Dr. Richard Melde, MD, is a first-generation medical doctor born and raised in Southwest Minnesota. He moved to Scottsdale, Arizona in 1959 and graduated from Scottsdale High School. Dr. Melde then pursued his pre-med studies at Occidental College in Los Angeles.
After completing his undergraduate studies, Dr. Melde returned to Arizona, where he earned his medical degree in 1971 from the University of Arizona School of Medicine. He was part of one of the first classes to graduate from the school, which had only 32 students.
Following his medical degree, Dr. Melde completed his internship and residency at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. He then began practicing emergency medicine and served as the Medical Director of the emergency department at Desert Samaritan Hospital for nearly 25 years.
Dr. Melde's passion for medicine led him to pursue further education, and he obtained an MBA degree from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. He also attended the American College of Homeopathy in Phoenix, where he received a second license in the state of Arizona for homeopathic and integrated medicine, MD(H).
Dr. Melde then began practicing family medicine in Wickenberg, Arizona, before joining Palo Verde Family Care as a family practice physician.
Dr. Melde believes in the importance of good lifestyle habits, including diet and exercise, and meaningful relationships and connections to achieve personal health and wellness. His favorite part of practicing medicine is developing trusting relationships with his patients and getting to know them on a personal level.
