Dr. Melissa Oden

Melissa Oden is a Fort Worth, Texas native who earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science from Texas Wesleyan University in 1997. She went on to earn a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2001, a Master of Public Health in 2006 from the University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, and a Doctor of Health Education (2011) from Andrew Taylor Still University School of Health Management.

Dr. Oden has been practicing social work for 21 years and has been a public health practitioner for 16 years. Her work experience ranges from social work in hospital and long-term care settings, to teaching and public health education and community practice, to professional development training and project management for applied social research projects. Her current fieldwork focuses on Emergency Management and Disaster Planning as well as developing cross-disciplinary collaborations between urban planners and public health professionals. She is also a digital course creator in the field of health education, specializing in women's health issues and concerns. She is passionate about helping women to find healing, balance and peace in their lives through innovative, interactive online courses and in-person, live events.

She is currently founding CEO of Health Education Resources Network, a public health project management and health education consulting company. Dr. Oden currently lives in Fort Worth with her 4-year-old orange tabby, Oliver.