About Solstice Health & Wellness
Compassionate, Evidence-Based Addiction Medicine in Sarasota, FL
At Solstice Health & Wellness, we understand that addiction and mental health conditions are among the most complex and misunderstood challenges a person can face. They affect every part of life, including relationships, work, physical health, and the simple ability to feel well.
Our outpatient practice in Sarasota, Florida, brings addiction medicine, mental health, and primary care together in one setting, because we know these conditions rarely travel alone. We also know that the barriers keeping people from seeking help, including shame, stigma, fear, and uncertainty, are real. Removing those barriers is part of what we do.
Every care plan at Solstice is built around the individual, grounded in evidence-based medicine, and designed to support not just early recovery, but a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life.
Partnerships for Health & Wellbeing
Healing happens through trust, consistency, and meaningful collaboration. At Solstice Health & Wellness, care is built on strong partnerships and a shared commitment to lasting health.
Our Mission
To provide high-quality, person-centered care through trusted partnerships that support lasting health and overall well-being.
Our Vision
To redefine addiction recovery through integrative, whole-person care that restores health, dignity, and purpose. We envision a future free from stigma, where people can access compassionate treatment and recovery is strengthened within supportive communities.
Our Commitment
To advance understanding of substance use and mental health disorders by emphasizing their medical nature, expanding awareness through education and outreach, and fostering a culture of compassion and recovery.
Our Story
Built on a Foundation of Whole-Person Care
Solstice Health & Wellness opened in February 2019 in Sarasota, Florida, with a simple but meaningful purpose: to provide outpatient addiction treatment that truly meets people where they are. The practice was founded by Dr. Frank Melo, a board-certified physician in Addiction Medicine and Family Medicine with more than 20 years of healthcare experience.
From the beginning, Solstice was designed around the medical home model, delivering comprehensive, coordinated, and evidence-based care in a way that is accessible and personal.
When you come to Solstice, you are not defined by a diagnosis. You are cared for as a whole person. We consider your medical needs, emotional well-being, and life circumstances together so we can support recovery in every area that matters.
We serve adults with opioid use disorder, alcohol use disorder, and other addictive conditions across Sarasota and the surrounding communities, including Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Siesta Key, Venice, North Port, Englewood, and Palmetto.
Core Services
Our services provide comprehensive support at every stage of recovery. Care includes biopsychosocial assessments, outpatient withdrawal management, medication management for substance use and mental health conditions, primary care, lifestyle support, harm reduction services, counseling, and recovery coaching.
Patients may access care through in-person visits or secure telehealth across Florida. Each service reduces barriers, strengthens long-term recovery, and improves quality of life. Access to care should feel supportive and straightforward, not overwhelming.
Learn more about our core services:
Coordinated Support
Recovery often requires support beyond clinical care. Our team helps patients navigate challenges related to housing stability, employment, transportation, family involvement, and connection to community resources. By supporting these essential areas, we help create a stronger foundation for lasting progress.
Access and Continuity
Care at Solstice emphasizes access, continuity, and partnership. We offer flexible scheduling, same-day appointments when possible, telehealth throughout Florida, shared decision-making, and consistent follow-up. The goal is to build a relationship grounded in trust, responsiveness, and long-term support.
Goals of Care
Treatment focuses on meaningful, measurable progress, including:
- Reducing or stopping substance use
- Stabilizing mental health symptoms
- Improving physical health
- Strengthening relationships and social functioning
- Building resilience
- Identifying relapse risk early
- Sustaining engagement in recovery
At Solstice Health & Wellness, you are treated with dignity, clinical excellence, and steady support every step of the way.
Meet the Care Team
Experienced, compassionate care grounded in evidence and built around you.
Frank Melo, MD
Founder and Medical Director
Board Certified Addiction Medicine & Family Medicine
Dr. Melo works closely with patients to guide recovery in a steady, supportive way that fits real life.
View Bio
Dr. Frank Melo founded Solstice Health & Wellness out of a deeply held belief that people struggling with addiction deserve compassionate, evidence-based care without judgment, without barriers, and without compromise.
With over 20 years of healthcare experience and more than a decade dedicated to addiction medicine, he brings both the clinical expertise and the personal commitment that recovery demands.
Dr. Melo began his career serving in the United States Armed Forces as a Medical Specialist and Emergency Medical Technician. He earned his undergraduate degree in Health Education from the University of Florida, completed medical school in Costa Rica, and finished his Family Medicine and Community Health residency at the University of Minnesota Medical Center.
Throughout his career, Dr. Melo has served in leadership roles across outpatient, residential, and opioid treatment programs, including as Medical Director for federally licensed opioid treatment programs and multilevel behavioral health organizations.
He has conducted clinical research, mentored residents and fellows in addiction medicine, and developed specialized expertise in opioid, sedative, and alcohol withdrawal management as well as long-term medication treatment for opioid use disorder, alcohol use disorder, and other substance-related conditions.
His approach centers on the whole person, addressing the medical, psychological, social, and behavioral factors that shape health and recovery. For Dr. Melo, the goal is always the same: to help patients achieve sustainable health and a better quality of life.
Jessica Melo
Practice Manager
Jessica helps create an environment where patients feel supported and cared for from the start.
View Bio
With more than 20 years of healthcare experience across clinical care, research, and operations, Jessica Melo brings a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to deliver exceptional patient care.
Her roles have included Medical Assistant, Clinical Research Coordinator, Clinical Research Associate, and Medical Device Reporting Specialist.
Her expertise in the quality, safety, and efficacy of medications and medical devices reflects a career-long commitment to excellence.
At Solstice Health & Wellness, Jessica ensures that every patient’s experience is smooth, coordinated, and supported from the first phone call through every follow-up visit.
Known for her warm smile, attentive presence, and genuine care for every person she encounters, Jessica is often the first friendly face patients and families meet and one of the most important reasons people feel at home at Solstice.