STEPHEN W. BLIEVERNICHT, M.D., F.A.C.S

Dr. Blievernicht was born in Indianapolis and reared in Atlanta. He received his undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Emory University and graduated with honors from Emory University School of Medicine where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, the national honor society for medicine. He completed his General Surgery internship and residency at the Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University where he was also a research fellow and was selected to be the American Cancer Society Surgical Fellow.

He is Board Certified in General Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (Retired). He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, Heidelberg, Germany, where he was Chief of Surgery at Heidelberg Hospital. Following military service, he returned to the Medical College of Virginia where he was appointed Assistant Professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology.

For 17 years, Dr. Blievernicht practiced as a pioneering physician in Greensboro, North Carolina. His holistic approach to General Surgery included facilitating patient empowerment through education and communication, the integration of nutrition, guided imagery, music, and honoring the mind-body-spirit connection in the care of his patients. He pioneered several surgical procedures during his years in Greensboro and was the founder of the Moses H. Cone Tumor Board and the Cancer Committee which he chaired for 14 years. He served on the first Medical Advisory Board for Hospice at Greensboro and other community medical boards. He and his wife co-facilitated a weekly support group for persons with cancer. He has a strong interest in the field of Psychoneuroimmunology (the connection of the mind, emotions, and body) and has over 400 hours of education in Behavioral Medicine including clinical training with Dr. Herbert Benson at Harvard University. He also founded and is president of The North Carolina Center for the Healing Arts, a non-profit organization dedicated to the integration of individuals from a large spectrum of the healing professions in order to cross-educate and blend different perspectives in the field of healing. Upon moving to Asheville in 1997, he was on the staff of Great Smokies Medical Center for two years where his practice included Pain Care (Prolotherapy and Neural Therapy), Metabolic, Preventive, Anti-Aging and Environmental Medicine. He has been a keynoter for many of the Area Health Education Center's programs for health professionals including being invited by the residents to give their commencement address at Greensboro AHEC's Family Practice graduation.

In 1999, Dr. Blievernicht opened his own practice, The Phoenix Medical Center in Asheville, with a focus on an integrative medical approach to Pain Care.
His comprehensive methods include Prolotherapy (also known as Regenerative Therapy, Sclerotherapy or Reconstructive Ligament and Joint Therapy).

In his practice he also utilizes Neural Therapy, Trigger Point Injections, Myofascial Release and Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy, K-Laser Therapy,Medical Acupuncture, and metabolic and nutritional support.

He incorporates his insights and understanding of the importance of honoring the mind-body connection along with the emotional and spiritual components of caring for individuals with pain. He has had extensive Prolotherapy training with Dr. William Faber of Milwaukee (author of Pain, Pain, Go Away), Dr. Thomas Ravin of Denver, Colorado, (author of Principles of Prolotherapy), Dr. Mark Cantieri of Mishawaka, Indiana, Dr. Ross Hauser, Oak Park, Illinois, (author of Prolo Your Pain Away), and many other leaders in this dynamic field through educational programs of the American Academy of Osteopathic Medicine and the American College of Sclerotherapeutic Pain Management. He has trained with Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt in the field of Neural Therapy and has completed training in Medical Acupuncture from the UCLA School of Medicine. He attends numerous continuing education courses annually to keep abreast of advances in Pain Care therapies. In addition to his education in the field of Pain Care, Dr. Blievernicht is able to closely empathize with patients who have suffered from a variety of chronic and acute pain syndromes and the impact on daily living activities. Having experienced Prolotherapy treatments to many areas of his body has enabled him to continue to lead a vibrant professional and personal life.

Dr. Blievernicht is a current or former member of the following professional organizations:

American College of Surgeons

American Association for Orthopaedic Medicine

American Academy of Osteopathy

American Association for Musculoskeletal Medicine

American Association of Medical Acupuncture

American College for Advancement in Medicine

International Congress of Integrative Medicine

American Preventive Medicine Association

American Holistic Medical Association

National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine

North Carolina Medical Society

Buncombe County Medical Society

Dr. Blievernicht welcomes the opportunity to present information to clubs, academic institutions, service groups, and other organizations on Prolotherapy and other innovative approaches to Pain Care.

Dr. Blievernicht and his wife, Suzanne,  have been married for 42 years and are blessed with 2 adult daughters and a son-in-law.  They both volunteer at the Asheville Buncombe County Christian Ministry Clinic.  Their recreational pursuits include horseback riding, golf, SCUBA, holistic studies, gardening and camping as well as caring for their small farm.  They are owned by 2 Golden Retrievers, Spirit and Wookie.

Suzanne is a native of Atlanta and received a B.S. in Nursing degree from Vanderbilt University and a Master in Nursing degree from Emory University.  While in graduate school, she was elected to Sigma Theta Tau National Honor Society for Nurses and is a practitioner of Healing Touch.  Her nursing career has included being a Clinical Nurse Specialist in the field of Critical Care as well as a nurse educator in the Schools of Nursing at the Medical College of Virginia and DeKalb Community College (Georgia).  She was a Hospice nurse for 5 1/2 years in Greensboro, NC, prior to moving to Asheville in 1998.  Suzanne was also active in many community organizations in Greensboro and served as Co-Chair of the Growth Committee of Forecast 2015, an appointed committee of citizens to help plan the first 15 years of the new millenium for Guilford County, NC.  She enjoys living on the small farm she shares with "the boss" as well as the care and training of their dogs to become therapy dogs, camping, fly-fishing and creative writing.  She considers the opportunity of participating in the lives of the people who seek assistance at the Center one of her greatest privileges.  After 42 years of nursing, she still loves the profession. 

Spirit joined our family and staff on July 3, 2001, at age 8 weeks.  Even at that tender age, it was obvious that he would become an integral part of the care of the clients at The Phoenix Medical Center. He is a graduate of the Canine Good Citizen School and has been trained as a Delta Society Pet Partner. Spirit is an active listener and consummate snuggler.  Always available to lend a sympathetic ear to the tales of woe of both clients and staff, he is  also a proven healer.  The medical and sociological literature lends substantial credence to the role of animals as therapists and their success in animal-assisted therapies in health and wellness.  Spirit is truly a "natural" at decreasing stress and increasing smiles.   He is currently mentoring his newly adopted "little brother," Wookie, a year old rescued Golden Retriever, in the art of becoming a therapy dog.  Consultations with Spirit (or Wookie) do not require an appointment.  Their fees are quite reasonable and they will accept hugs, belly rubs, and Milkbones in exchange for their services.