Melanie Harrison, MSPAS, PA-C

"Originally from Knoxville Tennessee, I have a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry and Biology from Lincoln Memorial University. I married my husband Josh, a local Pharmacist, in 2000 and we were blessed with twins in 2011. After attending South University in Savannah Georgia, where I received my Master’s of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, we moved to the Tri-cities. With over eleven years of practice in multiple areas including urgent and emergency medicine, surgical oncology, outpatient surgical procedures, and primary care, I have a good understanding for how difficult it is to navigate the challenges of an ever-changing medical landscape. In a world that has become so specialized and oftentimes focused only on one aspect of healthcare, it is important to me as a provider to know my patients and their specific needs taking their overall health into consideration. I am passionate about bringing healthcare back to a personal level and caring for patients without the constraints of insurance guidelines. With my knowledge and determination to find the root issue of those symptoms with which I am presented, I can help balance hormones, treat vitamin deficiencies and help you maintain your overall health goals."

"It’s an old idea that is being made new again. Some people can still remember when they had a personal physician. They weren’t just another number among thousands of patients. The relationship with their physician was personal. When they were sick, they were able to see their physician, not just who ever might be available that day. The doctor made house calls and would take care of their needs the very same day. This is the idea of Black Bag Family Healthcare. We seek to restore that once important relationship between doctor and patient. We aim to reintroduce customer service to healthcare. When you need him, your doctor will be available to you, day or night. You won’t have to worry about whether you can be seen that day by someone you’ve never met because we are always available. In many ways, it’s like having a close friend who is a doctor. Someone that you can trust that is just a phone call, text message, or email away even if it is after hours. At Black Bag Family Healthcare we realize that your time is just as important as ours. This is why we are willing to care for you in a location that is convenient. We can see you at your home, your office, or anywhere else that is convenient for you. There is no need to waste half of your day stuck in the doctor’s office especially to get ten minutes of the doctor’s time. You don’t have to worry about yourself or your children being exposed to the latest “bug” while you flip through last year’s issues of Time Magazine waiting to be seen. Being able to serve patients is about taking the time to hear their concerns. You don’t need to be frustrated because your doctor was only willing to deal with one of your issues during the ten minutes that you saw him. We will take as little or as much time as you need to make sure that your concerns are properly addressed. In many cases, just a phone call or web based visit may be all that you need. However, if something more needs to be done, we are always glad to see you in person day or night."