Melissa Begay, MD (Diné)
Assistant Professor
Department of Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of New Mexico
Melissa Begay, MD (Diné) was raised on the Navajo Nation. She is Towering House (Kinyaa’áanii) clan born for Black Streak through Forest (Tsi’naajinii). She is a second-generation physician and daughter of Ray Begay. MD. Melissa completed undergraduate studies at Stanford University and received her MD from the University of New Mexico (UNM) School of Medicine. She completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine and a Fellowship in Sleep Medicine at UNM Health Sciences. Dr. Begay practices at the New Mexico VA Sleep Center and is an Assistant Professor in the UNM Department of Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine. She is a past board member of We Are Healers, a Gold Humanism Society member and recently recognized as a Hometown Hero by Senator Martin Heinrich for her work in assisting Native communities during the pandemic. In her free time, Dr. Begay enjoys creating graphic designs and exploring the Southwest in her 1980’s Land Cruiser.
