Melody Gao '17

Melody Gao

Melody is currently a Senior Analyst in the Corporates group at Fitch Ratings, where she covers the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry. Melody joined Fitch in 2017 after graduating from Wellesley College. She primarily focuses on companies in the pharmaceutical and medical device supply chain, including contract research organizations, distributors, PBMs, and pharmacies. As an analyst at Fitch, she helps provide credit ratings, commentary, and research to better inform the market. Here are two of Melody's publications that are a good snapshot of the type of work she does at Fitch.

 

US Pharma Tobacco-Style MSA Possible, Similar Size Unlikely

https://www.fitchratings.com/research/corporate-finance/us-pharma-tobacco-style-msa-possible-similar-size-unlikely-24-08-2018

 

Merging May Allow Cash-Flow Neutral US PBM Model/Rebate Fix

https://www.fitchratings.com/research/corporate-finance/merging-may-allow-cash-flow-neutral-us-pbm-model-rebate-fix-14-12-2018 

 

Hello! I am a neuroscience major at Wellesley College. I joined Professor Marc Tetel's lab in Spring 2014 of my first year. Since then, I have been studying the interaction between estrogens and the gut microbiome in female mice. Estrogens are known to regulate feeding and affect metabolism. Additionally, it is also known that changes in weight lead to changes in the bacterial compositions in the gut of both mice and humans. Our goal is to understand the mechanisms by which estrogens protect against obesity caused by a high fat diet via changes to the gut microbiome. I am currently working on this project with a fellow student in the Tetel lab, Priyanka Ram.

Previously, I have researched in a plant genomics lab at the University of Kentucky during the summer after my junior year of high school. I worked on a project aiming to clone plant genes that regulate root nodule symbiosis formed between legumes and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. I have also interned at a hematology lab at the Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics during the summer of 2014. I studied the effects of two common cancer treatment methods (ionizing radiation and alkylating agents) on the transformation of myeloid malignancies in mice that lacked the Tet2 gene, a tumor suppressor.  

In the future, I hope to continue researching as well as pursuing a career in medicine.

During my free time, I sometimes like to jump back into the pool and relive my competitive swimming days. I also love playing piano, skywatching, and anything related to dolphins.