Melissa K. Crochet , M.D.   A native of South Louisiana, Dr. Crochet attended Louisiana State University on full undergraduate scholarship from 1982 to 1985. While there, she was elected to the Alpha Epsilon Delta Medical Honor Fraternity and was active in a campus service fraternity. After early graduation in December of 1985, Dr. Crochet worked in a medical laboratory until medical school began in August of 1986. She attended Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans from 1986-1990. As a medical student, she was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society and was an American Medical Women's Association Honor Graduate.

It was during her clinical work at Charity Hospital in New Orleans that Dr. Crochet became interested in obstetrics and gynecology. She enjoyed the emphasis on preventive and primary care found in the specialty. She also acknowledged that she possessed surgical talent and could pursue this interest in the same specialty. To become trained as an Ob/Gyn, Dr. Crochet selected a residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Texas. This esteemed program is known worldwide for its constant and important research into obstetrical and gynecological issues. From 1990-1994, this high volume training program provided broad exposure to a multitude of obstetrical and gynecological problems, from the most common to the most rare disorders. Dr. Crochet was responsible for the care of over 1,000 high and low risk obstetrical patients during her four years as a Parkland resident. As she neared the completion of her residency, she realized that the high volume of often seriously ill patients had left little time to investigate other aspects of women's healthcare - particularly non-traditional approaches and women's wellness. Dr. Crochet sought to develop a broader exposure to these issues, so she chose to seek a position in private practice outside of Dallas.

In 1994, upon completion of her residency, Dr. Crochet moved away from Dallas. She practiced at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California and in Boulder, Colorado until 1998. In these first years of practice, she became familiarized with non-traditional approaches to healthcare such as herbal supplements for menopause management and alternative philosophies of birth and pain management. This experience has proven invaluable to her medical practice, especially as the use of herbal remedies and alternative medicine have become more accepted by the traditional medical community.

Dr. Crochet returned to Dallas to be closer to family as she and her husband, Jay, sought to start a family of their own. She has been in practice in Dallas affiliated with Baylor University Medical Center since 1998. She currently serves on the Baylor medical staff as a member of an ethics committee. She also participates in resident education by staffing the residents in outpatient clinics and during surgical procedures.

Dr. Crochet enjoys the practice of obstetrics and gynecology because it gives her the opportunity to develop long term relationships with her patients. From routine gynecological care to childbirth and through menopause, she takes an interactive and integrative approach to health care. At the initial appointment, she strives to take a detailed medical and social history to formulate a clear picture of the patient, her life, and her particular needs. She then tailors recommendations for medical care to the patient and her lifestyle. In her practice of obstetrics, Dr. Crochet has special interest in natural childbirth, VBAC, and high risk obstetrics. She also takes special interest in gynecological surgery, including laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, and laparoscopically-assisted hysterectomy.

Dr. Crochet lives in Lakewood with her husband and partner of 13 years, Jay. They have two sons, Ethan (6 years) and Joshua (5 years). They are active in the community of their children's school and spend much of their time on school or family functions. While Dr. Crochet is passionate about women's health issues, both she and her husband are passionate about environmental issues and place special emphasis on conservation and sustainability in their daily lives.