SUMMARY
Melanie T. Gentry, M.D., is an adult and geriatric psychiatrist whose research focuses on improving care for older adults with complex psychiatric and neuropsychiatric conditions. Her work includes studies of mood disorders, dementia, and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. She also looks at treatment approaches in geriatric psychiatry and mood disorders, including neuromodulation treatments such as electroconvulsive therapy. Dr. Gentry evaluates patient-centered outcomes such as agitation, sleep, functional status, quality of life and caregiver burden.
Additionally, Dr. Gentry's research addresses the broader needs of older adults with complex medical conditions and those in palliative care settings. She develops competency-based medical education through virtual patient encounters and remote clinical skills assessments. Telepsychiatry, mobile health, wearable sensors and remote monitoring are complementary tools in this work, used to address access, treatment adherence and care delivery.
Focus areas
- Geriatric psychiatry. Dr. Gentry studies the assessment and treatment of psychiatric and neuropsychiatric conditions in older adults, including dementia and its behavioral and psychological symptoms. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary care across complex clinical settings and outcomes that matter to patients and caregivers, including safety, function and quality of life.
- Mood disorders. Dr. Gentry studies mood disorders, including major depression and bipolar disorder, and the interaction between psychiatric symptoms and chronic medical conditions. Her work includes research on treatment adherence and clinical outcomes among people with coexisting bipolar disorder and cardiovascular disease risk.
- Neuromodulation. Dr. Gentry investigates neuromodulation treatments, including electroconvulsive therapy for severe agitation in Alzheimer's dementia, and evaluates clinical and patient-centered outcomes.
- Innovations in care delivery and medical education. Dr. Gentry develops and evaluates competency-based training, virtual patient encounters and remote clinical skills assessments. She also studies telepsychiatry, mobile health, wearable sensors and remote monitoring as supporting approaches to improve access, implementation and continuity of care.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Gentry's research aims to improve treatment and quality of life for older adults with mood disorders, dementia and other complex psychiatric conditions. By studying neuromodulation treatments such as electroconvulsive therapy and outcomes such as agitation, sleep and day-to-day function, she seeks to help patients, families and care teams make informed treatment decisions.
Dr. Gentry's research helps more people get mental healthcare, even if they live far from clinics or cannot travel. By improving telehealth and mobile tools, Dr. Gentry makes it easier for patients to connect with medical teams and stay on track with treatment.
Dr. Gentry also studies how to train care teams to use telehealth and mobile tools well. This training may help patients receive safer and more consistent care. Her work is especially important for older adults, who often have complex needs and benefit from more flexible and accessible care options.
Professional highlights
- Mayo Clinic:
- Course co-director, Psychiatry Clinical Updates, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, 2021-present.
- Co-chair, Division of Outpatient Consultation, Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, 2020-present.
- Co-course director, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, 2019-present.
- Co-course director, Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences, 2019-present.
- Program director, Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship, 2018-present.
- Future Leaders Fellow, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, 2023-2024.
- Committee member, Content Advisor Panel, Geriatric Psychiatry Milestones 2.0 development project, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, 2021-2023.