Conversations with Melissa Levack

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Levack.

Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us how you got started?
I grew up in Connecticut and went to Dartmouth College, where I obtained my undergraduate degree. After college, I spent four years in Atlanta at Emory University Medical School, where I achieved my MD degree. I then completed my General Surgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. During my research block in residency, I did a Cardiac Surgery research fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. After General Surgery training, I moved to Cleveland, where I completed my Cardiothoracic Surgery fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. In 2o17, I moved to Nashville to begin my career as an Assistant Professor of Cardiac Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. I am double board-certified in General Surgery and Cardiothoracic Surgery. My primary area of expertise is in Aortic disease and Valve disease. While in Nashville, I met my husband, Guy Williams. Despite the setbacks of Covid, we were finally able to celebrate our wedding at the Country Music Hall of Fame in June 2021. We live in the Gulch with our dog Picasso.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Cardiac Surgery is a male-dominated field. As a young woman in training, I found it difficult sometimes to find appropriate mentorship and guidance for my specific goals and garner the same level of respect as my male counterparts. For example, as a medical student, I was asked if I genuinely wanted to pursue a career in Surgery as a woman, given the limitations regarding raising a family in such a time-consuming field. As a surgical trainee interested in Cardiac Surgery, I had to question whether this was the right specialty for me, given that there were so few female cardiac surgeons in the country and there was no well-outlined path for success. While I was able to navigate the brutal hours of training and the intensity of the culture, I soon realized that building a career and life beyond this would bring new challenges. As a result of these challenges, I have been outspoken about the struggles women face regarding many under-discussed topics in the surgical community, including infertility and appropriate mentorship for career advancement.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
As an Adult Cardiac Surgeon practicing at a major academic center, my job involves treating and operating on patients, teaching students and residents, and conducting research. I regularly perform all types of open-heart surgery, minimally invasive surgery, and transcatheter aortic valve replacement. My area of expertise is in Aortic Surgery and Valve Surgery. I am the Director of Thoracic Aortic Surgery at Vanderbilt and am actively engaged in growing our Aortic Center and delivering exceptional care to our patients. Given my involvement in this specialty area, I am routinely asked to speak nationally on topics of interest on a variety of platforms.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting?
It is important to self-evaluate your career and personal goals at each milestone and to be honest with yourself. This field requires a tremendous amount of training, dedication, and time. The first major decision is to recognize if you are truly willing to commit to this and identify the support system you need to help you excel. Beyond training, the type of job you select and the location can influence your personal satisfaction. Every job looks and feels a little different, so you must pick the one best suited for your personal growth. Finally, I would also say it is ok to change your mind or your goals as you progress. No decision is permanent, and as you evolve in your career and personal life, it is important to check in periodically and be truthful about your trajectory.

Image Credits
Wedding Photo-credit Kristin Sweeting