"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 Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coronary Heart Disease. His top areas of expertise are Carotid Artery Disease, Peripheral Artery Disease, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), and Angioplasty.

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

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

"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 Coronary Heart Disease. His top areas of expertise are Atrial Fibrillation, Coronary Heart Disease, Atherosclerosis, and Angina.

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

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

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

Dr. Nerissa Licup-Taylor, MD, was born in the Philippines and moved to the Appalachian Highlands to complete her medical residency at East Tennessee State University. Following her residency, she practiced as an internal medicine physician with Ballad Health Medical Associates for over a decade. Interested in geriatric care, she pursued a Geriatric fellowship at Vanderbilt University to enhance her clinical expertise in this field. Her passion for focused geriatric care led her back to Ballad Health Medical Associates Center for Healthy Aging, where she now provides specialized attention to the aging population. Dr. Licup-Taylor says, “The most important part of caring for her patients is listening to them.”. Dr. Licup is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coronary Heart Disease. Her top areas of expertise are Familial Hypertension, Hypertension, Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, and Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young.

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

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

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 Coronary Heart Disease. 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 Coronary Heart Disease. His top areas of expertise are Necrosis, Pediatric Myocarditis, Aortic Regurgitation, Pulmonary Edema, and Gastric Bypass.

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

. Dr. Papireddy is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coronary Heart Disease. His top areas of expertise are Fainting, Heart Block, Coronary Heart Disease, Cardiac Ablation, and Pacemaker Implantation.

. Dr. Metcalf is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coronary Heart Disease. His top areas of expertise are Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Sitosterolemia, Familial Hypertriglyceridemia, and High Cholesterol.

. Dr. Watson is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coronary Heart Disease. His top areas of expertise are Sialic Acid Storage Disease, Sialuria, PMM2-Congenital Disorder of Glycosylation, and Phosphomannoisomerase Deficiency.

. Dr. Misischia is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coronary Heart Disease. His top areas of expertise are High Cholesterol, Hypertension, Familial Hypertension, and Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism.

. Dr. Sumpter is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coronary Heart Disease. His top areas of expertise are High Cholesterol, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Familial Hypertension, and Hypertension.

. Dr. Velasco is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coronary Heart Disease. His top areas of expertise are Childhood Iron Deficiency Anemia, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Diabetic Neuropathy, and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D).

. Dr. Louthan is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Coronary Heart Disease. His top areas of expertise are Macroamylasemia, Postmenopausal Osteoporosis, Osteoporosis, and Lung Nodules.