LinkedIn: [Melissa Cheng](http://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-cheng-0453a6100)
Professional Role and Current Positions
Melissa Cheng serves as the Clinical Medical Director at Comagine Health, a national nonprofit healthcare consulting firm focused on improving health systems, particularly in occupational and addiction medicine. She has held this role since at least September 2021. In addition to her role at Comagine Health, she is the Medical Director for the University of Utah Occupational Medicine Clinic, overseeing three clinics located in the Wasatch Front region of Utah.
Dr. Cheng also functions as the Program Director of the Utah SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) Training Program, a universal screening initiative for substance use disorders in healthcare settings, which she founded and currently directs.
Areas of Specialty and Certification
- Specialties:
- Addiction Medicine
- Occupational & Environmental Health
- Occupational Medicine
- Board Certification:
- American Board of Preventive Medicine, Addiction Medicine
Her dual-board certification underscores her expertise in both addiction medicine and occupational health, positioning her as a leading authority in integrated health approaches within workplaces and clinical environments.
Education and Academic Affiliations
- MD: University of Utah School of Medicine (Graduated 2008)
- Master of Health Science (International Health, emphasis on complex humanitarian emergencies): Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2003)
- Master of Occupational Health: University of Utah (2010)
Dr. Cheng completed residency training in 2011 before joining the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (RMCOEH), where she remains an active faculty member. Her academic activities include educating residents, graduate students, and health professionals on occupational medicine and addiction-related topics.
Research Interests and Contributions
Dr. Cheng’s research is focused on evaluating the effectiveness of opioid use management within the workers’ compensation system. She has delivered multiple presentations at both local and national levels on the subject of "opioids in the workplace." Her work contributes to advancing best practices in managing opioid use in occupational settings to improve patient and workplace outcomes.
She is involved in program development aimed at improving access to substance use disorder care, exemplified by involvement with Comagine Health’s initiatives like the Safe Opioid Stewardship in Nursing Homes program.
Clinical Practice and Consultations
Dr. Cheng maintains an active spectrum occupational medicine practice and serves as a consultant for various major organizations, including BioFire, Union Pacific Railroad, and U.S. Customs Border Patrol. Her consultations focus on occupational safety and health matters, reflecting her application of clinical expertise to improve workplace health systems.
Professional Reputation and Patient Feedback
Dr. Cheng holds a patient rating of 4.6 out of 5, based on 34 reviews at the University of Utah Health system. Patient comments frequently highlight her professionalism, thoroughness, and compassionate care, noting her ability to explain medical information clearly and follow up proactively on test results. Instances of outstanding patient satisfaction underscore her effectiveness as both a clinician and medical director.
Languages
Fluency in English, Min Nan Chinese, and Mandarin Chinese supports her communication abilities with a diverse patient and professional population.
Organizational Leadership and Outreach
Within Comagine Health, Melissa Cheng is recognized as a key clinical leader driving initiatives related to occupational health and addiction medicine. Her leadership extends to promoting recovery-oriented workplace environments, as demonstrated by her contributions to published materials such as the article titled "Embracing Recovery: Building a Recovery Friendly Workplace" (dated September 15, 2025) and other organizational communications.
She is also noted for her alignment with the company mission of "reimagining health care, together," indicating engagement in transformative healthcare consulting efforts at a systems level.
Summary
Melissa Cheng’s profile reflects a seasoned physician with dual expertise in addiction and occupational medicine, holding leadership roles at Comagine Health and the University of Utah. Her combined clinical, research, and educational experience, together with her involvement in large-scale programs such as Utah’s SBIRT training, place her at the nexus of occupational health innovation and substance use disorder intervention. Her demonstrated patient-centered approach and active collaborations with major organizations strengthen her influence in shaping workplace health strategies.
