Melisa Holmes, MD, FACOG

Founder & Interim CEO
Co-Founder, Girlology
Lead, Education & Training
Adjunct Faculty, UofSC School of Medicine

Greenville, SC

Dr. Melisa Holmes always knew she wanted to be a physician, but during college, she took a detour from science to major in drawing & painting before heading to The Medical College of Georgia where she received her MD, then Virginia Commonwealth University for her Ob-Gyn residency. Melisa joined the faculty at the Medical University of S.C. (MUSC) where she held joint appointments in Obstetrics/Gynecology and Pediatrics. She served as director of the MUSC Teen Clinic and created a clinic for sexual assault survivors. As a nationally recognized advocate for adolescent health, she has served on the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Committee on Adolescent Health Care and Chaired the Board of Directors for the SC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. She also serves on the Advisory Board for Amaze.org, a global sexuality education project. In addition to co-authoring the Girlology series of books, she has written numerous scientific papers and textbook chapters as well as articles and guest blogs. As a passionate teacher for her patients, Dr. Holmes received a national award from the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists for patient education. As an excellent clinician respected by her peers, she was also named among the Best Doctors in America. When she’s not Girlologizing, she’s cooking, making playlists of new music, or doing something crafty and artistic.

Lonna Gordon, MD, PharmD, FAAP, FSAHM

National Coordinator of Med School Partnerships
Associate Chief of Adolescent Medicine
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Orlando, FL

Dr. Lonna Gordon is the older daughter of Llewellyn & Lorna from Jamaica, older sister to Lori and godmother to 9 girls. She was born in our nation’s capital, which explains her passion for child advocacy, and raised in Jacksonville, FL. She has a PharmD from Florida A&M University & an MD from the University of South Florida. She currently practices Adolescent Medicine at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, Fl where she is the Division Chief of Adolescent Medicine and the Director of Diversity for Graduate Medical Education. Dr Lonna is a foodie, photographer, and world traveler. She loves to empower her patients to fuel their bodies using creative and healthy meal and snacks ideas that she shares with them. She has combined her love of educating and cooking to pursue board certifications in Obesity Medicine & Culinary Medicine. She sits on the Society of Adolescent Health & Medicine – Nutrition and Obesity Committee. Additionally, Dr Lonna is a nationally recognized advocate in the areas of healthcare access and adolescent reproductive health. She has also spearheaded community health education programs utilizing faith based organizations in three different cities.

Caitlin Meloy

Senior Vice President
Philanthropic Strategist
Bank of America

Boston, MA

Caitlin Meloy is a Senior Vice President and Philanthropic Strategist with Bank of America Private Bank in Boston, Massachusetts. A seasoned professional with more than a decade of experience, she takes great satisfaction in making personal connections with multiple generations of families and becoming an extension of their established foundations, donor advised funds, and nonprofit organizations to help build and sustain their charitable missions.

After earning a Bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University in California, Caitlin pursued her M.B.A. from the University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School in Ireland, and a Master’s degree in Advanced Management from the Yale School of Management. Additionally, she holds the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) designation. Prior to joining Bank of America Private Bank in 2016, Caitlin worked in Dublin, Ireland as the Director of the Young Leaders for the Ireland Funds. Previously, she worked at Fitch Ratings for five years in the residential mortgage-backed securities and public finance divisions.

Originally from New York, Caitlin and her husband, Ricky, reside in Medford, Massachusetts where they are raising their two children. A former triathlete, Caitlin enjoys a variety of mental and physical health activities.

Paula Garcia

Senior VP
Teach for America

Rio Grande Valley, TX

Dr. SantaPaula Garcia is currently the Senior Vice President, Regional Field Executive, at Teach For America and oversees a portfolio of regions in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Washington, and communities of D.C., NYC and Los Angeles. Dr. Garcia was the former Executive Director of Teach For America in the Rio Grande Valley region and prior to joining TFA served as Director of Instruction for the Raymondville Independent School District.

Dr. Garcia has over 20 years of educational leadership experience and has served in the public and non-for-profit sectors. During her time at Educate Texas, she was responsible for establishing and developing early college structures in two of the largest school districts in the Rio Grande Valley: Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD and Brownsville ISD – increasing the number of students ready for college across her community. Previously, Dr. Garcia served as founding principal of IDEA Academy, Donna, of IDEA Public Schools. As a 1998 corps member Dr. Garcia taught reading to bilingual students in third, fourth and fifth grade in the Mercedes Independent School District in Mercedes, Texas.

Dr. Garcia holds a B.A. and double Masters in Spanish Literature and Education from the University of Texas, as well as an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University. With her husband, Luis, they have two sons, Lucas and Josiah and live in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas.