Board eligible by the American Board of Anesthesiology, Dr. Melissa Lester joined the anesthesiology team at Valley Children’s in September 2023.
Dr. Lester earned her medical degree from Lewis Katz School of Medicine in Pennsylvania before going on to complete a residency in anesthesiology through Cooper University Hospital in New Jersey and then a pediatric anesthesiology fellowship through McGraw Medical Center of Northwestern University in Illinois.
Passionate about quality improvement and patient safety, Dr. Lester worked on the project design, data collection, literature review and in some instances, technology services to optimize workflow methods for technology use to reduce pediatric perioperative anxiety and improving patient throughput for intensive care services. Dr. Lester brings a wealth of knowledge and has shared her expertise in various conference poster presentations. She has also co-authored a chapter on pediatric and neonatal resuscitation in the book, Pediatric Anesthesia for the Non-Pediatric Anesthesia Provider.
Dr. Lester is a member of the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia, American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, National Medication Association, and American Society of Anesthesiology. Her community activities have included several leadership and mentorship roles, including being a member of the Northwestern McGaw Underrepresented Residents and Fellows Forum, a community service liaison for the Regional Executive Committee of Region VIII Student National Medical Association (SNMA), and more.