Dr. Holmes is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. She is a magna cum laude graduate of The University of Georgia with a BFA in Drawing and Painting. She then received her MD from the Medical College of Georgia. Following her Ob-Gyn internship and residency at The Medical College of Virginia, Melisa joined the faculty at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston where she held joint appointments in Obstetrics/Gynecology and Pediatrics, and has been named among the Best Doctors in America.

During her 14 years of clinical practice, she was director of the MUSC Teen Clinic and founder and director of the Sexual Assault Follow-up Evaluation (SAFE) clinic. As a nationally recognized advocate for adolescent health, she has served on the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology Committee on Adolescent Health Care, and worked with the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. She has written numerous peer reviewed scientific papers in the medical literature as well as text book chapters on a variety of subjects related to adolescent gynecology and care of the sexual assault victim. She has been recognized nationally for her expertise on the topics of adolescent gynecology, teen sexuality, interpersonal violence, and women's health.

Dr. Holmes enjoys painting, vegetarian cooking, and all types of music. She and her husband, Steve, live in Greenville, SC with their three daughters on a small farm with horses, donkeys, dogs and a barn cat. Her two teenage daughters have been special consultants to Girlology for many years, and her almost-tween daughter will keep her in touch with girl-stuff for many years to come!