Dr. Mo
CEO, TEDx speaker, entrepreneur, street medicine harm reductionist, advocate, educator, researcher, person in recovery
Dr. Mo, (Melissa Dittberner), PhD, CPS, PS, LMT, is an award winning lecturer in the Addiction Counseling and Prevention department at the University of South Dakota. She has a Ph.D. in Counseling and Psychology in Education, a master’s in Addiction Studies and a bachelor’s in Health Sciences. Dr. Mo is a TEDx speaker, prevention specialist and peer specialist. She is the CEO of Straight Up Care, a telehealth platform for peer specialist. Dr. Mo is the Executive Director of Midwest Street Medicine. She is a co-author of, The Alcohol Reset. She does research on college students’ substance use, pedagogy, addiction, trauma, body brokering, tattoos as healing and harm reduction. Dr. Mo is a person in long-term recovery and her mission is to empower individuals to learn and navigate their paths to recovery and well-being.
The Potential Role of Tattoos in Healing and Mental Health
Dr. Mo highlights the importance of cultivating empathy and understanding towards individuals with tattoos, acknowledging that their art represents different chapters of their lives. Each tattoo may hold a unique significance, even if perspectives change over time.