Max Bayard, M.D.
Professor & Program Director - Johnson City
Dr. Bayard received his B.S. from the University of Memphis and his medical degree from ETSU's Quillen College of Medicine. After medical school, he stayed at ETSU to complete his residency training in the Bristol Family Medicine Program. He worked for 16 years in non-academic medicine, seven of which were spent as the owner of a medical practice, and nine of which he worked as a physician in federally qualified health centers in small communities with a shortage of physicians. He returned to Johnson City from Vermont, where he practiced clinical medicine for the last 11 years.
Dr. Bayard and his wife Deanna enjoy spending time with their six children and eight grandchildren who are spread across the country in Texas, Tennessee, Indiana, and Vermont. They are active in their church, and he is a regular teacher at Sunday School classes for adults. He also enjoys playing bridge in mildly competitive forums. Dr. Bayard is inspired by octogenarians and beyond who don't dwell on what they are not able to do, but rather start from today and live their life fully, all the while being a source of joy to those around them.
Christopher Bridges, M.D.
Assistant Professor & Clerkship Director
Dr. Bridges was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina. He's an alum of Clemson University and completed his medical education at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Bridges completed his residency in the Johnson City Family Medicine Residency Program. Upon graduation, he decided to stay on as faculty.
In medicine, he found a passion in point of care ultrasound, skin procedures and preventative
medicine. Dr. Bridges loves to work with medical students and residents in both the
clinic and hospital settings. Outside of work, he enjoys playing disc golf and ball
golf, spending time with his family, partner, and his dog Sweet Pea. The only thing
that comes close to his love of medicine is his love of live music.
Gregory Crabill, M.D.
Associate Professor
For Dr. Crabill, becoming a doctor was a calling. While working toward a different
degree in college, he heard a missionary nurse give a talk. After, he felt like becoming
a doctor was something that he was supposed to do.
Dr. Crabill served 20 years in the United States Navy. Some of the interesting places
that he practiced medicine with the Navy include Asia, a mud castle in Afghanistan,
and aboard a moving ship at sea. Dr. Crabill believes his years of experience as a
physician and a teacher of physicians helped him to be a better doctor and to provide
great care for his patients.
Dr. Crabill grew up in South Bend, Indiana. He has lived on the east and west coasts of the United States, and in the desert of southern California. In recent years, the mountains of Appalachia seemed to be calling to him. When he visited the area, he fell in love with it and with the people here.
Fereshteh Gerayli, M.D., FAAFP
Professor - Johnson City Family Medicine Residency
Dr. Gerayli received her M.D. from Mashhad University in Iran. She practiced in an underserved area, where she provided general medical care, as well as women's health and non-surgical obstetrics. While living in Germany, Dr. Gerayli was trained in acupuncture and worked there for a few years before moving to the United States in 1996.
Upon graduating from the East Kentucky Family Medicine Residency Program, she stayed
on as faculty and relocated to Johnson City in 2005. Dr. Gerayli loves every aspect
of medicine, with women's health and skin conditions being of special interest to
her. Outside of medicine, her favorite pastime is spending time with family, especially
with her two adorable grandchildren who live in Maryland. She also enjoys traveling,
hiking, and exploring the beautiful nature of Northeast Tennessee.
Jim Holt, M.D., FAAFP
Professor & Associate Program Director
Dr. Holt was born in Michigan and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He is the fifth of six children in his family. He graduated with honors from Princeton University, where he received an A.B. in biochemistry and a teaching license in math and science.
In 1982, Dr. Holt graduated from medical school at the University of Maryland and
served his residency at the Medical University of South Carolina. He practices at
a rural health clinic in Warrenton, North Carolina, from 1985 to 1988. He then served
at a private practice in Lancaster, South Carolina, from 1988 to 2001. Since joining
the Johnson City Family Practice Residency Program in August 2001, he's served as
the medical director and chaired the Curriculum Committee since March 2003. He and
his wife Judy have five children.
Brian Ingalls, M.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. Ingalls was born in Durham, North Carolina. When his father was a surgery resident at Duke, his family traveled to Oklahoma City, and then on to settle in the east-central Illinois town of Paris. His eventual medical career took him to Chattanooga, Tennessee, for 30 years of practice in emergency medicine, family medicine and acute care.
Two of his children attended ETSU, and when the opportunity to join ETSU Health Family
Medicine Johnson City arose, he felt it was a natural fit. Dr. Ingalls enjoys the
outdoors with his family and pets including hiking, biking, and golfing. He especially
enjoys taking care of patients and their families, and seeing them for follow-up visits,
which is something he missed during his time in the ER!
Ralph Mills, M.D., FAAFP
Assistant Professor - Sports Medicine
Dr. Ralph Mills is a native of Madisonville, Tennessee. In 1978, he graduated from Hiwassee College, and in 1980, he received his B.S. from King University in Bristol, Tennessee. Dr. Mills earned his medical degree from ETSU's Quillen College of Medicine in 1984. He is board-certified in sports medicine and family medicine.
Dr. Mills is a clinical assistant professor at ETSU, where he is heavily involved
in BucSports. He is also a team physician for the university. Dr. Mills is a fellow
of the American Academy of Family Physicians and a member of the American Medical
Society for Sports Medicine. He also works with various high schools throughout the
region providing sports medicine coverage.
Allison Powers, M.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. Powers received her M.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond, Virginia. She completed her family medicine residency at the St. Francis Bon Secours Family Medicine Residency Program in Midlothian, Virginia. Dr. Powers additionally completed a fellowship in maternal newborn health at Beaumont Hospital — Wayne, in Wayne, Michigan. She holds a B.A. in public health from The College of William and Mary. She is board-certified in family medicine and holds additional certifications in pediatric life support, advanced lifesaving in obstetrics, and in the neonatal resuscitation program.
Ryan Tewell, Pharm.D.
Assistant Professor & Medical Director, Family Medicine and Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy
Dr. Tewell was born and raised in Robinson, Illinois. He obtained his Doctor of Pharmacy from Butler University in Indianapolis. Moving south, he completed his PGY-1 residency at the Salem VA Medical Center in Salem, Virginia. Dr. Tewell then spent a year on the coast completing his PGY-2 ambulatory care residency in Wilmington, North Carolina at Hanover Regional Medical Center. The family feel of ETSU, the focus on interdisciplinary care, and the beautiful landscape of the Appalachian Highlands are what brought Dr. Tewell to the area.
Dr. Tewell's medical interests include diabetes, hypertension, ASCVD risk reduction and reducing polypharmacy. Outside of pharmacy, he enjoys hiking with his wife and two dogs, reading, playing guitar, and watching Butler basketball and Colts football.
Joey Tucciarone, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Behavioral Medicine & Psychologist
Dr. Tucciarone grew up in Roanoke, Virginia before moving to Johnson City in 2009 to attend ETSU. In 2012, he earned his bachelor's in psychology. Two years later, he completed a master's in public health and began working for the Appalachian Regional Coalition on Homelessness (ARCH) as a case manager and resource coordinator. His work with marginalized and vulnerable populations became the impetus for returning to ETSU in 2016 to pursue training in clinical psychology. Upon completing his internship in 2021 with Hopewell Health Center in Gallipolis, Ohio, Dr. Tucciarone returned to Johnson City to begin his postdoctoral training with the Institute for Integrated Behavioral Health as a behavioral health consultant at ETSU Health Family Medicine Johnson City.
Dr. Tucciarone practices as a generalist, treating people across their lifespans for
a wide range of concerns. Trained in a variety of modalities, he is particularly drawn
to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). When he is not in the clinic, he enjoys
spending time with friends and family, making art and music, walking aimlessly in
the woods, and playing video games.
Benjamin Whitfield, D.O.
Assistant Professor / Hospitalist
Dr. Whitfield grew up in a tiny town in the foothills of Georgia and in Chattanooga. He was privileged to earn his undergraduate degree from The University of Georgia and his master’s degree from Columbia University in New York City. He completed his basic medical requirements at Temple University and earned his medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Before he became a lifelong student, he worked with the Mayor’s Office of New York City, Doctors Without Borders in several African countries, FEMA, The Philadelphia Department of Health and as a top-notch motorcycle mechanic.
The only thing Dr. Whitfield enjoys more than practicing medicine is being outside.
You can find him riding motorcycles, bear hunting, camping, hiking, gardening, or
sitting around a bonfire with friends and cocktails. He has a weakness for chocolate
chip cookies, homegrown tomatoes, and dogs. Dr. Whitfield has a passion for providing
medical care to underserved areas.