Melissa Orton, NP

Melissa Orton is a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner specializing in neonatology at Intermountain Health's Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. She supports NICU patients and the families in the hospital, and enjoys caring for a wide range of medically complex and unique cases, including extremely premature infants, congenital anomalies, neonatal respiratory failure, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, complex surgical conditions, and infants requiring advanced life support. Each case presents an opportunity for Melissa to advance her clinical knowledge while providing thoughtful, individualized care. Her clinical interests include neonatal resuscitation, care of extremely premature and critically ill infants, and the implementation of evidence-based practices to improve outcomes for high-risk newborns.

Melissa's passion for neonatology began during nursing school, where she discovered a deep appreciation for caring for the most vulnerable patients and supporting families during some of the most challenging moments of their lives. After graduation, she spent eight years as a registered nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, gaining invaluable experience in neonatal critical care. That experience inspired her to pursue an advanced role, leading her to return to school and become a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. For the past five years, she has practiced in a Level III delivery center NICU, providing comprehensive care for premature and critically ill newborns. Melissa is committed to continually challenging herself, broadening her clinical experience, and providing the highest quality, evidence-based care to the most critically ill newborns and their families.

Born in Utah, Melissa moved to Oklahoma at age 15 and returned to Utah after high school, where she has lived ever since. Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and making the most of every moment together. During the summer, you'll often find her relaxing by the pool with a good book or exploring local hiking trails. Much of her free time is spent cheering on her children in hockey, baseball, soccer, and dance—being their biggest fan is one of her favorite roles. Melissa and her family also love to travel and create lasting memories together.