Melissa Goulding, MS, PhD candidate, Population Health Sciences Program

“I want to know how we can make sure that kids are set up on a healthy trajectory of cardiovascular health.”

Melissa Goulding’s research interests include chronic disease prevention and health promotion in children with an emphasis on health equity. 

In 2017, the American Academy of Pediatrics released updated guidelines for pediatric blood pressure screening, recommending screening all children at least once a year and those who are considered obese at every visit.

Goulding, a PhD candidate in the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Population Health Sciences Program, received a three-year grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to fund her dissertation research into how these guidelines are being followed locally.

Goulding’s mentor is Stephenie P. Lemon, PhD, the Marcellette G. Williams Scholar, professor of population & quantitative health sciences and co-director of the Prevention Research Center at UMass Chan Medical School.

“From a sample of kids that we had for a Prevention Research Center at UMass Chan Medical School study, we saw that the blood pressure rates of kids were much higher in Worcester, but none of the parents were aware of this,” Goulding said. “I want to know how we can make sure that kids are set up on a healthy trajectory of cardiovascular health.”

A Holyoke native, Goulding has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Emmanuel College and a Master of Science degree in medical sciences from Boston University School of Medicine.

Goulding conducted research in UMass Chan’s Emergency Medicine Department to fulfill a requirement and discovered she liked clinical research.

“Over the past three years the faculty have supported me as a person, student and scientist. Through my mentor, I have had the opportunity to be a part of the important work conducted by the Prevention Research Center at UMass Chan Medical School to promote health and prevent disease and disability. These research experiences have enabled me to build a strong foundation for a career as an independent researcher,” Goulding said.