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 Hypertension. Her top areas of expertise are Macroamylasemia, Ballinger-Wallace Syndrome, Breast Cancer, Anemia, and Endoscopy.

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

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

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

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

. Dr. Villalobos is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hypertension. Her top areas of expertise are Pulmonary Edema, Atypical Pneumonia, Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia, Endoscopy, and Cardiac Ablation.

"Kiley Perethian, DO, started her medical career from the entry level, transitioning from a certified nursing assistant in the emergency department to the family medicine physician she is today. Dr. Perethian chose her specialty because she is passionate about preventive care and building long-lasting relationships with her patients. ""Listening to my patients is important because their thoughts, concerns and experiences are important,” Dr. Perethian says. “The more I know about my patients’ physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health, the better I can diagnose and treat their conditions.” Dr. Perethian is originally from Georgia, but she moved to the Appalachian Highlands because of the abundance of outdoor activities she and her husband enjoy.". Dr. Perethian is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hypertension. Her top areas of expertise are Obesity and Hypertension.

. Dr. Eastridge is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hypertension. His top areas of expertise are Hypertension, Familial Hypertension, Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, and Short Stature (Growth Disorders).

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 Hypertension. Her top areas of expertise are Familial Hypertension, Hypertension, Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, and Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young.

. Dr. Steptoe is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hypertension. His top areas of expertise are Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, and Hypertension.

. Dr. Sadeghi is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hypertension. His top areas of expertise are Diabetic Neuropathy, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Sciatica, and Lung Metastases.

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

"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 Hypertension. His top areas of expertise are Carotid Artery Disease, Peripheral Artery Disease, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), and Angioplasty.

"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 Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hypertension. His top areas of expertise are Atrial Fibrillation, Coronary Heart Disease, Atherosclerosis, and Angina.

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

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 Hypertension. 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 Hypertension. His top areas of expertise are Arterial Insufficiency, Arterial Embolism, Heart Attack, and Apoplexy.

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

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

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