Pielech joins us as an Assistant Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences in the Brown University School of Public Health and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the Warren Alpert Medical School. A Licensed Clinical Psychologist, she also serves as a Pediatric Psychologist at Hasbro Children's Rehabilitation Services and Bradley Vista.

Her research program centers on critical health equity issues, including health disparities and social determinants of health, pediatric chronic pain, substance use, family and supporter focused treatment, intervention development, and community-engaged research.

Pielech brings a strong commitment to translating research into real-world impact. Notably, she was recently awarded the prestigious Mayday Pain and Society Fellowship, a national training program focused on pain science communication, dissemination, and advocacy work to bridge the gap between science and public policy.

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Melissa as she joins our CHPHE community!