Mason Health welcomes new pediatric provider

A s more families choose to give birth at Mason General Hospital and put down roots in Mason County, the need for quality health care for our youngest patients has only increased.

This spring, Mason Health proudly welcomed Dr. Ezekiel Melquist, MD, to the Mason Clinic Pediatrics team, where he has focused on the primary concerns of childhood — monitoring growth, supporting healthy choices, and treating normal childhood injuries and illnesses.

Over the years of his medical training, Melquist has also encountered patients with experiences outside of the typical childhood upbringing. His deep empathy moved him to seek out special training in autism and LGBTQI health so he could help families navigate these complexities.

“This is not the main focus of my practice, but a special interest,” Melquist noted.

Like any other provider or physician, if a patient requires more advanced care, Mason Health will help that patient find a provider outside of Mason Clinic as appropriate.

Growing up in Tacoma, Melquist began to consider health care as a profession after having positive experiences in childhood and adolescence.

“I remember hanging out in my optometrist’s office and thinking it was impressive,” he said. “In high school, I worked for a catering company that catered health care events. The doctors seemed so nice.”

For several years, Melquist worked as a cook for restaurants and catering companies while he pursued his education. He obtained his associate’s degree in Humanities at Tacoma Community College and a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Evergreen State College in Olympia in the ‘90s. With an aversion to math, Melquist avoided becoming a health care provider for quite some time — instead, he pursued music and ended up with a Masters in Fine Arts degree from Mills College in Oakland, California, in 2003.

While living in the Bay Area, however, he realized he had not quite shaken his desire to become a doctor. He got a math tutor and pursued premedical studies at San Francisco State University.

Melquist moved to London, where he lived with his godfather, taught Media Studies at the University of Greenwich and obtained a medical degree from King’s College London in 2012.

While at King’s College, he considered going into emergency, internal or family medicine. He did not want to pursue pediatrics until he had a clinical rotation at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma.

Melquist returned to the United States and worked as a resident at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, where he served many first and second generation immigrants from the Caribbean.

“One clinic served children born with HIV and had an outreach program to transgender youth,” he said. “These are children with many intersectionalities who felt alienated from our medical system. I really enjoyed working with those kids.”

Melquist’s first job outside of residency was as a general pediatrician at Fairchild Medical Center in Yreka, California, a rural community critical access hospital. He worked there for six years and was voted Best Pediatrician in 2020 by readers of the Siskiyou Daily News.

At this point, he decided to expand his knowledge and pursue a certification in transgender care from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, which produces international guidelines for care. Melquist also has a special interest in autism and has training through the Autism Center of Excellence. He’s excited to join Mason Clinic Pediatrics in the Mason County School Medical Autism Review Team, which helps families get timely evaluations and diagnoses for autism.

“Autism can be difficult diagnosis to make, and it can be hard for families to get what they need,” he said. “I’ve seen the challenges that parents face in raising a child with autism, and I want to help that journey be a bit easier. I tell my families with these children that have experiences outside of the norm: ‘What a gift you have.’”

Melquist learned about Mason Health after Dr. Amie Mower, DO, spoke about Mason Health’s Provider Wellness program at a Thurston-Mason Medical Society presentation.

“I thought, ‘What a wonderful program Provider Wellness sounds like.’ I’m very excited to be here.”

Melquist’s passions outside of medicine include hiking, cars, guns, and cooking — he has a 12-year-old sourdough starter that has been with him since his time in London. He also enjoys spending time at home with his partner and her children.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Melquist, call Mason Clinic Pediatrics at 360-426-2653.