Biography

Melissa DeFoe, M.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and a member of the Division of Rheumatic Diseases. Her clinical interests include myositis, rheumatoid arthritis, and rheumatologic side effects of immunotherapy cancer treatments.

Originally from Dallas, Dr. DeFoe holds a bachelor's degree in biology and graduated magna cum laude from Texas A&M University in College Station. She earned her medical degree at the University of Texas Houston McGovern Medical School and completed internal medicine residency training at Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis. She then obtained advanced training through a fellowship in rheumatology, where she served as Chief Fellow.

Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in rheumatology, she joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2022.

Her research interests include rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. Her investigations have resulted in numerous Grand Rounds lectures and multiple publications.

Education
Fellowship
UT Southwestern Medical Center 2020, Rheumatology
Medical School
McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (2013)
Residency
Washington University Barnes Jewish Hospital/ St. Louis Children's Hospital Consortium Program (2016), Internal Medicine