Conversations with the Inspiring Melody Rodarte

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melody Rodarte.

Melody, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
The road to getting here is quite enlightening. My background is in medicine, specifically internal medicine and obesity medicine as well as aesthetics. My husband’s background is in law enforcement, specifically in homicide and child abductions as well as cold cases. My dream has been to do medical mission trips and we never knew how our worlds might collide. Our vision started after a mission trip to Haiti together where we figured out that we could do this together, especially as having a logistics person allowed me to do focus on the medical side.  We also created a few other initiatives that have become our passion as well.  They stemmed from seeing that many first responders needed therapies and were not seeking them for the risk of losing their job or being transferred.  We lose more first responders to suicide then in the line of duty deaths.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Overall, we’ve had multiple hurdles or obstacles. I’m first generation Lebanese born here in the States. My parents didn’t go to college and I wanted to become a physician. So, I figured out the road and was blessed with mentors along the way. In practice, I also had hurdles as I love incorporating Eastern and Western medicine together, still doing evidence-based medicine. And now, I’m learning how to form a non-profit with huge initiatives and vision! I also have a small business that I’ve run outside my employed practice. Whenever someone has told me that I can’t do it, I figure it out! My first memory of this is in junior high. My type of writing instructor told me I would become an excellent executive secretary. I happened to be the fastest typist in the school. I told him that I wanted to be a physician, and he kept telling me “no, sweetie, you will be an excellent executive secretary!” As a pre-med student, my counselor told me that I was lower on the totem pole because I didn’t come from a family of doctors. My residency program was allopathic and I was an osteopath. Lots of little hurdles like these have only made me stronger.

What should we know about Compassion Alliance? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The Compassion Alliance is a non profit 501(c)3 organization with three distinct initiatives.  We have a big vision and one of our mottos is “you are not alone”.  The first initiative is PTSD for first responders. We want to provide services outside their agency to provide treatment when they may not feel that they can do this without regret with their own agency.  Too many agencies still believe in “suck it up” mindset and unfortunately, that mentality is defeating and traumatizing.  The second initiative is unidentified human remains.  There are over 41,000 cases in the US. We believe everyone has come into this world with a name and purpose and we want to preserve that. The last initiative is service opportunities, especially sustainable medical mission trips.  We want to engage in peacekeeping and service locally and globally.  I am bilingual (Arabic is my second language) and blessed to already have had experiences serving other locally and now globally.  Putting together teams to make a difference is our goal.

It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
I love John Maxwell. I’m trying to become a leader that brings their team along and encourages them to grow as well. Currently, I’ve been listening to The Broken Brain podcast. Functional medicine has intrigued me. I’m very involved with my church and have been so since childhood. This is where service projects started for me and learning to go into the world to serve.

Contact Info:

• Website: Compassion-alliance.org
• Phone: 6028579667
• Email: melody@compassion-alliance.org

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