Melissa Ann Patterson, MD
On the web
Overview
Dr. Melissa Patterson is a geriatrician and hospice & palliative care clinician educator and serves as the Director of the Inpatient Geriatric and Palliative Care Service at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital. She is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Aging. She is board-certified in Family Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Dr. Patterson is the local lead for the NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital Quality & Patient Safety Mortality Goal and a Greater New York Hospital Association & United Hospital Fund Clinical Quality Fellow for the 2025–2026 Fellowship Program.
In recognition of her commitment to high-quality, patient-centered care, Dr. Patterson received the NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital and Ambulatory Care Network West Iris Award, a nurse-driven honor recognizing clinicians who build strong partnerships to advance patient care and community commitment. She was also awarded the United Hospital Fund’s 2026 Excellence in Health Care Award, which honors leaders who demonstrate exceptional impact in improving care quality, patient safety, and patient experience across the greater New York metropolitan region.
Dr. Patterson’s scholarship includes multiple grants supporting her educational and communication skills training initiatives, including funding from the NewYork-Presbyterian Dalio Center Learning Health System, the Health Justice Research and Training Award, and the Ho/Chiang Foundation. She also received the Columbia University Provost Innovative Course Module Design Grant to enhance geriatrics education within the Medical Students’ Primary Care Clerkship. She is a member of the Columbia University Medical Ethics Committee and serves as a planning committee member and facilitator for Allen Schwartz Rounds, a forum supporting healthcare professionals in reflecting on the emotional impact of their work.
Dr. Patterson’s interest in medicine began with her undergraduate studies in the History of Medicine, Science, and Technology at Johns Hopkins University. She began her medical career as a family medicine physician during her residency at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. She later completed a Geriatric Medicine Fellowship at NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medicine followed by a Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship at the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Dual Campus (Columbia and Cornell) training program.
Originally planning to return to Long Island to open a primary care practice, Dr. Patterson’s career trajectory shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which underscored the urgent need for specialized care for older adults and the critically ill. She developed a deep appreciation for the essential role of inpatient hospice in supporting patients and loved ones when returning home is no longer possible. Since then, she has dedicated her career to bridging the goals and values of diverse care teams, patients, and families, particularly during the complex and emotionally profound experiences at the end of life.
Academic Appointments
- Assistant Professor of Medicine at CUMC
Hospital Affiliations
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell Medical Center
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Gender
- Female
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Location(s)
Insurance Accepted
Aetna
- Aetna Signature Administrators
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- NY Signature
- POS
- PPO
- Student Health
Affinity Health Plan
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
Amida Care
- Special Needs
Cigna
- EPO
- Great West (National)
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
Emblem/GHI
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Emblem/HIP
- ConnectiCare
- EPO
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
- Select Care (Exchange)
- Vytra
Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
Fidelis Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Healthfirst
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Leaf (Exchange)
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Healthspring (Cigna Medicare)
- Medicare Managed Care
Local 1199
- Local 1199
MagnaCare (National)
- MagnaCare
Medicare
- Railroad
- Traditional Medicare
Multiplan
- Multiplan
MVP Health Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
RiverSpring
- Special Needs
UnitedHealthcare
- Compass (Exchange)
- Empire Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid (Community Plan)
- Medicare Managed Care
- Oxford Freedom
- Oxford HMO
- Oxford Liberty
- POS
- PPO
VNSNY CHOICE
- Medicare Managed Care
- SelectHealth
- Special Needs
WellCare
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
World Trade Center Health Plan
- World Trade Center Health Plan
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- MD, American University of the Caribbean
- Residency: Family Medicine, Ascension St. John Hospital
- Fellowship: Hospice and Palliative Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Board Certifications
- Geriatric Medicine
- Family Medicine