Richard Melia

About Richard Melia

RICHARD P. MELIA, Ph.D.(DICK MELIA) An independent health and disability research and public/non-profit management and strategic planning consultant, Dick has worked on disability and rehabilitation research, training, and policy for over 40 years. He completed his Federal career as Director, Division of Research Sciences, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. Dick is originally from Boston, MA, and earned his BA in political science from Northeastern University and his MA and Ph.D. degrees from UMass Amherst with an emphasis in public administration and public health. Dick authored or co-authored numerous studies, reports, and peer reviewed articles on interdisciplinary, inter-agency, international, and intergovernmental activities addressing rehabilitation, independent living, and disability policy. Dick is a Board Member Emeritus of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association. He served the Queen of Peace Arlington Federal Credit Union as a Board Member and Chair of the Supervisory Committee. He has served as a reviewer for the FDA and the NIH. He has advocated for the Genetic Alliance, Chronic Fatigue/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Heart and Stroke Research, and the AHA\'s Virginia Advocacy Committee. He has consulted on Disability in Prison Issues for CURE and served on the Board of the Hearing Loss Association of America, On going activities include planning, research, procurement, advocacy and awareness efforts for health organizations, social justice groups, and credit unions. He helps his wife, Eileen, with her Affirmation Quilt Ministry. His specialties include disability and independent living programs, programs for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals, legal protections for persons with disabilities, disability management at the workplace, transition from school to work, supported employment. Research skills include: performance and outcome measures, planning, human subjects’ protections, program reviews, and knowledge translation programs.

Experience

1. Member, Virginia Government Relations Advisory Committee

   American Heart Association

   Jul 2009 — Present

   Members include representatives from local boards, community members, elected officials, caregivers, survivors, community organizers and other interested individuals committed to the advancement of the AHA public policy agenda.

Education

• Northeastern University

  BA

  1961 — 1966

• Newton South High School

  Diploma

  1960 — 1961

• University of Massachusetts Amherst

  MA (1968) Ph.D. (1974)

  1966 — 1974