Melissa Christino

Melissa Christino is an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and a board-certified orthopedic surgeon in the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Department at Boston Children’s Hospital. She specializes in pediatric and adolescent sports injuries, particularly ACL reconstruction and psychological aspects of recovery, and directs Sports and Mental Skills Research.

• Education: Harvard University (BS), New York Medical College (MD)
• Training: General Surgery Internship, Orthopedic Surgery Residency, Orthopedic Trauma Fellowship (Brown University), Orthopedic Sports Medicine Fellowship (Boston Children's Hospital)

Research Focus: Her work integrates orthopedic surgery with psychological resilience in athletes, emphasizing ACL recovery, mental readiness for return to sport, and burnout in orthopedic professionals. She leads the PLUTO Study group and contributes to multi-center research on pediatric sports trauma.

Clinical Leadership: Director of Sports and Mental Skills Research, specializing in fracture care, hip/knee injuries, and mental health aspects of sports recovery. Active in national organizations like AAOS and PRISM research groups.