Melissa W. Wachterman, MD

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Melissa Wachterman is an Adjunct Assistant Professor with the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine in General Internal Medicine. She is also an Assistant Professor of Medicine with Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System and Harvard affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Dr. Wacherman received her MD and MPH from Tufts University School of Medicine and her MS from Harvard School of Public Health.

Dr. Wachterman conducts health services research focused on improving the quality of care for seriously-ill older adults with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). As a 2014 NPCRC Career Development Award grantee, she examined trajectories of patient-centered outcomes (cognitive and functional status and pain) for older adults on dialysis and explore decision-making about dialysis initiation from the perspectives of older adults with ESRD, their family caregivers, and their providers. The ultimate goal is to improve communication and patient-centered decision-making about dialysis initiation for this seriously-ill patient population. She also has a strong interest in end-of-life care.

Publications

  • Published 7/3/2026

    Kutney-Lee A, Griffin-Nelson H, Smith D, Giannitrapani K, Carpenter JG, Sullivan DR, Levy C, McKenzie J, Pendergast J, Wachterman MW. Opportunities for Improving End-of-Life Care for Veterans Receiving Hospice in Community Nursing Homes. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2026 Aug; 27(8):106329. PMID: 42398286.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 12/29/2025

    Wachterman MW, O'Hare A, Chan J, Wang V, Jiang L, Bohnert A, Lorenz K, Friedman H, Gurewich D, Hebert P. Pain Management Among Veterans on Hemodialysis Before and After Implementation of the Veteran Health Administration's Opioid Safety Initiative. J Palliat Med. 2026 Mar; 29(3):341-350. PMID: 41472640.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 11/5/2025

    Schell B, Moye J, Wachterman M. The Relationship of Mental Health to Physical Activity and Function in Older Adults. Clin Gerontol. 2026; 49(1):1-4. PMID: 41190659.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 6/4/2025

    Ma J, Wormwood JB, Wachterman MW, Linsky AM. Factors Associated With Clinician Confidence in Communication During Goals of Care Discussions. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2026 Jul; 43(7):751-760. PMID: 40462689.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 4/4/2025

    Wachterman MW, Lipsitz SR, Beilstein-Wedel E, Gellad WF, Lorenz KA, Keating NL. Temporal Trends in Opioid-Related Care and Pain Among Veterans at the End of Life. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2025 Jul; 70(1):56-66.e3. PMID: 40187382.

    Read at: PubMed

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Websites

Education

  • Tufts University School of Medicine, MD
  • Harvard School of Public Health, MSc
  • Tufts University School of Medicine, MPH
  • Haverford College, BA

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