Johnson City Faculty
Max Bayard, M.D.
Professor & Program Director - Johnson City
I received my BS from University of Memphis and my MD from ETSU. Then I did residency at Bristol Family Medicine.
I have worked a total of 16 years in non-academic medicine, about 7 of which were as owner of a medical practice. Most of the remainder was working as a physician in federally qualified health centers, generally practicing in small communities with shortage of physicians. I am moving back to Johnson City from Vermont, where I have been doing clinical medicine for the last 11 years.
My wife, Deanna, and I mostly enjoy time with our 6 children and 8 grandchildren, geographically "challenged" with children in Texas, Tennessee, Indiana and Vermont. We are active in our church, and I have been a regular teacher of Sunday School classes for adults. I like to play bridge in mildly competitive forums.
I am 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
I was born and raised in Greenville, SC. I am a Clemson University alum and completed my medical education at the Medical University of South Carolina. I completed residency at ETSU Family Medicine in Johnson City and upon graduation stayed on as faculty. In medicine, I have found a passion in point of care ultrasound, skin procedures, and preventative medicine. I love working with medical students and residents in both the clinic and hospital. Outside of work, I enjoy playing disc golf and ball golf, spending time with my family, significant other, and our dog Sweet Pea. The only thing that comes close to my love of medicine is my love of live music.
Fereshteh Gerayli, M.D., FAAFP
Professor
I received my M.D. degree from Mashad University in Iran in 1981 and practiced as a general practitioner with major work in OB-GYN in an underserved area in Iran for more than ten years. Then I completed an Acupuncture course in Germany and worked there in both acupuncture and family medicine practices for about three years. I started my family medicine residency in the U.S. in 1997 with the University of Kentucky (East KY Family Practice). I worked with the East KY Family Practice Residency Program in Hazard, KY as faculty from August 2000 to December 2004 and relocated to ETSU family medicine in January 2005.
I have a very supportive husband, Hamid, and one daughter, Bana, who is a junior in Centre College in Kentucky and is planning on going to dental school. My hobbies are traveling, jogging, and socializing.
Jim Holt, M.D., FAAFP
Professor & Associate Program Director
I was born in Michigan, but raised in Baltimore. I am the fifth of six children. I attended Princeton University, receiving an A.B. in Biochemistry and a teaching license in math and science, graduating cum laude. I completed my medical school at the University of Maryland in 1982 and served my residency at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. I practiced at a rural health clinic in Warrenton, NC from 1985 to 1988 and at a private group practice in Lancaster, SC, from 1988 to 2001. Since joining the Johnson City Family Practice Residency Program in August 2001, I have served as the Medical Director. I have chaired the Curriculum Committee since March 2003. My wife Judy and I have five children. https://works.bepress.com/james-holt/about/
Brian Ingalls, M.D.
Associate Professor & Co-Medical Director
Born in Durham, NC when my father was in Surgery Residency at Duke, our family traveled to Oklahoma City, and then on to settle in the east-central Illinois town of Paris. My eventual medical career took me to Chattanooga, TN for 30 years of practice in Emergency Medicine/Family Medicine/Acute Care.
Two of our children have attended ETSU, and when the opportunity to join ETSU Family
Medicine Associates arose, I felt it was a natural fit. I enjoy the outdoors with
family and pets, including hiking, biking and golfing. I especially enjoy taking
care of patients and their families, seeing them for follow-up visits...something
I missed during my time in the ER!
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, received his Bachelor of Science degree from King University in Bristol, Tennessee, in 1980, and 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 he is also 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.
Allison Powers, M.D.
Assistant 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 Bachelor of Arts degree 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 & Co-Medical Director, Family Medicine and Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy
I was born and raised in the small Southern Illinois town of Robinson, Illinois. I obtained my Doctorate of Pharmacy degree from Butler University in Indianapolis. Moving South, I completed my PGY-1 residency at the Salem VA Medical Center in Salem, Virginia. I then spent a year on the coast completing my PGY-2 Ambulatory Care residency in Wilmington, North Carolina at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. The family feel of ETSU, focus on interdisciplinary care, and beautiful landscape brought me to the area.
My interest areas include diabetes, hypertension, ASCVD risk reduction, and reducing
polypharmacy. Outside of pharmacy, I enjoy hiking with my wife and two dogs, reading,
playing guitar, and watching Butler basketball and Colts football.
Joyce Troxler, M.D.
Associate Professor & Addiction Medicine Program Director
I am Board Certified in Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine. The majority of my clinical experience was gained in a rural community in Southwestern New Mexico, and my personal history is that of a rural upbringing in Central Appalachia. The last 3 years of my career in rural New Mexico was largely focused on providing treatment for Substance Use Disorder. In 2018 I returned to Tennessee to join the Department of Family Medicine.
Working with the Department of Family Medicine at East Tennessee State University, I assisted with the formation of an ACGME accredited Addiction Medicine Fellowship in 2019. Our ADM Fellowship graduates two physicians per year who will address the impact of addictive disorders in rural and under-served communities. https://works.bepress.com/joyce-troxler/about/
Venkata Vedantam, M.D.
Hospitalist
Venkata Vedantam, MD, completed his residency in Internal Medicine at East Tennessee State University, Quillen College of Medicine in Johnson City, Tennessee. He received his medical degree from Alluri Seetarama Raju Academy of Medical Sciences, Malkapuram, India.
Board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Dr. Vedantam wished to offer the highest quality of medical care to his patients. Dr. Vedantam is dedicated to teach and work with our next generation of physicians.
Benjamin Whitfield, D.O.
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.