Steven C Blasdell, MD Orthopedic Surgery

Dr. Steven Blasdell is a fellow of the American College of Surgeon, as well as a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Blasdell is an expert in knee, hip, and shoulder reconstruction, and has a special interest in geriatric orthopaedics. He treats many older athletes, and has built a reputation for successful rotator cuff repair and upper femur bone replacement and reconstruction in cases of severe bone loss after hip-replacement surgery. 

Dr. Blasdell is a graduate of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and completed two years of general surgical training at the Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, MD, followed by three years of orthopaedic training at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY. 

M. Andrew Caines, MD Orthopedic Surgery

Dr. Michael Andrew Caines specializes in Foot and Ankle Surgery and General Orthopaedics. He graduated from the Case Western Reserve University Medical School in Cleveland, Ohio in 1992. He trained in Orthopaedic Surgery at St. Luke’s Medical Center, also in Cleveland, with a Fellowship in Foot and Ankle Reconstructive Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Caines achieved Board Certification in July 2000. He has professional memberships in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society.

Dr. Caines resides in the Northern Suffolk area with his wife and two sons and enjoys photography.

Wayne T Johnson, MD Orthopedic Surgery

Dr. Wayne T. Johnson specializes in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Arthroscopic Surgery, Total Joint Replacement and General Orthopaedics. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical College of Virginia in 1977. He served in the United States Navy and completed his internship and residency at San Diego Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. Dr. Johnson also completed a Fellowship in Pediatric Orthopaedics at the Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas, Texas. Some of his memberships and affiliations include the American Medical Association, Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery and Arthroscopy Association of North America.

Dr. Johnson resides in the Western Branch area of Chesapeake since 1983 with his wife.  He has two sons and a daughter.  He enjoys spending time on his farm in Zuni as well as woodturning.  

Richard D Knauft, MD Orthopedic Surgery

Dr. Richard Knauft received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine, in Loma Linda, California in 1967. He served in the United States Army from 1966-1976 Medical Corp rank as Lieutenant Colonel. He completed his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at Brook Army Medical Center in 1974.  He received his board certification in 1977 from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. In 1980, he received a Hand Surgery Fellowship from the National Hospital for Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation in Alexandria, Virginia.

Dr. Knauft has active memberships with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, American Association of Hand Surgery and Portsmouth Academy of Medicine. Dr. Knauft specializes in Hand and Wrist Reconstruction Surgery and General Orthopaedics.

When not at work, Dr. Knauft enjoys dirt bike racing with his two sons. 

Ernesto Luciano-Perez, MD Orthopedic Surgery

Dr. Ernesto Luciano-Perez specializes in Sports Medicine, Arthroscopic Surgery and General Orthopaedics. He obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree from Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisana in 1986. He received his board certification in 1993 from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr. Luciano-Perez's affiliations and memberships include Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, Arthroscopy Association of North America, American Medical Association, Virginia Orthopaedic Society and Southern Orthopaedic Association.

Dr. Luciano enjoys golfing and physical fitness.

Aaron L Marlow, MD, FRCS Orthopedic Surgery

Dr. Aaron L. Marlow specializes in Total Joint Replacements and Adult Reconstruction and Revision Surgery. He graduated from McMaster University School of Medicine in Hamilton, Ontario in 1994. He trained in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada. He completed a Fellowship in Total Joint Replacement at the University of Western Ontario in 2000, specializing in Hip and Knee Replacement and Revision Surgery.

Dr. Marlow has an active membership with the American Medical Association and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. Dr. Marlow also holds a U.S. patent as an inventor of a hip replacement system and has performed approximately 2200 joint replacements. He plays guitar in a rock band.

Jeffrey B Persons, MD Orthopedic Surgery

Dr. Persons received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Albany Medical College of Union University in 1981. He completed his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery in 1986 at the University of Pittsburgh.  He received his board certification from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He joined Orthopaedic Surgery Centers in 1986.

Dr. Persons specializes in Sports Medicine, Arthroscopic Surgery, Total Joint Replacement and General Orthopaedics. He has active memberships with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical Society of Virginia, Tri-County Medical Society and the Virginia Orthopaedic Society.

He resides in the city of Suffolk with his wife, daughter and two sons where he enjoys participating in local charity golf tournaments.

Jon C. Brillhart, MPAS, PA-C 

Jon Brillhart is a certified physician assistant with Virginia Orthopaedic & Spine Specialists. He holds a Masters degree in Orthopaedics from Medical College of Nebraska and specializes in assisting with total joint replacements, revision surgeries, and general orthopaedics. During all total joint replacements and joint revision surgeries, Brillhart performs as first assistant to Dr. Steve Blasdell. Brillhart is board certified by the National Committee on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

Prior to beginning his career with Bon Secours, Brillhart most recently served as Staff Squadron Medical Officer in the Virginia Army National Guard in Portsmouth, VA. He was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2007 to 2008. An avid outdoorsman, his interests include community service, motor boating and sailing, mountain biking, salt-water fishing and fresh water fly-fishing.

Jason R Miller, MPAS, PA-C, ATC 

Jason R. "J.R." Miller, is a certified physician assistant who specializes in assisting with total joint replacements, revision surgeries and general orthopaedics, and is an accredited athletic trainer.

Miller received his degree as a physician assistant from King's College in Wilkes-Barre, PA. He has active memberships with the American Academy of Physician Assistants in Orthopaedic Surgery and the National Athletic Trainers' Association. He performs as first assistant to Dr. Aaron Marlow during all total joint replacements and joint revision surgeries.

Sarah M Milosek, PA-S 

Sarah Milosek, PA-C, a physician assistant, has a master’s degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Va., and earned a bachelor’s degree from Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio. Ms. Milosek is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

Ms. Milosek played Division I softball while attending Cleveland State University. She currently plays competitive beach volleyball during her spare time.

Mark B Kerner, MD Orthopedic Surgery

Dr. Mark Kerner specializes in minimally invasive surgery, the treatment of painful cervical disks, and the care of patients with failed back surgery. Dr. Kerner graduated from Brown University in Rhode Island with a degree in history. He later attended Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and completed his orthopaedic surgery training there, serving as Chief Resident his final year. He completed a post-graduate fellowship in Spine Surgery at the San Francisco Spine Institute. In addition to his surgical training, Dr. Kerner places significant emphasis on non-operative treatments of back pain.

Reeta M Arora, MD Physiatry and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Dr. Reeta Arora specializes in a comprehensive non-operative approach to spinal disorders utilizing lifestyle modification, physical therapy, medications, and pain management procedures. Dr. Arora graduated from the American University in Paris with a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature and worked as a translator in Paris, France before starting medical school at the Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. After earning her medical degree in 1997, she completed her internship at the Albert Einstein Medical Center. She completed residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia, serving as Chief Resident her final year.

Theresa G Jackson, MD Family Medicine and Physical Medicine

Dr. Teresa Jackson specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation, and non-surgical spine treatment at The Spine Center. She earned her medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia. She served a residency in family medicine at the Medical College of Virginia in Newport News. She completed an internship in internal medicine, as well as a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation, at the Eastern Virginia Graduate School of Medicine in Norfolk. In addition, Dr. Jackson trained in pre-med studies at Old Dominion University. She has a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Virginia.

Board-certified in family practice, physical medicine and rehabilitation, Dr. Jackson is a member of the American Academy of Family Practice, the American Stroke Association, the American Pain Society and the Medical Society of Virginia. She is also resident member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Nickolas L Pezzella III, MD Physiatry and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Dr. Nickolas Pezzella specializes in non-surgical treatments, including physical therapy, injection treatments, and medical management programs. Dr. Pezzella attended Virginia Commonwealth University, graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in 1992. He remained in Richmond, studying at the Medical College of Virginia, where he earned his Doctor of Medicine and completed his residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Pezzella served four years as Medical Director for the Maryview Medical Center Acute Rehabilitation Unit. In 2004, he decided to dedicate his full-time efforts to caring for back pain patients.

Lora C Blount, FNP 

Lora C. Blount, FNP, is a certified family nurse practitioner at The Spine Center of Hampton Roads. Ms. Blount earned her master’s degree in family nurse practitioner studies at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va., in 2004, after receiving her bachelor’s degree in nursing from VCU in 1998. She earned her diploma in registered nursing from Louise Obici School of Nursing in Suffolk, Va., in 1996.

Ms. Blount’s professional background includes experience in clinical, hospital and private practice setting. Among her experience, she has provided professional care in intensive care, post-anesthesia care and telemetry units.

Ms. Blount is board certified as a family nurse practitioner by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and is a member of the American College of Nurse Practitioners.

Nellie S Chamblee, RN, MSN, FNP 

Nellie Chamblee, RN, MSN, FNP, is a certified family nurse practitioner at The Spine Center of Hampton Roads. Ms. Chamblee holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C. She earned her master’s degree in nursing, as well as her Nurse Practitioner Certificate, from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, in Birmingham, Ala. She also has a background in the field of neurology.

Ms. Chamblee is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.