Hi, I’m Melissa Gannage, MD.

(she/her/hers)

Melissa is a psychiatrist at Edelweiss Behavioral Health. She believes there are multiple facets to mental wellness - medications can be an important part of healing, but therapy, nutrition, self-care, social connection and personal purpose are often just as crucial. She tries to take a holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment in her practice.

She has a passion for women's mental health - whether that be in the perinatal period, during the perimenopause transition, or even within the changes brought by monthly cycles. She believes integrative medicine can have a role to play in filling the gaps conventional psychiatry can't cover, and she tries to thoughtfully weave these approaches into treatment planning when desired. Teaching the art and science of psychiatry to new doctors is also important to her, and she is a Clinical Adjunct Associate Professor with the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

What made you decide to go into this specialty?

I didn't intend to be a psychiatrist when I first started medical school. I planned to be an OB/Gyn instead and firmly believed I would be delivering babies by the time I graduated. Along the way, however, I realized I was drawn most to learning people's stories and acting as a guide, coach and confidante during some of the most challenging times they faced. I later recognized that while I may not be delivering babies, I could combine my passion for both women's health and mental health and strive to do so in my practice today.

Education & Trainings:

  • Bachelor of Science in Zoology; Honors in the Major - University of Wisconsin-Madison

  • Doctor of Medicine (MD) - University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

  • Residency - Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

  • Wellness & Lifestyle Certification - Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona

  • Fellowship in Reproductive & Integrative Psychiatry - with Anna Glezer, MD (in process)

Specialties:

  • Perimenopausal Mental Health

  • Perinatal Mental Health (pre-conception, pregnancy and the postpartum year)

  • Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

  • Depressive and Mood Disorders

  • Anxiety Disorders

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

  • Insomnia