Biosketch: Melanie K. Bean, Ph.D.

Dr. Bean earned her PhD in counseling psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 2007, after serving as an NIH cancer prevention and control fellow. She completed a clinical internship in Albuquerque, NM and post-doctoral fellowship in clinical health psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at VCU. She joined the Department of Pediatrics faculty in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism in 2008, was promoted to Associate Professor in 2015, and Professor in 2023.

Dr. Bean’s program of research is in 1) behavioral interventions for pediatric obesity, with particular expertise in the adolescent development period, and 2) nutrition and obesity policy investigations to reduce systematic health inequities. She has >14 years of continuous funding, securing >$14 million as PI (predominately NIH), with >$88 million in funding when combined with awards on which she is a collaborating investigator. Dr. Bean has >100 peer-reviewed publications and >160 presentations (65 international), over half of which include trainees as co-authors.

Dr. Bean is dedicated to providing evidence-based care to children and families with obesity, with her clinical niche serving adolescents seeking bariatric and metabolic surgery. To enhance pediatric obesity clinical care and research, she established the Healthy Lifestyles Center (HLC) in 2012 and serves as co-Director, securing over $4 million in center support. The HLC is the premier venue for pediatric obesity treatment and research in the region and the only Center of Excellence in Bariatric Surgery with Adolescent Qualifications. Dr. Bean serves in numerous capacities for the community, university, and profession, including elected positions within international organizations and as an NIH scientific reviewer.

Dr. Bean serves as faculty for two fellowship programs and scientific mentor for three NIH training programs. She has a strong commitment to mentorship, including serving as a research mentor on training and career development awards and as a clinical supervisor. She has served as a research mentor to >60 undergraduates and as a formal research mentor for multiple doctoral students, post-doctoral fellows, and early career faculty—she has been very successful in supporting her trainees in securing extramural funding and academic research positions.