaking, sunsets, live music and I love to travel in search of beautiful landscapes. This has brought me to a lot of national parks in the US and elsewhere.

I was raised Protestant, but I also find Hindu and Buddhist practices very agreeable to me. I have recently been seeking out more spiritual teachings, and I joined the Zen Life and Meditation Center out of a desire to join a Sangha, to experience the depth of meditation in a group, and to learn more about Buddhism. I very much enjoy reading buddhist philosophy and teachings, especially books by Thich Nhat Hanh. I find meditation refuels my compassion for myself, my family, my patients and society.

Interview with Melanie:

Tell me a little about you, your family, where you went to school or received training, your work, hobbies. 

I have 6 children, 1 girl, and 5 boys, who I love more that life itself.

I went to the University of Illinois for college, majoring in music and dance. I went to medical school at Midwestern University. I practice family medicine, and I am very active in teaching and training future physicians. I love doing mind/body practices like yoga, any nature activities, and visiting beautiful landscapes.

What brought you to ZLMC?

I have been practicing yoga for many years, and I wanted to experience meditating with a group. It is very powerful experience, and I keep coming back for more group meditation and dharma talks.

What is your spiritual practice?

 I really try to practice the  Four Immeasurables: loving kindness, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity with everyone that I interact with daily, and make meaningful connections.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Every time I come to the ZLMC, I learn something, and my spiritual practice deepens.