Epiphany’s Nurse Practitioner Melissa Belbahri To Retire After 25 Years of Service!
From left: Sister Betty Marie Dunkel, DC, Melissa Belbahri, NP, and Dr. Clem Donahue, MD
“After a quarter of a century, our long-time, esteemed Nurse Practitioner, Melissa Belbahri, will be retiring from Epiphany Center this coming March.
Since 1999, we have been blessed to have had her on our staff and are so grateful for her unwavering compassion and dedication to the agency and our clients. Her passion, expertise, and guidance have been inspiring and played an immeasurable role in Epiphany Center’s success.
Melissa joined Epiphany when she was looking for a weekend job during her Bachelor’s studies. Ever since, she has worked tirelessly in our Pediatric Clinic alongside Dr. Clem Donahue, MD providing primary care to children in our residential program and Parent-Child Center as well as children of former clients - many of whom they have treated from infancy into adulthood.
“Stable families create stable communities, and that’s what we all want. I love these families, I really do.”
“Working at Epiphany has provided me with the unique opportunity and privilege to serve our families over a number of years and help them grow and thrive as a family unit,” Melissa reflects. “Stable families create stable communities, and that’s what we all want. I love these families, I really do.”
Melissa’s patience and Dr. Clem’s sense of humor go hand in hand to create a humble partnership that has stood the test of time. Together, she and Dr. Clem have conducted over 5,000 clinician visits to date and have worked to keep our more than 60 children healthy each year. Melissa also handles health assessments for recovery clients and teaches weekly health education classes for women in our program.
“If we can make a difference for just one mom and her child, then that difference carries over into the next generation.”
“I always have hope for the mothers that come through our doors. It’s my belief that these moms love their kids and want to do a good job, but just need a little help and compassion to do it,” Melissa shared. “If we can make a difference for just one mom and her child, then that difference carries over into the next generation.”
Melissa is from northern California, though her family has East Coast roots. She is also fiercely proud of her Irish heritage. Over the years, Melissa and Dr. Clem have cooked an Irish feast of corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes for staff and recovery clients, with a mini-Irish history lesson.
Melissa, we THANK YOU for your unwavering commitment to excellence, your lasting contributions, and for being an invaluable part of the Epiphany team. We will miss you!
Interested in a Career at Epiphany Center?
We’re recruiting dedicated staff to join our team!