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

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 Cardiomyopathy. His top areas of expertise are COVID-19, Congenital Coronary Artery Malformation, Lemierre Syndrome, and Heart Tumor.

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

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 Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cardiomyopathy. His top areas of expertise are Atrial Fibrillation, Atrial Tachycardia, Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia, Cardiac Ablation, and Pacemaker Implantation.

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

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

"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 Cardiomyopathy. His top areas of expertise are Aortic Valve Stenosis, Peripheral Artery Disease, Arterial Insufficiency, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), and Aortic Valve Replacement.

Originally from Niles, Michigan, and raised in rural northern Indiana, Terry Forrest, MD, FACC, brings a deep appreciation for the community and connection to her work. After training in Durham, North Carolina, she was drawn to the Appalachian Highlands for its beauty, biodiversity and the friendliness of its people. Her journey into medicine began in cardiac critical care nursing, where her passion for cardiology took root. Dr. Forrest treats every patient as if they were family, focusing on listening and building trust. She fins meaning in helping patients manage complex, chronic heart conditions. Dr. Forrest enjoys gardening, hiking, whitewater paddling and restoring an old farm. She also volunteers at Steele Creek Nature Park in Bristol, Tennessee. Dr. Forrest is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cardiomyopathy. Her top areas of expertise are Fainting, Heart Block, Pediatric Myocarditis, and Cardiomyopathy.

. Dr. Blackwell is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cardiomyopathy. 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 Cardiomyopathy. 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 Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cardiomyopathy. His top areas of expertise are Angina, Atherosclerosis, Coronary Heart Disease, and Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease.

Thomas Bulle is a Cardiologist in Kingsport,, Tennessee. Dr. Bulle is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cardiomyopathy. His top areas of expertise are Atherosclerosis, Coronary Heart Disease, Angina, and Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm.

Randall Towne is a Cardiologist in Kingsport, Tennessee. Dr. Towne is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cardiomyopathy. 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 an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cardiomyopathy. His top areas of expertise are Atrial Fibrillation, Arrhythmias, Ventricular Tachycardia, Pacemaker Implantation, and Cardiac Ablation.

Fereidoon Shafiei is a Cardiac Electrophysiologist in Kingsport, Tennessee. Dr. Shafiei is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cardiomyopathy. His top areas of expertise are Atrial Fibrillation, Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia, Ventricular Tachycardia, Pacemaker Implantation, and Cardiac Ablation.

John Bertuso is a Cardiologist in Kingsport, Tennessee. Dr. Bertuso is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cardiomyopathy. His top areas of expertise are Atrial Fibrillation, Apoplexy, Carotid Artery Disease, and Atherosclerosis.

Daniel Simpson is a Cardiologist in Kingsport, Tennessee. Dr. Simpson is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cardiomyopathy. His top areas of expertise are Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia, Ventricular Tachycardia, Heart Attack, Pacemaker Implantation, and Heart Bypass Surgery.

John Jefferies is an Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologist and a Pediatrics provider in Kingsport, Tennessee. Dr. Jefferies is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cardiomyopathy. His top areas of expertise are Fabry Disease, Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Sengers Syndrome, and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). Dr. Jefferies is currently accepting new patients.