Our Coaches/Owners

What is your coach doing to stay abreast of the latest information/training methodology?

Our coaches strive to achieve and maintain the highest level of expertise in traditional and cutting edge coaching methodologies, through reading, podcasts, and attending/hosting coaching seminars and symposiums. Additionally, we continue to compete nationally and internationally on the Masters Weightlifting circuit, where we have the opportunity to meet and interact with a number of the best coaches, as well as top weightlifting officials, in the world.
Melissa Doherty, MD, CSCS, USAW National Coach

Melissa Doherty, MD, CSCS, USAW National Coach

Co-Owner and Head Coach

Melissa is a retired Emergency Department Physician, life-long athlete, and gym rat.  Her experience spans a number of athletic endeavors.  She earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do at age 17, competing in numerous local and regional competitions,  was on a West Coast Demo Team, and taught Tae Kwon Do and women’s self-defense classes in the Portland area.  She began weight training during that time, and continued throughout her career as a professional firefighter and paramedic, prior to going to Medical School at OHSU.  At age 33, she entered Medical School and found that there was less time for weight training, so she took up running.  She ran countless 5 and 10K events and half marathons.  She also ran 10 full marathons, including qualifying for and running the Boston Marathon in 2007 and 2011.  In 2011, she discovered CrossFit, and, shortly thereafter, Olympic Weightlifting.
Melissa is a USAW National Level Coach and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.  She has obtained her coaching knowledge and experience through numerous courses and seminars, self-study of the classical training manuals, through ongoing NSCA educational events and podcasts, and through countless hours of programming and coaching the athletes at Eastside Barbell. Some of her formal educational background includes the following:

Melissa obtained her weightlifting education through the following courses and seminars, over the last 6-7 years:

  • The Outlaw Barbell Weightlifting Seminar, taught by now well-known coach and athlete,
    Spencer Arnold (and a subsequent seminar led by Rudy Nielson)
  • Outlaw Barbell Camp taught by Coach Dave Fleming and son/weightlifter Jared Fleming
  • The Clinical Athlete Coaching Course by Quinn Henoch, DPT
  • The Art of Coaching Weightlifting Course, by Ursula Garza, President of USAW and
    Vice President of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), hosted at Eastside Barbell
  • Cues and Corrections Course by Coach Danny Camargo
  • USA Weightlifting Level 1 and 2 courses
  • The USAW National Coaching Symposium, August 2019
  • Spencer Arnold’s Elite Programming Class (2020)
  • 2022 NSCA Coaches Conference

Melissa’s accomplishments as a competitive weightlifter include the following:

  • Masters Nationals Champion 2017
  • Masters Pan Ams Champion 2018
  • Masters World Champion 2018
  • Silver medals at Nationals 2018, Pan Ams 2019
  • Bronze medals at Nationals 2019, Worlds 2019
  • -2020 National Masters Champion
  • 2021 National Masters Champion
  • 2021 Masters Pan Ams Champion
  • 2021 Masters Worlds Silver Medalist
Lauren Hatmaker, USAW Level 2 Coach

Lauren Hatmaker, USAW Level 2 Coach

Co-Owner and Weightlifting Coach

Lauren is a business owner and life-long athlete.  She played soccer, softball, and competed in track and field events (hurdles, shot put, long jump).  Lauren started training the snatch and clean & jerk in 2011.  She is a USAW Advanced Sports Performance (Level 2) Coach and has been competing since 2014.  Lauren is our other senior coach at Eastside Barbell. Lauren has served in the local weightlifting community, from 2019-to-2021, as the Vice President of the Oregon Local Weightlifting Community. Lauren is currently serving as the President of the Pacific Northwest Weightlifting State Organization, encompassing Oregon, Washington, and Alaska.

Lauren obtained her weightlifting education through the following courses and seminars, starting in 2013:

  • The Outlaw Barbell Weightlifting Seminar, taught by now well-known coach and athlete,
    Spencer Arnold (and a subsequent seminar led by Rudy Nielson)
  • Outlaw Barbell Camp taught by Coach Dave Fleming and son/weightlifter Jared Fleming
  • The Clinical Athlete Coaching Course by Quinn Henoch, DPT
  • The Art of Coaching Weightlifting Course, by Ursula Garza, President of USAW and
    Vice President of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), hosted at Eastside Barbell
  • Cues and Corrections Course by Coach Danny Camargo
  • USA Weightlifting Level 1 and 2 courses, Jasha Faye and Michael Conroy
  • The USAW National Coaching Symposium, August 2019

Lauren’s accomplishments as a competitive weightlifter include the following:

  • Masters World Champion 2021
  • Masters Pan-American Champion 2021
  • Masters Pan-American Champion 2019
  • Masters Pan-American Champion 2018
  • Masters National Champion 2018
  • Silver medal at Nationals 2017
  • Bronze medal at Masters Worlds 2019
  • Bronze medals at Masters Nationals 2015 & 2019
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I absolutely love Eastside Barbell! The coaches are amazing and their individualized coaching and attention to detail has helped me improve immensely. The team environment is so great and everyone is so supportive of each other. I can’t recommend this gym enough!
Derek D.

Call Us if you want to be part of it: 541-583-0219