Meet Our Staff

Ken W. Smith, M.D.

Dr. Smith received his medical degree from Emory University in Atlanta and completed his residency at Emory in 1989. At that time, he joined Drs. James Nichols and Antonio Valdes-Rodriguez at Kingsport Neurological Associates. He is Board Certified in Neurological Surgery and is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Special interests include frameless stereotactic surgery, cerebrovascular disease, head injury, and treatment of chronic pain disorders. Dr. Smith is a native of Birmingham, Alabama.

Rebekah Austin, M.D.

Dr. Austin received her medical degree from Wake Forest University/Bowman Gray School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She is Board eligible in Neurological Surgery and is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Special interests include degenerative spinal disease, spinal trauma, spinal fusions, tumors of the brain and spinal cord, and carpal tunnel release.

Monty L. Vess, S.A.C.

Monty L. Vess attended East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree (Cum Laude) in Biology with a minor in Sociology in 1974. He then went on to the University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree – Surgeon Assistant Program in 1977. Mr. Vess has served our community as a senior clinical research associate and then as a surgeon assistant in general, thoracic, vascular and sports medicine, before joining Blue Ridge Neuroscience Center as a Physician Assistant in January, 1990.

D. Scott Steffey, M.S.N., F.N.P.

D. Scott Steffey attended East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in May, 1996, and then went on to receive a Master of Science in Nursing degree in December, 1999. Mr. Steffey has taken great pride in serving our community by working as a patient care technician in the Intensive Care Unit and then as a clinical nurse in the Neuro Intensive Care Unit at a local hospital. He has also provided quality care in Big Stone Gap, VA, as a family nurse practitioner in general surgery. Mr. Steffey plays an important role in serving our community as a family nurse practitioner at Blue Ridge Neuroscience Center since January, 2001.

Melanie S. Martino, MSN, FNP

Melanie Martino earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and graduated Magna Cum Laude from East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, in 1997. She then received a Master of Science in Nursing from East Tennessee State University in 2003 and is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She is certified as an Advance Practice Nurse in the state of Tennessee. She is involved in several professional organizations and has participated in local health screenings and wellness fairs in order to promote the wellbeing of individuals and the community. As a registered nurse, she was employed at a local hospital and provided direct bedside care to patients in the critical care units. As a nurse practitioner she has experience managing the care of patients with diverse and complex medical issues. Mrs. Martino joined Blue Ridge Neuroscience Center’s physician extender staff as a family nurse practitioner in February 2006.

Melissa D. Venoy, F.N.P.

Melissa Venoy attended East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in May, 1992, and then went on to receive a Master of Science in Nursing degree in December, 1997. Mrs. Venoy participated in a number of clinical practices while studying for her Master’s degree, such as family practice, internal medicine, OB/GYN, gleaning a very diverse knowledge of medicine. Before becoming a family nurse practitioner, Mrs. Venoy worked for five years as a registered nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at a local hospital managing the nursing care of high-acuity patients with complicated medical and surgical problems. Mrs. Venoy serves as a family nurse practitioner for our community at Blue Ridge Neuroscience Center since February, 1998.

Carla R. Cheek, F.N.P.

Carla Hensley attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 1993 and then received a Master of Science in Nursing degree in December 2002. Following graduation from the University of Tennessee, she worked as a medical/surgical nurse at a local hospital gaining experience as a Registered Nurse. Ms. Hensley then transferred to the Intensive Care Unit, where she worked nine years accruing experience in all aspects of high-acuity patient care. She is a Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse offering extensive knowledge in neurological/neurosurgical care. Ms. Hensley plays an important role in serving our community as a family nurse practitioner at Blue Ridge Neuroscience Center since 2003.

Emile G. Schmidt, Jr., P.T.

Emile Schmidt attended Louisiana State University Medical Center School of Allied Health, New Orleans, LA where he received his Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy degree in 1990. He served as Clinical Director of two outpatient physical therapy clinics as well as independent contractor for home health services in the Greater New Orleans area. Mr. Schmidt’s specialties include orthopedic and neurologic rehabilitation with a background in functional capacity evaluations utilizing the Blankenship System, and most recently the Iserhagan System. His focus is on core-strengthening and stabilization by way of Swiss Ball and Pilates exercises. Mr. Schmidt relocated to Kingsport with his family in September 2005 and joined Blue Ridge Neuroscience Center in January 2006.