Showing Up, Leaning In, and Leading with Heart

Melissa Calica, a fourth-year MD student at Tufts University School of Medicine, has been named a recipient of the 2025 Tufts Presidential Award for Civic Life—one of the university’s highest honors for student service. The award recognizes her extraordinary commitment to community engagement, health equity, and collaborative leadership throughout her medical education.

“In my 14 years working in Tufts’ medical school’s civic engagement programs, I can say with certainty that Melissa has set a record in terms of breadth and volume of community engagement activities,” said Jennifer Greer-Morrissey, Program Manager of Civic Life for Health Sciences. “If there was such a thing as getting ‘CSL Bingo,’ Melissa’s card would be full.”

Calica’s extensive involvement includes leadership roles in multiple Community Service Learning programs, such as White Coats for Black Lives, IDEAS in Medicine, and the Asian Task Force for Domestic Violence. She also volunteered with programs across Greater Boston and beyond—supporting students in Chinatown, incarcerated individuals, children at wellness events, and people experiencing homelessness. Greer-Morrissey noted that Calica “did at least quadruple the amount of service expected” by the program.

As a Tisch Summer Fellow, Calica spent the summer at Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, where she worked to update and translate patient resource lists, identify process improvements, and support mobile outreach efforts. She also served as the reflection facilitator for the Tufts fellows, leading discussions that helped her peers connect their projects to broader public health goals. “Melissa served as the reflection facilitator for all the TUSM Fellows,” said Greer-Morrissey. “She helped students connect with and learn from each other about their public health projects.”

In addition to her service commitments, Calica held several student leadership roles, including Student Council Treasurer and, this year, Student Council President. “Melissa has been a dedicated leader throughout medical school,” said Dr. Amy Kuhlik, Dean for Student Affairs. “She is gifted at working collegially and always listens to the opinions of others while being unafraid to voice her own ideas and concerns when the situation calls for her leadership.” 

Kuhlik added that when Calica stepped in as Student Council President, she “met the challenge with her characteristic grace and humility” and helped forge conversations during “a challenging time for many MD students.” Kuhlik concluded, “Melissa is not one to toot her own horn, but she has been one of the most empathic, collaborative, and effective student leaders we have had at the medical school—so I’d like to toot it for her!”

Now pursuing a career in Family Medicine with plans to specialize in Addiction Medicine, Calica’s future is rooted in the same principles that have guided her time at Tufts. Reflecting on her time at Tufts, Calica said,” I came to Tufts because of the amazing opportunities to study health justice, and the skills I have gained at Tufts will continue to serve me well in residency and beyond. Every course and patient encounter led me to primary care, where I can be a civically-minded physician for others.”

“Our society needs more civic leaders like Melissa—those whose quieter styles of leadership compel them to engage with curiosity, humility, and helpfulness,” said Greer-Morrissey. “She exemplifies the values of the Presidential Award for Civic Life, and we are thrilled to celebrate her.”