Melissa Clay
Nurse Practioner, MSN, FNP-BC
We are pleased to announce an exciting addition to our team! Nurse Practitioner, Melissa Clay, joins us at Hill Vascular & Vein Center to help us better serve Dr. Hill’s patients by providing timely access and qualified, exceptional patient care.
As a Nurse Practitioner (NP), Melissa is licensed and credentialed to examine patients. As an added extension to vascular health care for our patients, Melissa provides broad scope services to patients with her knowledge and experience in vascular, orthopedic spine surgery, and family medicine. In addition to office visits, pre-operative, and post-operative exams, Melissa will be assisting Dr. Hill during inventional procedures for a variety of cases in both our interventional angiosuite and in surgical cases at the hospitals when needed.
Education
Melissa began her journey into healthcare by completing her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at University of Calfornia, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2000, and graduating from the prestigious Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing in 2002. In 2006, Melissa obtained her Master of Science in Nursing, FNP program from University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and in 2021, she was awarded her RNFA designation by National Institute of First Assisting and Southwestern College.
After completing her RN degree, Melissa began her nursing career in the emergency room where she honed her clinical skills and learned the importance of always remaining an advocate for her patients. As a Nurse Practitioner (NP), she considered the opportunity to provide patient care in both the outpatient setting and assisting surgeons in the operating room a privilege. Melissa is committed to providing Hill Vascular and Vein Center patients with quality care, treating them with compassion and empathy.
Philosophy
Melissa notes, “The best part of my job is watching our patients improve and return to a better quality of life”, and this is exactly why Hill Vascular & Vein Center and our patients are a tremendous fit for Melissa. As an integral component to our practice, Melissa’s work will be instrumental in providing Hill Vascular patients not only quality care, but also timely access ensuring a prompt return of blood flow when blockages due to clots, calcifications, or plaque.
Melissa comes to us from Santa Cruz, where she was raised and continues living with her husband and son. She calls the beach her ‘happy place’, and enjoys attending music concerts, sporting events, gardening, and spending time outdoors with her family.