About
Dr. Melissa Drake is a board-certified OB/GYN and Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists with more than 14 years of clinical experience. , where she trained in complex obstetrical surgery, surgical emergencies, and collaborative hospital care. She then pursued fellowship training in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery.
Grown up in Tucson, Arizona, Dr. Drake has called Santa Barbara home since 2009. She has delivered over 3,000 babies and holds surgical privileges at Cottage Hospital. Her clinical passions include high-risk pregnancy, menopause and hormone management, gynecologic cancer screening, and holistic childbirth. She treats a broad range of conditions, from endometriosis and uterine fibroids to perimenopause, PCOS, and osteoporosis. In the operating room, she excels at laparoscopic hysterectomy, myomectomy, and surgery for endometriosis, and she collaborates closely with anesthesia, interventional radiology, and surgical teams. Patients describe her as brilliant and thorough, and genuinely warm.
Education & Training
Medical School
University of Arizona College of Medicine
Residency
OB/GYN, George Washington University
Fellowship
Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery
Certifications
Conditions Treated
Who is Dr. Drake right for?
Dr. Drake is a strong fit for women seeking a single physician who manages both obstetric and gynecologic care. Patients navigating high-risk pregnancy, endometriosis, fibroids, or hormonal transitions benefit from her surgical depth and preventive focus. Women entering perimenopause or menopause who want personalized hormone management will find her approach thorough and evidence-based. She also serves women prioritizing proactive cancer screening, including advanced multi-cancer early detection. Patients who value direct physician access and unhurried appointments feel most at home in her practice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Drake treats a wide range of gynecologic and obstetric conditions. These include high-risk pregnancy, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, PCOS, abnormal uterine bleeding, cervical dysplasia, ovarian cysts, pelvic pain, perimenopause, menopause, hormonal imbalances, osteoporosis, and genitourinary syndrome of menopause. She also evaluates for gynecologic cancers and coordinates advanced multi-cancer early detection screening.
Yes. Dr. Drake completed fellowship training in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery after her OB/GYN residency at George Washington University. That training informs her surgical approach across procedures including laparoscopic hysterectomy, myomectomy, hysteroscopy, and surgery for endometriosis.
Dr. Drake performs a range of minimally invasive gynecologic surgeries. These include laparoscopic hysterectomy, myomectomy, hysteroscopy, endometrial ablation, LEEP, and laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis. She holds surgical privileges at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara.
Dr. Drake blends modern obstetrical expertise with a holistic, midwifery-style philosophy. She focuses on teaching patients to trust themselves and their bodies throughout pregnancy and labor. She caps her obstetric panel at five deliveries per month so she personally attends every birth and never rushes a prenatal visit.
Yes. High-risk pregnancy management is a core clinical focus for Dr. Drake. She draws on her residency training at George Washington University, where she trained extensively in complex obstetrical surgery and emergencies. She also collaborates with specialists in anesthesia, interventional radiology, and general surgery when needed.
Dr. Drake takes an individualized approach to perimenopause and menopause care. She evaluates each patient's hormonal health thoroughly and offers hormone replacement therapy as appropriate. She treats related conditions including genitourinary syndrome of menopause and osteoporosis.
Dr. Drake earned her medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine. , followed by fellowship training in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery.
Yes. Dr. Drake offers comprehensive gynecologic cancer screening, including cervical cancer screening, breast cancer screening, ovarian cancer risk assessment, and uterine cancer evaluation. She also offers advanced multi-cancer early detection screening through a simple blood draw.
Doctor profile last updated August 17, 2026