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About

Expertise You Can Trust. Care You Can Feel.

About MD Optimal Health & Aesthetics

MD Optimal Health & Aesthetics was born from a desire to combine high-level clinical care with a compassionate, personalized approach to wellness and aesthetics. Whether you are seeking to restore your skin’s natural radiance or embark on a life-changing weight loss journey, board-certified Nurse Practitioner Melissa Donelson is here to provide a transparent, evidence-based roadmap for your success. She believes in enhancing what makes you unique and providing the clinical oversight you need to achieve your goals safely and gracefully. This is your invitation to experience care that is as sophisticated as it is sincere.

Weight Loss Columbia MD

Meet Melissa Donelson, MSN, ACNP-BC, CRNP

Founder and Owner of MD Optimal Health & Aesthetics

Melissa is a Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner with 30+ years of experience in multiple areas, including Critical Care, Pulmonary, Thoracic Surgery, Internal Medicine, Palliative Care, and Aesthetics. She is also a certified health coach who has helped hundreds of clients lose weight and regain their health. Over the years, she has transitioned her focus to health and wellness, combining her love of science and medicine with the artistry of aesthetics. She loves helping her clients discover how clinical techniques can safely and gracefully enhance and restore their unique beauty. With the latest education and advanced training in medical aesthetics and weight loss, Melissa has the knowledge to help you achieve both your aesthetic and weight loss goals.

Melissa’s personal experience with significant weight loss fuels her dedication to helping her clients achieve their wellness goals. After several frustrating setbacks, she began her successful weight-loss journey in 2021, this time focusing on her mindset, eating habits, triggers, and healthy habits. She lost over 100 pounds and has maintained her weight by incorporating these techniques into her daily life. She is passionate about coaching clients on their own journeys, combining clinical expertise with insights from her own experience.

Melissa's extensive medical background allows her to support clients with complex medical issues, including those undergoing weight-loss surgery. She has successfully helped hundreds of clients achieve their weight-loss goals, including those losing weight before elective cosmetic/surgical procedures. Melissa invites you to experience a partnership built on dedication, honesty, and clinical expertise. Whether you are seeking to refresh your appearance or reclaim your vitality, you can move forward with the confidence that your care is in the hands of a dedicated expert who has truly walked the path to lasting results.

Melissa Donelson, NP

A Foundation of Professional Excellence

Professional Credentials & Affiliations

Education

  • Georgetown University: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program

Certifications & Licensure

  • Board-Certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP-BC): American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
  • Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP): State-licensed and board-certified
  • Certified Health Coach: Specialized in behavioral change and sustainable weight loss

Professional Affiliations

  • ANA: American Nurses Association
  • AANP: American Association of Nurse Practitioners
  • NPAM: Nurse Practitioner Association of Maryland
  • OMA: Obesity Medicine Association
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The Services You Need for a Healthy and Beautiful Life