. Dr. Lawson is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Breast Cancer. Her top areas of expertise are Breast Cancer, Paget Disease of the Breast, Intraductal Papilloma, and Inflammatory Breast Cancer.

. Dr. Jaishankar is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Breast Cancer. His top areas of expertise are Angiosarcoma, Paget Disease of the Breast, Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC), Lung Adenocarcinoma, and Bone Marrow Aspiration.

. Dr. Patel is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Breast Cancer. His top areas of expertise are Penile Cancer, Hemochromatosis, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, and Acute Mountain Sickness.

. Dr. Stanski is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Breast Cancer. Her top areas of expertise are Breast Cancer, Paget Disease of the Breast, Inflammatory Breast Cancer, Intraductal Papilloma, and Lymphadenectomy.

. Dr. Hazin is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Breast Cancer. His top areas of expertise are Inflammatory Breast Cancer, Familial Colorectal Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Lynch Syndrome, and Bone Marrow Aspiration.

Denise Yardley is a Hematologist and an Oncologist in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Yardley is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Breast Cancer. Her top areas of expertise are Breast Cancer, HER-2 Positive Breast Cancer, Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, and Paget Disease of the Breast.

Pat Whitworth is a Surgical Oncologist in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Whitworth is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Breast Cancer. His top areas of expertise are Breast Cancer, Paget Disease of the Breast, Breast Lump, Intraductal Papilloma, and Lymphadenectomy. Dr. Whitworth is currently accepting new patients.

I grew up in North Carolina and went to college in Chattanooga, Tenn. After I completed my undergraduate degree, I moved to Johnson City and received my medical degree from Quillen College of Medicine where I also completed my residency and laboratory fellowship. My husband and I love this area and are still here after 19 years. We enjoy outdoor activities such as biking and waterskiing. The small town atmosphere of Northeast Tennessee has proven to be a safe and active place to raise our kids. For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a doctor. I’ve had many mentors throughout my residency, but my greatest mentor is my father, who is also a surgeon. In medical school, I tried other specialties, but I realized there just wasn’t any specialty I enjoyed more than surgery. Meeting new and interesting people along with the professional interaction with my colleagues are some of the things I enjoy most about being a surgeon. My personal philosophy for treating patients is that physicians were put on earth to serve others. I believe God created us to be His hands and feet, which is a great privilege and responsibility. I listen closely to my patients because I find that they often will tell me their diagnosis before I even ask. My husband, Mark, is in long-term care administration. We have been married for 19 years and have three children, Abbie, Andrew, and Megan who are all in elementary school and keep us constantly busy. One of my favorite hobbies is playing racquetball. I also enjoy biking, waterskiing, reading and baking with my oldest daughter. I am involved in the children's ministries at my church, and I serve on the school board at Living Springs Christian Academy in Gray, TN. Dr. Defluiter is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Breast Cancer. Her top areas of expertise are Breast Cancer, Paget Disease of the Breast, Angiosarcoma, Endoscopy, and Gastrectomy.

. Dr. Maatouk is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Breast Cancer. Her top areas of expertise are Thrombocytopenia, Paget Disease of the Breast, Adult Immune Thrombocytopenia, and Hemangioma Thrombocytopenia Syndrome.

. Dr. Bulawa is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Breast Cancer. Her top areas of expertise are Choledocholithiasis, Ogilvie Syndrome, Cellulitis, Colostomy, and Hernia Surgery.

. Dr. Nakhoul is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Breast Cancer. His top areas of expertise are Colorectal Cancer, Lung Cancer, Familial Colorectal Cancer, and Pleuropulmonary Blastoma.

. Dr. Jackson is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Breast Cancer. Her top areas of expertise are Breast Cancer, Paget Disease of the Breast, Gallbladder Disease, Gallstones, and Colostomy.

Benjamin Scharfstein, MD, finds his greatest joy in witnessing the positive outcomes his patients achieve. “I love seeing my patients return after surgery, feeling much better and ready to get back to their lives and families,” he says. Inspired by his grandfather, an ophthalmologist, Dr. Scharfstein grew up in Johnson City and is thrilled to practice medicine and raise his family in the Appalachian Highlands. He has a deep appreciation for the natural beauty and community spirit of the region. Outside of his work, Dr. Scharfstein stays active in his church and enjoys spending time outdoors. Dr. Scharfstein is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Breast Cancer. His top areas of expertise are Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Gastrostomy, and Hernia Surgery.

. Dr. Chakraborty is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Breast Cancer. His top areas of expertise are Lung Cancer, Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC), Angiosarcoma, and Bone Marrow Aspiration.

Dr. Yonette Paul’s passion to work in the field of hematology/oncology was ignited during her first job. She was working in the lab for a hematology/oncology practice when she felt the pull to be on the front lines in the field as a physician. It was not long before she quit her job and headed to medical school in Jamaica, near the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, where she grew up. After earning medical degrees in medicine and surgery, she traveled to the U.S. to further her studies in hematology/oncology. Dr. Paul completed an internal medicine residency at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C., and a fellowship in hematology/oncology at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida. “Throughout my training, my eye was on the goal of specializing in hematology/oncology,” she says. Now that she has realized her dream, she says what she most enjoys about her work is the interaction with her patients. “One thing I want my patients to know is that when we are together they are the most important person in the room,” she says. “I want them to know we will be a team from diagnosis all the way through treatment. I will be there to support them. I want to learn from them, and I hope they will learn from me.” Keeping patients engaged in their treatment is one of Dr. Paul’s main goals. “I want them to let me know what they want as an outcome, not just wait for me to tell them what to do. I find that listening to them is the best way to find out what they want for themselves,” she says. Moving to the Appalachian Highlands region with her husband to join Ballad Health Cancer Care in Kingsport was a welcome relief from the hustle-bustle of larger cities, she says. “I fell in love with th[e beauty here. People are friendly and welcoming. And, when I look out my window and see the mountains, I’m reminded of home.”. Dr. Paul is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Breast Cancer. Her top areas of expertise are Thrombocytopenia, Childhood Iron Deficiency Anemia, Familial Colorectal Cancer, and Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Paige Furrow, MD, believes in treating every patient “the way you or your family would want to be treated.” Originally from Horsepasture, Virginia, she was drawn to medicine after volunteering at a free clinic where she says she fell in love with helping people. Dr. Furrow enjoys getting to know her patients and listening to their stories, always striving to understand where they’re coming from. Dr. Furrow enjoys living and working in the Appalachian Highlands, where the outdoor activities, mountains and people feel like home. When she’s not in the operating room, you’ll likely find her outside, training for triathlons or volunteering in the community. Dr. Furrow is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Breast Cancer. Her top areas of expertise are ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer, Paget Disease of the Breast, Gastrostomy, and Hemorrhoidectomy.

. Dr. Johnson is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Breast Cancer. His top areas of expertise are Breast Cancer, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Hypertension, and Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism.

As a child, Dr. Kristen Yost used to peer at specimens through the microscope in her grandfather’s lab. He served as director of laboratory services and taught her how to count and identify the tiny cells on the slide. “That’s when my interest in medicine first began,” she recalls. Dr. Yost chose to become a primary care physician because she wanted to build relationships with her patients over time. She says that the secret to forging such close relationships is to listen carefully to what they say. “Honestly, if you listen closely and carefully to your patients, they will usually tell you what is wrong with them.” Outside of her work, Dr. Yost enjoys spending time with her husband and two children exploring the great outdoors. They also love traveling. “My daughters and I are huge Harry Potter nerds,” she says. For Christmas last year, the family traveled to Harry Potter World. Dr. Yost is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Breast Cancer. Her top areas of expertise are Breast Cancer, Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, Hypertension, and Familial Hypertension.

Dr. Marta Wayt’s career is guided by faith and a passion for treating the underserved. She is an internal medicine doctor and a Regional Medical Director for Ballad Health Medical Associates. She also serves as the volunteer medical director of Providence Medical Clinic of Kingsport, a clinic that offers free acute and primary care to residents of Sullivan County and the greater Kingsport area living at 150% and below poverty guidelines. Her mission is simple: “I am a devoted Christian who was called into medicine to serve my fellow man, especially senior adults and complicated patients,” she says. Focusing on her calling helped her find her life’s path. “I chose internal medicine because it gave me the best training to take care of those complicated patients. I chose primary care because I like to develop relationships with my patients over their lifetimes.”. Dr. Wayt is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Breast Cancer. Her top areas of expertise are Macroamylasemia, Ballinger-Wallace Syndrome, Breast Cancer, Anemia, and Endoscopy.

. Dr. Shipstone is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Breast Cancer. His top areas of expertise are Adult Immune Thrombocytopenia, Colorectal Cancer, Hemangioma Thrombocytopenia Syndrome, and Thrombocytopenia.