Bristol Faculty
Mary Axelrad, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Mary Axelrad is a board certified family medicine physician. She earned her M.D.
from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York. Dr. Axelrad completed
her family medicine residency at ETSU Health Family Medicine Bristol. She is a member
of the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Medical Association, American
Medical Women's Association and Tennessee Academy of Family Physicians.
Greg Clarity, M.D.
Professor & Program Director
Dr. Clarity is a native of New York State. He received an M.S. in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M and worked for six years as an engineer before entering medical school. He received his M.D. from ETSU's Quillen College of Medicine and completed his residency at the Bristol Family Practice Program in 1995. Before having five children, Greg and his wife Cathy enjoyed living on a small farm with their chickens, ducks and dairy goats. Greg enjoys spending time with the children and may someday resume sailing at area lakes.
John Culp, M.D., FAAFP
Professor
Dr. Culp is originally from Alabama and is now an adopted Tennessean. He graduated from University High in Johnson City and received his B.S. from ETSU. Dr. Culp returned to Alabama to earn his M.D. from the University of Alabama in 1980. In 1983, he completed his family practice residency in Anniston, Alabama. Dr. Culp worked in private practice in Anniston until joining the Bristol Family Medicine program in 1986. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and holds a Certificate of Added Qualifications in geriatrics.
His wife Jane is a biology teacher who is busy at home taking care of their family, and actively involved in church work and various community organizations. After hours, you may find him involved in church work, community activities and family life. He also enjoys antique gas engines, hunting, shooting and playing the guitar.
Brandi Dahl, Pharm.D., BCPS
Assistant Professor & Associate Medical Director, Family Medicine and Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy
Dr. Dahl is an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy. She also holds an appointment as clinical faculty with ETSU Family Medicine Bristol. Dr. Dahl received her pharmacy degree and completed a 24-month combined PGY1/PGY2 pharmacotherapy specialty residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy (TTUHSC SOP) in Amarillo, Texas. She is involved in the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, TTUHSC SOP Alumni Association and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Her current practice interests include diabetes, cardiovascular disease and transitions of care.
Christopher Garner, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Garner moved to the area in 2011 to attend medical school at ETSU's Quillen College of Medicine. Once he decided on family medicine, he wanted to stay in the area for residency to remain close to family. Dr. Garner always saaid that being a resident was the best job he ever had, which led to him to stay on as faculty. He and his wife Joyce have two children, Luke and Leia. He enjoys weightlifting, running, hiking and reading. He is also a huge Star Wars fan. He was born the year Episode 4 was released. See his kids' names!
Andrea Hopkins, M.D.
Assistant Professor & Medical Director
Dr. Hopkins is originally from Richmond, Virginia. She was raised in Texas, but has
deep roots in Southwest Virginia, where her extended family has lived for generations.
She came to Bristol to take a job in journalism and has been here ever since. She
earned her undergraduate and medical degrees from East Tennessee State University
and was fortunate to complete residency in her adopted hometown of Bristol. She is
currently the medical director for ETSU Health in Bristol. She maintains a full-spectrum
family medicine practice that includes non-surgical obstetrics and considers it a
joy to bring new life into the world.
She and her husband Mike have three children, Kathryn, Patrick and Spencer. Her stepson, Michael, and his wife, Franchesca, have two daughters, Maia and Madison. Dr. Hopkins enjoys running, kayaking, yoga, camping, reading, and raising chickens and ducks in her back yard. She is also trying to visit all 50 states and has already visited 31 of them.
Kelsey Lloyd, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Lloyd is an East Tennessee native who is passionate about her Appalachian roots.
For her undergraduate degree, she attended Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, where
she majored in religion and played soccer. She returned to East Tennessee to attend
the ETSU Quillen College of Medicine for her medical degree. At Quillen, she participated
in the rural primary care track, which cultivated her interest in providing care in
small communities. Ultimately, Dr. Lloyd wanted to practice in rural East Tennessee
with an emphasis on obstetrics and women's health. She considers herself a sports
enthusiast, both playing and watching. In her free time, she enjoys cheering on the
Tennessee Volunteers and the United States National Soccer Team, winning as many intramural
championships as possible and enjoying the mountains with all they have to offer.
Alexander Melkonian, Ph.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Melkonian was raised in Virginia, and graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in psychology. He completed his Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Arkansas and completed his predoctoral clinical internship at the Medical University of South Carolina - Ralph H. Johnson Veteran's Affairs Medical Center in Charleston. Dr. Melkonian then completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Charleston VAMC's Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center focused on concurrent substance use and posttraumatic stress disorder treatment and research.
As an integrated primary care psychologist at Bristol Family Medicine, he loves working with patients to support their behavioral health goals, and helping residents learn more about behavioral interventions in primary care. As a member of Quillen’s Institute for Integrated Behavioral Health, Dr. Melkonian appreciates the opportunity to contribute to the mission of growing integrated behavioral health services across ETSU Health by providing interprofessional clinical care and training.
After living in the low country of South Carolina, he is thrilled to be back in the Appalachian Mountains along with his wife and dog. Dr. Melkonian enjoys hiking, exploring local trails, biking and cooking.
Ralph Mills, M.D., FAAFP
Assistant Professor - Sports Medicine
Dr. Ralph Mills is a native of Madisonville, Tennessee. He graduated from Hiwassee College in 1978 and received his B.S. from King University in 1980. Dr. Mills earned his medical degree from East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine in 1984. He is board-certified in sports medicine and family medicine.
Dr. Mills is a clinical assistant professor at East Tennessee State University, where he is heavily involved with BucSports and works as a team physician for the university. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and a member of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. Dr. Mills also works with various high schools throughout the region providing sports medicine coverage.
Jason Moore, M.D.
Professor, Director of Medical Student Education & Clerkship, Chair
Dr. Moore is a lifelong Ohioan. He graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he received his B.A. in Zoology in 1995. Dr. Moore received his M.D. from Ohio State University College of Medicine, and later moved his family to Bristol to enter the Bristol Family Medicine Residency Program. In his second year as a resident, he was selected to serve as the chief resident. During his third year, Dr. Moore received the Bristol program's Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Resident Teacher of the Year Award. In 2002, he completed his residency in June and joined the faculty at Bristol in August because "Bristol is a 'good place to live' and the family medicine center is a great place to work."
Elizabeth White, D.O.
Assistant Professor, Associate Program Director and Director of Osteopathic Education
Dr. White is a native of the Appalachian region and grew up in Richlands, Virginia. She attended Virginia Tech for her undergraduate degree and attended medical school at West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg, West Virginia. She completed her residency training in family medicine with ETSU in Bristol, Tennessee. Dr. White practices full spectrum family medicine, which includes non-surgical obstetrics. She enjoys being able to provide care for all ages from newborn patients to geriatric patients.
She and her husband Derek enjoy spending time with their three dogs and spending time outdoors. She enjoys hiking, fishing, running 5Ks with her parents, DIY projects and baking.