About
Dr. Melissa Ratliff is a board-certified family medicine physician based in Waxhaw, NC. She earned her BS in Chemistry and Pre-Med from Davidson College before completing her MD at Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2009. Her residency in Family Medicine carried an Integrative Medicine concentration, spanning Carolinas Medical Center (Atrium Health) in Charlotte and the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. She also holds a Certified Physician Executive designation from the American Association of Physician Leadership.
Dr. Ratliff spent nearly two decades caring for patients in the Charlotte area before founding her own practice. She served as Lead Physician at Novant Blakeney Family Physicians for nine years, overseeing a team of nine providers. She later practiced at WellcomeMD, a concierge family medicine group. Between 2021 and 2023, she completed a fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center. Her clinical interests include gut health, mental health, women's health, men's health, LGBTQ+ care, chronic disease, sleep, and weight management. She approaches each patient as a whole person, exploring sleep, mood, nutrition, spirituality, and social connection as part of care. A Charlotte native and Davidson College alumna, she lives with her husband Stephen and has two adult sons, Jacob and Benjamin.
Education & Training
Undergraduate
Davidson College, BS Chemistry and Pre-Med, Davidson, NC, 1989-1993
Medical School
Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, 2005-2009
Residency
Family Medicine with Integrative Medicine Concentration, Carolinas Medical Center (Atrium Health), Charlotte, NC and University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, Tucson, AZ, 2009-2012
Fellowship
Fellowship in Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, Tucson, AZ, 2021-2023
Additional Training
Post-Baccalaureate Coursework: Columbia Theological Seminary (1994-1995), UNC-Charlotte (1995-1996), UNC-Greensboro (1996-1997), Old Dominion University (2003-2005); Certified Physician Executive (CPE), American Association of Physician Leadership (AAPL), 2019-2023
Certifications
Conditions Treated
Who is Dr. Ratliff right for?
Dr. Ratliff suits adults and children (ages 5 and up) who want a primary care physician who investigates root causes. Patients managing chronic conditions like autoimmune disease, metabolic disorders, or gut issues benefit from her integrative approach. She serves patients with mental health needs, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, and PTSD. Adults navigating perimenopause, hormonal imbalances, or weight management find her approach thorough and individualized. LGBTQ+ patients, including those seeking hormone therapy, receive affirming, personalized care. She does not take on new Medicare patients at this time.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Ratliff treats a wide range of acute and chronic conditions. These include anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, insomnia, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, IBS, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, hypothyroidism, perimenopause, hormonal imbalances, hypertension, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, obesity, asthma, COPD, autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic pain. She also manages acne, rosacea, erectile dysfunction, and restless leg syndrome.
Yes. Dr. Ratliff holds board certification in Family Medicine. She also completed a two-year fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, finishing in 2023. Additionally, she earned a Certified Physician Executive designation from the American Association of Physician Leadership.
Dr. Ratliff earned her MD from Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2009. She completed her Family Medicine residency, with an Integrative Medicine concentration, at Carolinas Medical Center (Atrium Health) in Charlotte and at the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center. She then returned to the Andrew Weil Center for a full fellowship in Integrative Medicine from 2021 to 2023.
Dr. Ratliff combines conventional medication management with integrative mind-body tools like breathwork, meditation, and nervous system support. She works to identify root causes of mood symptoms rather than defaulting to a prescription. She treats anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, and insomnia, building individualized plans for each patient.
Yes. Dr. Ratliff provides affirming, personalized care for LGBTQ+ patients. This includes hormone therapy for transgender patients. She also offers HIV prevention through PrEP and PEP, along with confidential STI testing and prevention services.
Dr. Ratliff takes an integrative, root-cause approach to chronic pain. She does not start patients on opioids for chronic pain management. Instead, she develops collaborative plans that may include nutrition, lifestyle adjustments, and other evidence-based integrative strategies.
Yes. Dr. Ratliff sees children ages 5 and older. Children must be up to date on required immunizations to join the practice. She provides pediatric primary care including sick visits, annual wellness exams, and vaccine guidance.
Dr. Ratliff incorporates nutrition, sleep optimization, stress reduction, botanical medicine, breathwork, and meditation alongside conventional treatments. For gut health, she uses tools like GI-MAP and stool analysis to assess microbiome function. She also offers access to a Fullscripts supplement dispensary at a 10% discount.
Yes. Dr. Ratliff offers home visits for established patients. Home visits may incur additional fees beyond the standard monthly membership. Patients can discuss scheduling and any additional costs directly with her.
Dr. Ratliff spent nearly two decades in the Charlotte area before opening Ratliff Integrative Family Medicine. She served as Lead Physician at Novant Blakeney Family Physicians for nine years, leading a team of nine providers. She later joined WellcomeMD, a concierge family medicine practice, before completing her integrative medicine fellowship and launching her own DPC practice.
Doctor profile last updated April 10, 2026