Marlene Melzer-Lange

Marlene Melzer-Lange, MD, is a Professor of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where she has been affiliated since completing her MD (1975) and Pediatrics residency (1978). Her work focuses on improving care for adolescents in emergency departments, particularly those affected by violence, suicide risk, and trauma. She is committed to advancing trauma-informed care, suicide screening protocols, and community-hospital partnerships to prevent youth violence and injuries.

Education:

• MD, Medical College of Wisconsin, 1975
• Pediatrics Residency, Medical College of Wisconsin, 1978

Research Interests: Dr. Melzer-Lange’s research addresses critical gaps in pediatric emergency care, including:

• Violence prevention and trauma-informed interventions for at-risk youth
• Suicide screening and risk assessment in emergency settings
• Linking community resources (e.g., schools) to hospital systems for violence prevention
• Firearm safety counseling and injury prevention strategies

Collaborations: She leads or participates in major initiatives like the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) to drive evidence-based practices. Her work informs policies on crisis drills, medical response to sex trafficking, and electronic health record improvements for children with special needs.