Melissa L. Mao
Biography
Melissa L. Mao, Pharm.D., M.D., FACS, is Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. Mao holds both a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Northeastern University and a Doctor of Medicine degree from Temple University School of Medicine. She completed general surgery residency at St. Luke's University Hospital and a clinical fellowship in endocrine surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami. She is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Mao's clinical and academic work focuses on endocrine surgery, including thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal pathology. She is an active member of the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons and the American Thyroid Association, where she serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Her research has examined topics such as the impact of NIFTP reclassification on thyroid malignancy rates, intraoperative parathyroid hormone criteria in patients with chronic kidney disease, and complications of thyroidectomy in pediatric populations.
At UC Irvine, Mao serves as Co-Director of the Surgery Clerkship and Medical Director of the Medical Student Introduction to OR program. She is a member of the School of Medicine Admissions Committee and serves as Cancer Liaison Physician for the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. Mao has been recognized with the UCI School of Medicine Achievement Award for Clinical Science Lecturer and is a recipient of the Young Women Physicians Mentorship Program M-Power Grant. She also serves on the Inclusive Excellence Early Pathways Taskforce for the American College of Surgeons.
Return to topEducation
- Pharm.D., Northeastern University Bouvé College of Health Sciences, 2007
- M.D., Temple University School of Medicine, 2012
Distinctions
- Fellow, American College of Surgeons (FACS), 2020
- Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, 2012
- Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society, Beta Tau Chapter, 2005
- Senior Merck Scholarship Award, 2007
- UCI School of Medicine Achievement Award for Clinical Science Lecturer, 2022
- Southern California Super Doctors Rising Star, 2025
- Amelia Peabody Honors Scholarship, 2001-2004
Areas of Expertise
- Endocrine Surgery
- Thyroid Nodule Management
- Parathyroidectomy Techniques
- Hyperparathyroidism Treatment
- Adrenal Incidentaloma Evaluation
- Pediatric Thyroidectomy Complications
- Surgical Education Curriculum
Recent Publications
- Willobee BA, Huerta CT, Quiroz HJ, Mao ML, Ryon EL, Ferrantella A, Thorson CM, Sola JE, Perez EA, “Higher Complication Rates for Total versus Partial Thyroidectomy in the Pediatric Population” (opens in new tab), Journal of Surgical Research, vol. 283, pp. 449-458, 2023.
- Campbell R, Mao M, “Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndromes” (opens in new tab), Pediatric Surgery Diagnosis and Treatment, Springer, Cham, pp. 727-733, 2022.
- Campbell R, Mao M, “Adrenal Tumors” (opens in new tab), Pediatric Surgery Diagnosis and Treatment, Springer, Cham, pp. 795-801, 2022.
- Lew JI, Farra JC, Mao ML, “Surgical Anatomy of the Thyroid Gland” (opens in new tab), Thoracic Surgery Cervical Thoracic and Abdominal Approaches, Springer, Cham, pp. 151-153, 2020.
- Lew JI, Farra JC, Mao ML, “Surgical Approaches in Thyroid Pathology and Operative Techniques” (opens in new tab), Thoracic Surgery Cervical Thoracic and Abdominal Approaches, Springer, Cham, pp. 155-158, 2020.
- Mao ML, Joyal T, Picado O, Kerr D, Lew JI, Farra JC, “NIFTP Reclassification and Its Impact on Thyroid Malignancy Rate and Treatment”, J Surg Res, vol. 230, pp. 47-52, 2018.
- Liu S, Yusufali A, Teo R, Mao ML, Kahn ZF, Farra JC, Lew JI, “Stricter ioPTH Criterion for Successful Parathyroidectomy in Stage III CKD Patients with pHPT” (opens in new tab), Surgery United States, vol. 164, no. 6, pp. 1306-1310, 2018.
- Mao M.L., Joyal T., Picado O., Kerr D., Lew J.I., Farra J.C., “Noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features reclassification and its impact on thyroid malignancy rate and treatment” (opens in new tab), Journal of Surgical Research, vol. 230, pp. 47-52, 2018.
- Mubang R, Brady JJ, Mao M, Burfeind W, Puc M, “Intradiaphragmatic Bronchogenic Cysts. A Case Report and Systematic Review” (opens in new tab), Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery, vol. 11, pp. 79, 2016.
- Kindel T, Latchana N, Swaroop M, Chaudhry UI, Noria SF, Choron RL, Seamon MJ, Lin MJ, Mao ML, Cipolla J, El Chaar M, Scantling D, Martin ND, Evans DC, Papadimos TJ, Stawicki SJ, “Laparoscopy in Trauma: An Overview of Complications and Related Topics” (opens in new tab), International Journal of Critical Illness and Injury Science, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 196-205, 2015.
- Cipriano A, Mao ML, Hon H, Vazquez D, Stawicki SP, Sharpe R, Evans DC, “An Overview of Complications Associated with Open and Percutaneous Tracheostomy Procedures”, Int J Crit Illn Inj Sci, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 179-88, 2015.
- Mao ML, Hughes R, Papadimos TJ, Stawicki SP, “Complications of Chest Tubes: A Focused Clinical Synopsis” (opens in new tab), Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine, vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 376-386, 2015.
- Pomykacz B, Mao ML, Weiss RD, Teter CJ, “A Review of Brief Medication-Adherence Instruments Used in Patients with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder” (opens in new tab), Harvard Review of Psychiatry, vol. 15, no. 5, pp. 259-63, 2007.
This profile was created with the help of AI.
Last updated on 5/14/2026.