. Dr. Williams is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. Her top areas of expertise are Atrial Fibrillation, Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, and Atherosclerosis.

"Dr. Ben Culp was encouraged to become a doctor by his father and brother, both of whom worked in medicine. He chose to specialize in cardiology because ""it provides a mixture of everything I enjoy about medicine, from establishing relationships with patients over time to integrating new technology into my practice."" He chose to come to Ballad Health CVA Heart Institute because it gave him the opportunity to practice with progressive techniques. ""My philosophy is to maximize patients' overall quality of life,"" he says, ""and to keep them independent as long as possible.""". Dr. Culp is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. His top areas of expertise are Atrial Fibrillation, Coronary Heart Disease, Atherosclerosis, and Angina.

Shawn Baldwin, MD, became fascinated with cardiology long before he even realized he would become a physician. “God gave me an interest in the heart in elementary school, even before the thought of practicing medicine crossed my mind in college,” he says. Dr. Baldwin says his family’s encouragement helped him choose his career path and he came to Ballad Health CVA Heart Institute with the encouragement of a former colleague. “It is important for patients to know that the medical team cares for them,” he says. “The most important way to know what someone needs is to listen. I enjoy when a procedure works well, and a patient truly feels better.”. Dr. Baldwin is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. His top areas of expertise are Atrial Fibrillation, Atrial Tachycardia, Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia, Cardiac Ablation, and Pacemaker Implantation.

. Dr. Mayhew is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. His top areas of expertise are Necrosis, Arrhythmias, Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia, and Ventricular Tachycardia.

. Dr. Saha is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. His top areas of expertise are Mitral Valve Regurgitation, Heart Attack, Apoplexy, and Atrial Fibrillation.

. Dr. Kirk is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. His top areas of expertise are Arrhythmias, Heart Attack, Apoplexy, Pacemaker Implantation, and Cardiac Ablation.

. Dr. Mclaughlin is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. His top areas of expertise are Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, Hypertension, High Cholesterol, and Atrial Fibrillation.

. Dr. Rana is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. His top areas of expertise are Arterial Insufficiency, Arterial Embolism, Heart Attack, and Apoplexy.

"Mark Aziz, MD, followed his parents' path by becoming a physician. Dr. Aziz is originally from Egypt, but the beautiful mountains and lakes drew him to the Appalachian Highlands. ""This is a great place to raise a family and practice medicine,"" says Dr. Aziz. He enjoys providing cardiac services to the region. Listening to his patients gives Dr. Aziz the information he needs to develop their treatment strategy. Understanding his patients and their individual medical needs helps them lead healthier and happier lives.". Dr. Aziz is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. His top areas of expertise are Aortic Valve Stenosis, Peripheral Artery Disease, Arterial Insufficiency, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), and Aortic Valve Replacement.

Dilpat Kumar, MD, brings a patient-centered approach to cardiology and believes every patient deserves to be heard, respected and treated as a partner in their care. “Every heart tells a story,” he says, “and my role is to truly listen.” For Dr. Kumar, being a doctor is about more than just clinical care — it's about connection. “What I enjoy most about being a clinician is listening to my patients’ stories, building long-lasting relationships and having the privilege of watching them improve over time,” he says. “There’s something deeply rewarding about being part of someone’s healing journey – not just treating symptoms, but truly understanding their lives, earning their trust and celebrating their progress together.” Originally from Pakistan, Dr. Kumar came to the region for training and fell in love with the Appalachian Highlands. “The mountains ground me,” he says. Dr. Kumar is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. His top areas of expertise are COVID-19, Congenital Coronary Artery Malformation, Lemierre Syndrome, and Heart Tumor.

. Dr. Yu is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. His top areas of expertise are Necrosis, Pediatric Myocarditis, Aortic Regurgitation, Pulmonary Edema, and Gastric Bypass.

"Chris Metzger, MD, believes in a straightforward yet deeply personal approach to patient care: ""Treat every patient with the same compassion and dedication you would want for yourself and your loved ones."" As an interventional cardiologist, Dr. Metzger takes great pride in providing both preventive and life-saving treatments, finding fulfillment in making a meaningful difference in his patients' lives. Originally from Pittsburgh, Dr. Metzger feels privileged to serve the Appalachian Highlands community. He considers this region home because of its warm-hearted people and beautiful rolling hills.". Dr. Metzger is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. His top areas of expertise are Carotid Artery Disease, Peripheral Artery Disease, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), and Angioplasty.

. Dr. Helton is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. His top areas of expertise are Arterial Embolism, Heart Attack, Ventricular Fibrillation, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), and Aortic Valve Replacement.

"Anjali Sharma, MD, traveled to the United States from her home in Punjab, India, to broaden her medical expertise. After a residency and two fellowships at hospitals along the East Coast, she came to Ballad Health CVA Heart Institute because she wanted to positively impact the cardiovascular health of patients in an underserved community. She believes ""the ability to influence so many lives is a very rewarding and gratifying experience."" Dr. Sharma finds it ""immensely important"" to listen to her patients. ""It not only helps build the doctor-patient relationship, but it also helps me grow as a person.""". Dr. Sharma is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. Her top areas of expertise are Pediatric Myocarditis, Aortic Regurgitation, Necrosis, and Pulmonary Edema.

"Sean Forrest, MD's, passion for medicine was sparked early on. ""My mother was a NICU nurse, and she always inspired me to follow a career in healthcare,"" he shares. ""Patients deserve the highest level of respect, and it's a privilege to guide them,"" Dr. Forrest says. ""By taking the time to listen and understand their priorities, we can make informed decisions about their care together."" Having grown up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Dr. Forrest was already familiar with the Appalachian Highlands before relocating. He and his family love hiking, biking and enjoying the great outdoors.". Dr. Forrest is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. His top area of expertise is Atrial Fibrillation.

. Dr. Blackwell is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. His top areas of expertise are Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy, Atherosclerosis, Coronary Heart Disease, and Angina.

. Dr. Danisi is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. His top areas of expertise are Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Familial Hypertension, and Hypertension.

Larry Breeding is an Interventional Cardiologist in Kingsport, Tennessee. Dr. Breeding is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. His top areas of expertise are Angina, Atherosclerosis, Coronary Heart Disease, and Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease.

Randall Towne is a Cardiologist in Kingsport, Tennessee. Dr. Towne is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. His top areas of expertise are Varicose Veins, Meige Disease, Primary Intestinal Lymphangiectasia, and Lymphangiectasis.

James Merrill is a Cardiac Electrophysiologist and a Cardiologist in Kingsport, Tennessee. Dr. Merrill is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. His top areas of expertise are Atrial Fibrillation, Arrhythmias, Ventricular Tachycardia, Pacemaker Implantation, and Cardiac Ablation.