Bio & Qualifications
Medical Cannabis Qualifications
+ Medihuanna
Other
+ Doctor of Medicine (MBBS)
+ Bachelor of International Development
+ Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic (USA)
+ Masters of Neuroscience - 2023-2025
Special Interests
+ Women’s Health
+ LGBTQI+ Health
+ Complex Trauma
+ Behaviour Change
+ Decolonising Medicine
Meet THE doctor
Dr Melissa Catanzarite, originally from California, is a Psychiatry Registrar and Cannabis Clinician based in Hobart, Tasmania.
Dr Melissa is a passionate doctor who has had a wide and varied career that has spanned multiple countries and continents. Her career began at 18 when she became a paramedic in Southern California working on the border of California and Mexico. Witnessing the poverty and trauma caused by the intersection of these two nations she felt driven to do more.
She studied International Development at LaTrobe University in Australia and as part of her degree she was awarded a study abroad scholarship that allowed her the chance to live and study in Mexico for a year as part of her degree. Further inspired to create meaningful change she went on to study medicine at Deakin University.
Her passion for adventure lead her to emergency medicine for a few years, but she soon found effective change needed to come from long term meaningful solutions. She has now transitioned into psychiatry. She has long been a strong advocate of medicinal cannabis seeing first hand the power it has to improve a patient’s quality of life. She believes medicinal cannabis is one of the first steps in building a medical system that treats the patients holistically and is excited about the potential for the future of this emerging field.
She is a strong advocate for marginalised voices with an interest in working with survivors of sexual assault, interpersonal violence and complex trauma. She has a great interest in creating behaviour change programs for perpetrators of violence and building communities that foster connection as well as enduring change. Decolonising medicine and centralising voices of marginalised groups is a priority to her and she believes her role is to listen more than talk in these spaces.
When Dr Melissa isn't working, she is most happy out in the paddock with her gumboots on and her three dogs beside her on the hobby farm she has with her partner in Tasmania.
"I just want to thank [Dr Melissa] for being so understanding of women’s health, and so easy to talk to. It’s so hard finding doctors that understand and I really appreciate her time and expertise." - Amanda
"Dr Melissa was very informative and explained everything in everyday terms. Lovely lady and listened without rushing me." - Carmel