Melissa Stein, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Melissa Stein, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, is a Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in cardiology at Health First Medical Group in Melbourne, Florida. With a strong foundation in critical care nursing and advanced practice medicine, she provides care across several cardiology clinics, including congestive heart failure, cardio-oncology, lipid management, general cardiology, and a specialized clinic for patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Stein is board-certified through both the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and she brings a patient-centered approach to managing complex cardiovascular and autonomic conditions. Stein began her nursing career after completing an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Texas Woman’s University in 2012. She then spent more than a decade working in intensive care at Yale New Haven Health in Connecticut, where she cared for critically ill surgical, trauma, and cardiothoracic patients in ICU and post-anesthesia care settings. Those years at the bedside shaped her perspective on healthcare and reinforced the importance of prevention and early intervention. Motivated by that experience, she pursued her Master of Science in Nursing at Sacred Heart University, graduating as a Family Nurse Practitioner in 2023 and earning the Outstanding Capstone Award for her work on diabetes management and telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now practicing in cardiology, Stein has found a particular passion for treating autonomic dysfunction, especially POTS. Working alongside Dr. Polanco at Health First Medical Group, she has helped develop one of the only clinics in Brevard County dedicated to treating the condition, now caring for approximately 200 POTS patients in addition to thousands of cardiology patients. Many of these individuals—often young adults whose symptoms emerged after COVID—had previously struggled to receive validation for their condition. Fluent in both Spanish and English, Stein is committed to inclusive and compassionate care, proudly supporting diverse patient populations. She is also an active member of professional organizations including the American College of Cardiology and the National Lipid Association, and she hopes to contribute to the education of future healthcare providers through adjunct teaching opportunities.
• FNP-BC
• FNP-C
• ACLS
• BLS
• Outstanding Capstone Award
• Sacred Heart University
• 2023
• Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society
• Sigma Theta Tau International
• AANP
• ANCC
• National Lipid Association
• American College of Cardiology
Areas of Specialization/Expertise
- Cardiology
- Autonomic Dysfunction (POTS)
- 12 years in ICU (surgical
- trauma
- and cardiothoracic)
What do you enjoy most about practicing medicine?
I find great fulfillment and consider it a true privilege to care for cardiac patients, as well as individuals living with autonomic dysfunction, including Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). Many of our POTS patients are quite young—often in their 20s—and developed symptoms following COVID-19 or other viral illnesses. These are individuals who were previously healthy and active, with a high quality of life, who suddenly find themselves struggling with debilitating symptoms, sometimes requiring assistive devices such as walkers and experiencing significant heart rate and blood pressure instability.
For many of these patients, receiving a diagnosis and validation of their symptoms is incredibly meaningful. Unfortunately, some were previously told by other healthcare providers that their symptoms were related to anxiety or were “all in their head.” Being able to listen to these patients, acknowledge their experiences, and provide evidence-based treatment has been deeply rewarding.
Through a combination of medication management and lifestyle interventions, we are often able to significantly improve our patients’ symptoms and overall quality of life. Over time, patients from across Florida have sought care in our clinic through word of mouth, having heard that Dr. Polanco and I have developed a dedicated autonomic dysfunction program focused on the evaluation and management of these complex conditions.
My goal is for every patient to feel heard, validated, and supported. Many patients with complex cardiac or autonomic conditions have spent years searching for answers. I strive to create an environment where patients feel comfortable sharing their concerns, confident that their symptoms are taken seriously, and hopeful that together we can develop a plan to improve their health and quality of life.