A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Melanie Smith resides in Shreveport, Louisiana. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1998. Since then, she has worked in clinical research and patient care. In 2005, she received her Master of Science degree in Molecular and Cellular Physiology from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport (LSUHSC-S) and in 2009 received her Bachelor of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies from LSUHSC-S. She is currently employed as a Physician Assistant and Sub-Investigator at River Cities Interventional Pain Specialists and River Cities Clinical Research Center.