I worked with Melinda at Walter Reed on Ward 57. She was a lieutenant and I was just a lowly specialist. I watched her care for the wounded soldiers that became friends every day. She was always happy and now that I think about it quite an inspiration to be around and work with.  I’m truly saddened by her loss, she was a great woman

Melinda was a very kind soul, intelligent, giving, with a heart of gold. Easy to work with, easy to work for! She was an awesome soldier, an excellent USPHS Officer, and a great Clinician (nurse practitioner). She brought a positive vibe, a bright light, a smile, and a little laughter to work with her to work every day.  She provided top notch care to an underserved population, she frequently accomplished the impossible with limited resources and always did it without a complaint. She was an Angel in scrubs quietly toiling amongst us called back home way too soon. 

The  aforementioned is just a miniscule glimpse of her recent clinical life. She is that magnified and will be missed on a multitude of levels:

Wife, mother, friend,  confidant, sister,  aunt, daughter,  granddaughter, niece,  nurse,  nurse practitioner,  teacher,  lunch partner,  break time buddie, work out partner,  road trip partner, co-chef, bad joke teller, and all around genuine good person!

I miss you Hard Charging
CDR  Sidney  Hairston,  USPHS