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Home > MA Providers > Otolaryngologists / Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Doctors

Dr. Melinda Thacker, MD

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Specializes in: Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose, and Throat)

Medical College of Wisconsin

Professional interests include: spinal cord injury, tonsilitis, respiratory infection, and more.

100 Martin Luther King Boulevard 4th Floor
Worcester, MA 01608

(508) 757-0330

Dr. Melinda Thacker, MD is an otolaryngologist in Worcester, MA specializing in otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat). She graduated from Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Melinda Thacker, MD is affiliated with UMass Memorial Medical Center, St. Vincent's Hospital, UMass Memorial Health and ASSOCIATES IN OTOLARYNGOLOGY HEAD AND NECK SURGERY, PC.

Office Locations

Address:

100 Martin Luther King Boulevard 4th Floor
Worcester, MA 01608

Unable to locate address.

Address:

100 Mlk Jr. Boulevard
Worcester, MA 01608

Address:

48 Elm Street
Worcester, MA 01609

Some issues Dr. Melinda Thacker, MD can help you with:

Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury medicine is a branch of medicine that treats damage to the spinal cord from an injury or a nontraumatic myelopathy, which is any disorder that affects the spinal area. The spinal cord is a section of nerve tissue protected by the vertebrae (spinal bones). Trauma to the spinal cord, typically caused by compression or bent vertebrae, prevents the body and brain from communicating. This can result in pain, loss of sensation, and impaired physical function and movement. Acute spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are a leading cause of permanent disability. Spinal cord injuries may develop from accidents or myelopathies, disorders that provoke spinal compression. Traumatic incidents such as falls, sports injuries, vehicle accidents, and bullet or stab wounds can cause an acute spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury medicine seeks to stabilize the spine and to alleviate the symptoms of spine damage. Practitioners of spinal cord injury medicine are called spinal cord injury specialists. Spinal cord injury medicine is an interdisciplinary field, meaning physicians of various specialties may be trained to treat spinal cord injuries.

Damage to the spinal cord may initially be diagnosed through X-ray, MRI, or CT scans. Patients can also undergo spinal exams to evaluate their sensory ability and strength. Injuries to the spinal cord can be complete (no feeling or sensation) or incomplete (some feeling or sensation remains). Conditions spinal cord injury medicine specialists may treat include:

Paralysis, such as paraplegia (loss of function in the legs), or quadriplegia (loss of function from the neck down)
Spine fracture or trauma, which can lead to impairment and/or significant pain
Spinal infections
Myelopathies, such as herniated disks, spinal tumors, and rheumatoid arthritis
Inflammatory diseases such as ankylosing spondylosis, and degenerative conditions like Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS)

Treatment for spinal cord injuries often involves surgery, either directly after an injury occurs or at a later date. Surgery for spine injuries is intended to ease spinal compression and stabilize the spine. Surgical procedures can involve shifting vertebrae, removing bone, or altering spinal placement with implantable devices. Patients with significant spinal trauma may require urgent surgical intervention.

Surgical treatments can be complemented by rehabilitative physical therapy to improve mobility. Spinal cord injury specialists also treat complications arising from a spinal injury, such as respiratory or bladder conditions. Some patients with spinal cord injuries may require lifelong treatment. Spinal cord injury specialists aim to help these patients successfully adjust and lead an improved quality of life. An emerging treatment for spinal cord injuries is neural prosthetics, which replicate patients' lost nerve function. Neural prostheses may be used as artificial body parts or assistive devices that patients may cognitively control. Other assistive devices include wheelchairs and scooters.

Spinal cord injury specialists may collaborate with physical therapists, radiologists, neurologists, urologists, and orthopedists.

doctor visit	36
laryngeal (voice box) procedures	20
minimally invasive procedures	14

**Gender**
Male	43
Female	54

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	62
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	39
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	30

Hypertension	74
High Cholesterol	57
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	44
Depression	37
Chronic Kidney Disease	27
Asthma	22
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	15
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	26
Diabetes	39
Dementia	0
Cancer	12

doctor visit	160
laryngeal (voice box) procedures	49
minimally invasive procedures	43
nose surgery	18
submucous resection (SMR)	10

**Gender**
Male	71
Female	100

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	92
Black	68
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	61
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	77

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	61
Stroke	9
Ischemic Heart Disease	44
Depression	32
Chronic Kidney Disease	25
Asthma	26
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	10
Heart Failure	15
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	23
Diabetes	36
Dementia	6
Cancer	13

doctor visit	144
laryngeal (voice box) procedures	42
minimally invasive procedures	36

**Gender**
Male	118
Female	170

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	164
Black	100
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	110
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	106

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	38
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	29
Asthma	27
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	10
Heart Failure	18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	28
Diabetes	36
Dementia	10
Cancer	12

debridement (removal of unhealthy tissue)	43
diagnostic procedures	43
doctor visit	378
ear procedures	76
excision	61
gynecologic procedures	43
laryngeal (voice box) procedures	58
minimally invasive procedures	158
nose surgery	138
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	43
stroboscopy	55
submucous resection (SMR)	18

**Gender**
Male	164
Female	220

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	355
Black	0
Hispanic	15
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	156
From 75 to 84	100
85 and over	51
Less than 65	77

Hypertension	59
High Cholesterol	53
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	32
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	22
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	13
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	13
Diabetes	22
Dementia	7
Cancer	11

debridement (removal of unhealthy tissue)	19
diagnostic procedures	19
doctor visit	591
ear procedures	124
excision	18
gynecologic procedures	19
laryngeal (voice box) procedures	75
minimally invasive procedures	181
nose surgery	126
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	19
stroboscopy	58
submucous resection (SMR)	10

**Gender**
Male	226
Female	298

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	483
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	17
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	218
From 75 to 84	146
85 and over	74
Less than 65	86

Hypertension	62
High Cholesterol	44
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	32
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	15
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	13
Diabetes	22
Dementia	7
Cancer	10

debridement (removal of unhealthy tissue)	18
diagnostic procedures	18
doctor visit	659
ear procedures	132
excision	38
gynecologic procedures	18
laryngeal (voice box) procedures	90
minimally invasive procedures	145
nose surgery	53
nosebleed treatment	21
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	18
stroboscopy	69

**Gender**
Male	237
Female	347

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	535
Black	0
Hispanic	19
Asian	0
Other	18
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	256
From 75 to 84	173
85 and over	66
Less than 65	89

Hypertension	57
High Cholesterol	53
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	28
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	20
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	10
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	19
Dementia	8
Cancer	8

debridement (removal of unhealthy tissue)	33
diagnostic procedures	33
doctor visit	856
ear procedures	158
excision	47
gynecologic procedures	33
laryngeal (voice box) procedures	142
minimally invasive procedures	201
nose surgery	57
nosebleed treatment	22
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	33
stroboscopy	81

**Gender**
Male	312
Female	428

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	671
Black	0
Hispanic	23
Asian	0
Other	28
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	336
From 75 to 84	225
85 and over	81
Less than 65	98

Hypertension	63
High Cholesterol	58
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	30
Depression	23
Chronic Kidney Disease	22
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	22
Dementia	6
Cancer	11

debridement (removal of unhealthy tissue)	15
diagnostic procedures	15
doctor visit	556
ear procedures	81
excision	14
gynecologic procedures	15
laryngeal (voice box) procedures	85
minimally invasive procedures	95
nose surgery	8
nosebleed treatment	15
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	15
stroboscopy	35

**Gender**
Male	237
Female	280

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	467
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	23
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	218
From 75 to 84	179
85 and over	57
Less than 65	63

Hypertension	61
High Cholesterol	54
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	28
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	22
Asthma	14
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	20
Dementia	6
Cancer	10

debridement (removal of unhealthy tissue)	55
diagnostic procedures	55
doctor visit	1078
ear procedures	104
excision	54
gynecologic procedures	55
laryngeal (voice box) procedures	126
minimally invasive procedures	193
nose surgery	65
nosebleed treatment	51
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	55
stroboscopy	31

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Melinda Thacker, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Melinda Thacker, MD treated as an otolaryngologist in Worcester, MA were minimally invasive procedures, ear procedures, laryngeal (voice box) procedures and nose surgery.

debridement (removal of unhealthy tissue)	30
diagnostic procedures	30
doctor visit	497
ear procedures	112
excision	39
gynecologic procedures	30
laryngeal (voice box) procedures	76
minimally invasive procedures	122
nose surgery	71
nosebleed treatment	28
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	30
submucous resection (SMR)	12

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Melinda Thacker, MD.

**Gender**
Female	189
Male	140

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	16
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	282
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	5
Other	8

**Age**
85 and over	32
75 to 84	82
Less than 65	62
65 to 74	139

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Melinda Thacker, MD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Melinda Thacker, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and depression.

Hypertension	51
High Cholesterol	43
Stroke	2
Ischemic Heart Disease	27
Depression	21
Chronic Kidney Disease	19
Asthma	14
Osteoporosis	8
Heart Failure	11
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	13
Diabetes	21
Atrial Fibrillation	8
Dementia	5
Cancer	8

Education & Training

Dr. Melinda Thacker, MD graduated from Medical College of Wisconsin. She completed residency at Baylor University Medical Center. She is certified by the Otolaryngology and has a state license in Massachusetts.

Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin

Residency: Baylor University Medical Center

Board Certification: Otolaryngology

Licensed In: Massachusetts

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Melinda Thacker, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

UMass Memorial Medical Center

St. Vincent's Hospital

UMass Memorial Health

ASSOCIATES IN OTOLARYNGOLOGY HEAD AND NECK SURGERY, PC

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Melinda Thacker, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Intersect ENT, Inc.	$2,186 Propel $561	$1,625
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.	$1,655 Da Vinci Surgical System $1,655
Entellus Medical, Inc.	$468 XprESS Multi-Sinus Dilation System $277	ENTELLUS - XPRESS ENT DILATION SYSTEM $96	XprESS Sinus and Eustachian Tube Dilation Tool $94
Stryker Corporation	$198 ENTELLUS - XPRESS ENT DILATION SYSTEM $101	ENTELLUS - FIAGON SINUS NAVIGATION SYSTEM $92	ENTELLUS - XEROGEL NASALEPISTAXIS PACK $5
Medtronic Xomed, Inc.	$116 Image Guided Surgery Products $69	Powered ENT Instrument $47
Other	$232 RELIEVA Spin Balloon Sinuplasty System $45	SURGICEL Family of Absorbable Hemostats $25	JAKAFI $20	Precision Energy Products for Head & Neck Surgical Applications $19	DUPIXENT $19	Other $104

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$1,905
Compensation for services other than consulting, including serving as faculty or as a speaker at a venue other than a continuing education program	$1,625
Travel and Lodging	$1,325

Biography

Dr. Melinda Thacker is a specialist in otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat). She works in Worcester, MA. Her education and training includes medical school at Medical College of Wisconsin and residency at Baylor University Medical Center. These areas are among Dr. Thacker's clinical interests: tonsilitis, spinal cord injury, and benign tumor. She is conversant in Spanish. Dr. Thacker's hospital/clinic affiliations include St. Vincent's Hospital and UMass Memorial Medical Center.