Dr. Melissa Charles, MD PhD ARTIST | SCIENTIST | PHYSICIAN
Dr. Melissa S. Charles is a Timeless Visual Artist and Clinical Research Scientist for a publicly traded oncology research company. She completed a double doctorate program MD/PhD in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at Loma Linda University, and did Anesthesiology Residency. Now she focuses her efforts on Clinical Trials for Ovarian and Pancreatic Cancer. As a United Negro College Fund scholarship recipient, she attended an HBCU, Oakwood University, receiving her B.S. in Biology. Dr. Charles has many accolades, including being a peer-reviewed published scientific author, winning the Dean’s Award for the highest score in her doctorate comprehensive exam, and winning first place in numerous scientific conferences. Dr. Charles is also a highly sought-after speaker and teacher, having served as a panelist encouraging STEM fields for undergraduate/high school students, keynote speaker for a women’s health conference, and Medical Microbiology instructor at Loyola Marymount University. She is also a member of the illustrious sisterhood of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Dr. Charles is deeply fascinated with the power of images and how artistic exchange between the work of art and humankind transcends culture, economics, and time. Her resilience and grit emanated from the example her mother set as a single parent who made monumental sacrifices so she would not compromise her artistic and academic pursuits. So much so, that despite being homeless during a period of medical school, she persisted and completed her academic pursuits with honors. Dr. Charles uses these experiences and more to drive the powerful imagery she creates. In her spare time, she focuses her talents on mastering graphite portraits that showcase timeless historical figures. These pictures offer only a glimpse into the evolution of Melissa Charles, the artist.
