Maria Meli, PhD, LICSW, is a licensed clinical social worker with extensive experience in women's health, perinatal care, and mental health. She earned her PhD in Social Work at The Catholic University of America in June 2024, successfully defending a dissertation focused on the rates of sterilization among adult females in the United States and examining how health risk behaviors influence the likelihood of women undergoing sterilization.

Dr. Meli has worked in diverse healthcare settings, including providing direct support to at-risk patients through discharge planning in hospitals and non-profit organizations. She has also contributed to women's health, pregnancy, and perinatal health initiatives, specializing in offering vital care and mental health support to patients.

At George Washington University, Dr. Meli served as a case manager at the Jacob Burns Community Legal Clinics, where she supported clinic clients and facilitated mental health training for students and faculty. She also co-presented at the Mid-Atlantic Clinical Legal Education Conference, discussing the collaboration between social workers and lawyers in legal clinic environments.

Currently, Dr. Meli works on the Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders Team at Children’s National Hospital, where she provides direct services to mothers and caregivers in the Emergency Department and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), ensuring access to mental health support. Additionally, she practices part-time as a therapist, continuing to serve her community through her expertise in mental health and social work.