Dr. Melissa Sousley

I grew up mostly in southern Idaho, although I was an "Air Force Brat", so I did move around a lot. After attending Wellesley College for my undergraduate studies, I attended the University of Colorado School of Medicine. From there, I returned to the Northwest to the Family Medicine Spokane Residency in Spokane, Wa. My career debuted in Kellogg, Idaho, initially in a group practice, and then solo. Once I delivered the second of my three children, our family returned to Spokane, where I could share call in a group practice, enabling me to spend more time with my family. After 31 years in Family Medicine, including the office, hospital, surgeries, and OB, I "retired" to a full-time position as a Hospitalist at the Spokane VAMC. I also have maintained a small practice providing office cosmetic services (removal of benign lesions, dermal fillers, neuromodulators like Botox and Dysport). Since I keep my overhead low, I try to offer lower prices for these elective services than the offices which provide a spa type environment. To round out my medical life, I also work in a small community emergency room in Central Washington. No matter where I am working, I enjoy meeting people with many life experiences, and I consider it a privilege to be a part of their lives. I emphasize teaching people about their medical conditions, and helping them learn how to be healthier in the present, as well as in the future. A major reason I closed my Family Practice was because, with today's insurance, legal, and computer demands, I was no longer able to spend adequate time with patients to understand their needs and to help them learn about their conditions and their general health, while still covering my office finances. I am glad that I will be able to help people in these ways through HealthTap. In my private time, I enjoy spending time with my family, including my children and 3 grandchildren, sewing, knitting, swimming, biking, walking, and riding horses.