Reid Blackwelder, M.D., FAAFP
Professor & Associate Dean for Graduate and Continuing Medical Education
I am originally from Atlanta, GA, but NE TN/SW VA has been home since 1992. I graduated from Haverford College in Pennsylvania and received my medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine, cum laude. After completing my residency and a teaching fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia, I became "a simple country doctor" in Trenton, GA, a town of 1400. This experience opened my eyes to the truly sacred nature of being a physician. I also recognized that how we teach medicine leaves out critical aspects such as thinking, tolerance and good communication skills!
I returned to an academic setting to try to change what I could from within the system. I use my practice experiences to fill in gaps left by my traditional allopathic training. I am always looking to integrate different healing systems when caring for my patients, and routinely prescribe botanical and allopathic medications, discuss exercise and nutritional issues, explore a person's emotional and spiritual support systems, and refer to other healers, such as a local practitioner of Chinese medicine and Native American healers. Moreover, I have greatly enjoyed learning osteopathic techniques here at ETSU.
My wife Alex and I relax with our two dogs and two cats at our home, an incredible haven on top of a mountain, surrounded by trees, deer, hawks, wildflowers, and herbs. We are blessed with living close to our large family. My hobbies include learning the bass guitar, making jewelry and wood pens, and teaching yin yoga.
Pete Bockhorst, D.O.
Associate Professor
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, and raised everywhere else, I have tried to live as many lives as possible. Having tried my hand at several trades including culinary and photographic arts, none have suited me as does medicine. The opportunity to meld the arts and sciences is too enticing. Having finished a brilliant three years in the National Health Service Corps in a rural family medicine setting, teaching is my next move in finding the consummate balance in life. Meet Dr. Bockhorst
Mark Brummel, D.O.
Professor
I grew up on a farm in northern Illinois, just outside of the suburban sprawl of Chicago. I attended college locally at Northern Illinois University, and medical school at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. While I did enjoy my time moving to progressively more urban environments, I next ventured to the Amish country in Lancaster Pennsylvania for residency training. While the training was excellent, I wanted to further develop areas within family medicine I found most interesting, and decided to stay an additional year to complete a faculty development fellowship. During this year I dedicated the majority of my time and efforts to sports medicine, inpatient medicine, and osteopathic manipulation.
The next step in my journey began with my wife looking for a graduate school to attend and ended with us both finding a wonderful opportunity to grow and live in the region. We have enjoyed the outdoor activities, the beautiful weather and the excellent education for our children. Please feel free to contact me to discuss sports, outdoor activities, food, sustainable living, or anything you are interested in.
Morgan Buda, M.D.
Assistant Professor - Kingsport & Johnson City
budamc@etsu.edu
Greg Cooper, M.D.
Assistant Professor & Clerkship Director
I was born in Knoxville, TN and went to UT Knoxville for undergraduate. Moved to Johnson City where I did medical school at Quillen College of Medicine and then completed residency with ETSU Kingsport Family Medicine. I chose this job because I enjoy working both in the clinic setting and in the hospital setting. I also enjoy teaching, and I get to teach both medical students and residents in this job. I am inspired by seeing learners truly understand information.
I enjoy running and hanging out with friends when I’m not working. I like to travel when I have the time. I enjoy going to see movies with friend and watching TV shows.
Beth Anne Fox, M.D., MPH, CPE, FAAFP
Professor & Vice Dean
I was born and raised in Sevierville, Tennessee. I received my undergraduate degree in Nursing at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, a certificate in Nurse Anesthesia, and a Master’s Degree in Public Health before leaving nursing and returning to medical school at Quillen College of Medicine and then completed residency at ETSU Health Johnson City Family Medicine. After 3 years of private practice, I returned to follow my desire to make a difference in the lives of the people of Appalachia. Patients are more than their medical issues and each has a story to tell. My love of teaching of medical students and residents as well as helping them grow professionally has led to the most rewarding career I could imagine.
My professional interests are Clinical (Human Patient) Simulation, Women’s Health, and Rural Health. Personally, I enjoy spending time in outdoor activities like hiking, traveling, and love exploring craft fairs and antique stores.
Chris Galletti, M.D.
Assistant Professor - Kingsport
I was raised outside Orlando, FL where I was a student athlete playing football and lacrosse. I pursued my higher education in the panhandle at Florida State University. After completion of my undergraduate studies in Biology and Psychology, I worked for a local family doctor as his medical assistant, where I discovered my love for family medicine. I remained in Tallahassee for medical school at FSU College of Medicine. Following medical school, I moved to Southwest Florida for my family medicine residency training with FSU Fort Myers. In residency, I became passionate about medical education and clinical teaching. I am excited to train compassionate and knowledgeable family medicine physicians at ETSU Kingsport. Professionally, I have various clinical interests including medical informatics, sports medicine, point of care ultrasound (POCUS), lifestyle medicine, and behavioral health. Personally, I am a self-proclaimed chef and foodie. I enjoy spending time outdoors with my wife, watching FSU sports, and caring for my freshwater aquarium.
Erin Harris, M.D.
Associate Professor & Associate Clerkship Director
I have had a lengthy relationship with the Kingsport program as a student, resident, and now as faculty. I returned in 2010 after three years of primary care practice in Southwest Virginia. I am a graduate of the Quillen College of Medicine and completed an Accelerated Residency in Family Medicine at Kingsport and Holston Valley in 2006. I had long been drawn to the diversity, complexity, and continuity of Family Medicine and am proud to have pursued this field after medical school. My family and I lived in several areas of the country, but Southwest Virginia is the place that I call "home," and I consider the Tri-Cities of Tennessee and its population an extension of that. My professional interests include medical student education, adolescent medicine and pediatrics, and inpatient medicine.
Outside of medicine, I most enjoy spending time with my two lovely daughters, whose natural curiosity about the world and its people is a daily inspiration. We love to travel together and spend time with our extended family. Closer to home, we enjoy music and dance, local food and history, and time together at work and at play here in Northeast Tennessee. Please email me with any questions about the program or the area.
Sarah Hewitt, M.D.
Assistant Professor & Medical Director
hewitts@etsu.edu
Kelly Kahle, M.D.
Assistant Professor - Kingsport
kahlek@etsu.edu
Heather Newman M.D.
Assistant Professor - Kingsport
newmanhm@etsu.edu
I was born in Livonia, MI, but my family moved around a lot before ending up in Loveland, OH for most of my childhood. I received my undergraduate degree from Centre College in Danville, KY, where I played on the soccer team and in the orchestra. For medical school, I moved to Baltimore, Maryland, where I attended John Hopkins University School of Medicine. While at Hopkins, I discovered that I was truly passionate about primary care in the setting of complex chronic conditions. I attended the AAFP's yearly Family Medicine Conference in Kansas City, was fortunate enough to meet Dr. Mark Brummel at the ETSU Family Medicine booth, and eventually matched into the ETSU Kingsport Family Medicine Residency. While in Kingsport, I met my future family (my husband and two amazing stepsons) and we stayed in Kingsport after graduation. For four years, I worked at a federally qualified health center in Mountain City, TN while also teaching medical students in ETSU's Rural Primary Care Track. Eventually, life led me back to ETSU Kingsport Family Medicine and I am dedicated to helping shape the next generation of Family Physicians.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy camping, hiking, and being outdoors with my family. I've played ice hockey and soccer intermittently and have been a loyal Detroit Red Wings fan from birth. More recently, I can be found cheering on our boys in whatever athletic or musical endeavor they are engaged in.
Kaitlyn North, PharmD
Assistant Professor - Kingsport
northkl@etsu.edu
Jason Soong, M.D.
Assistant Professor - Kingsport
soongj@etsu.edu