Melanie Baughman

Melanie is a Clinical Nutrition Intern currently pursuing her Master’s in Nutrition and Integrative Health with a concentration in Herbal Medicine at the Maryland University of Integrative Health. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Fayetteville State University, where she initially intended to pursue animal medicine. However, her path shifted after a personal health experience reshaped her understanding of wellness.

In 2021, Melanie was diagnosed with Type 2 narcolepsy. At the time, her daily habits and lifestyle were not supportive of her condition. This diagnosis became a powerful turning point—she began exploring nutrition, lifestyle changes, and sleep hygiene as tools to manage her symptoms. Through this process, she not only experienced improvements in her own health but also discovered a deep passion for nutrition and its individualized nature. She became driven to help others understand how personal and empowering nutrition can be.

Outside of her academic and clinical work, Melanie is a mixed martial artist, training in kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Sparks Martial Arts Academy. She is also a patient advocate with the Rising Voices program through Project Sleep and a dedicated home baker, creating gluten-free and dairy-free treats for her husband. In her free time, she enjoys reading thrillers, gaming with friends, and taking walks with her beloved Treeing Walker Coonhound, Doodle.