What's So Special About the First 1000 Days of Life?
Jun 01, 2021
Mary Meland, MD, and Ada Alden, Ph.D.
What's So Special About the First 1000 Days of Life?

Dr. Mary Meland is a graduate of Carleton College and the U of Minnesota School of Medicine. She is retired after practicing pediatrics for 40 years, first at HealthPartners in Bloomington and finally at South Lake Pediatrics in Maple Grove. In addition to general pediatrics, Dr. Meland has a special interest in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and in early childhood education. She has been active in urging the MN Legislature to consider the needs of our youngest citizens. Dr. Meland and her husband have three children and five grandchildren, all of whom live in Minneapolis.

Ada Alden holds an M.A. and Ed.D. from the University of Minnesota. She worked for 25 years as the Director of Family Educational Services for the Eden Prairie Schools and has served as an adjunct professor and department chair in Child and Family Studies at St. Cloud State University. Ada taught classes at the University of Minnesota and presently is a University of Minnesota Supervisor assisting graduate students seeking to complete the parent educator licensure. Ada has worked in the early childhood field for over 40 years and has trained early childhood professionals and parents throughout the midwest. She started four early childhood/family education programs in Minnesota, addressing the needs, concerns, and challenges of families with young children.