Dr. Melissa Trapp-Petty (PhD) is a freelance researcher, writer, editor, and educator, specializing in Public Health, and a Chemistfor Endo Pharmaceuticals. She received a B.S. degree in Biology and Chemistry from Western Kentucky University and a Ph.D. in Epidemiology from Walden University. She joined Adapx, Inc., a private technology development firm in Seattle, WA, in 2010 as a researcher specializing in data collection technology for health applications. She joined Washington State Department of Health in 2013 as a health researcher and compliance specialist working on programmatic cost containment strategies and implementation, and implementing technological advancements. Dr. Trapp-Petty has authored, co-authored, and edited countless peer-reviewed journal articles for publication, and continues to serve as a technical and substantive editor and reviewer for several journals. She also develops infographics on public health concerns for widespread public use in several countries.

Her varied research interests include infectious disease, health disparities and advocacy, maternal and child health, deaf/HOH, health informatics and technology development. She currently focuses on the social, behavioral, and psychological determinants of chronic health conditions, particularly in children.