Melissa Peeler, DNP

I was inspired to go into medicine because of my grandfather's unfulfilled dream. He was a pre-med major in college and planned to be a physician but didn't have the means to go to medical school. I'm not just living my dream; I'm living his, too. \n In addition to staying on top of the latest advances in my field - through my membership in the American College of Cardiology - I pride myself on communicating about complex medical conditions in an easy-to-understand way. I love educating my patients - and they tell me they appreciate that I communicate in a way that's easy to understand. \n My blended family includes my wife (who works part-time at Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute), my adult son and a stepdaughter and stepson.

Every patient I see, regardless of their medical needs, can expect one important thing: I will work to treat them exactly as I would want one of my own family members to be treated. I want them to think of me as not just their doctor, but as their friend. When you need a doctor to take care of your heart health, you deserve one you can trust to understand not just your health, but your life. By learning about and understanding those two things, I can offer you the best treatment to achieve your goals and get you back to the activities and people you love. \n Throughout my career, I have stayed active in both local and national groups dedicated to cardiology care, including the American Heart Association, the North Carolina Chapter of the American College of Cardiology and the New Hanover-Pender County Medical Society. These groups help me stay up to date on the very latest advances in cardiology care and offer opportunities for collaboration that benefit my patients. \n My wife, Robin, and I have two sons, and we are so proud to now be grandparents. When we are not spending time with our family, we enjoy staying active. For exercise, I like to cycle and golf. I also enjoy watching sports, especially Carolina basketball.

The complexity of the human body, particularly the heart, has always fascinated me. As a cardiologist, I have the privilege of diagnosing and treating a wide range of heart conditions. This allows me to directly improve a patient's quality of life, or even save a patient's life at a critical moment. Cardiology is a rapidly evolving field that offers continuous opportunities for innovation. That combination of constantly learning and making such profound impacts on the lives of my patients makes cardiology the perfect field for me. \n Providing personalized, compassionate, evidenced-based care is at the center of everything I do. My patient-centered approach involves active listening and clear communication; I hear your concerns and questions, and then present your treatment options along with all the information you need to make decisions about your care. I believe that trust and open dialogue are keys to any doctor-patient relationship, and I believe that when we work together the result is superior care for you. \n One of my passions within the field of cardiology is cardiac imaging. Technologies such as cardiac computer tomography (CT), echocardiography and nuclear cardiology allow me to provide comprehensive and precise diagnoses for patients with heart conditions. I have earned special board certifications in these specific imaging areas, allowing me to provide my patients a higher level of expertise, and ensuring patients receive the most accurate and tailored care possible. \n I was born in Greenville, North Carolina, and knew I wanted to return to the coast of North Carolina after finishing my education. I am so happy to have made the Wilmington area home. I spend most of my free time with my wife or outdoors, exploring nature through hiking, skiing, running and cycling. Sometimes my exploration takes me to the sky; I am passionate about aviation and proud to have a pilot's license, allowing me to appreciate the world from a unique perspective.