THOMASVILLE- Brookwood School is proud to announce that Dr. Melissa Lyle ‘05 will serve as the 2025 Commencement speaker. A trailblazer in the field of medicine, Lyle is an Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologist at Mayo Clinic Florida, where she also serves as the Director of Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathies and an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.

Lyle’s academic journey began at Brookwood, where she attended from kindergarten through twelfth grade.

“It is an honor to return 20 years later to the school that ignited my passion for science and helped provide me with the tools to become the physician and person I am today,” she said.

During her time at Brookwood, Lyle earned the distinction of being named the 2005 Valedictorian.

Following graduation, she attended Wake Forest University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree before obtaining her Doctor of Medicine from Mercer University School of Medicine. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency and General Cardiology Fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Mn., and went on to pursue an Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Fellowship at Emory University. She is quadruple board certified in Internal Medicine, Echocardiography, General Cardiology, and Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology.

Beyond her clinical work, she remains actively involved in education and community health initiatives. She is Core Faculty for both Internal Medicine and Cardiology training programs, Chair of the Education Committee for the Florida Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, and serves as Project Champion for the American Heart Association’s national amyloidosis education initiative. Additionally, she leads Mayo Clinic’s Continuing Medical Education Conference on Heart Failure Management as Course Director.

Lyle looks forward to celebrating this year’s graduates, sharing a message that reflects both her journey and her passion for lifelong learning.

“There are different paths to success and different definitions of success,” she said. “I plan to encourage graduates to focus on their own journey and pursue what brings them happiness and fulfills their purpose.”

Brookwood School is honored to welcome Lyle home for this special occasion.