home      courses       faculty       testimonials       register       location       contact us

 

D. Christopher Metzger, MD FACC
Co-Medical Director,
Cardiovascular University®

Dr. D. Christopher Metzger graduated from Marshall University School of Medicine in 1992 and completed his Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine at Wake Forest University/ Baptist Medical Center in 1995.  He then completed a Cardiology Fellowship at WFU/BMC in Winston-Salem, NC in 1998 and an additional year of Interventional Cardiology in 1999.  He joined The Heart Center Associates, Inc, Wellmont CVA Heart Institute  in 1999 and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease and Interventional Cardiology.  Dr. Metzger has expertise in all aspects of general cardiology and has special interests in Interventional Cardiology along with Peripheral Vascular disease.  He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a member of the American Medical Association. Dr. Metzger performs a high volume of cases including complex coronary interventions, peripheral vascular interventions, and carotid stenting with embolic protection. He is recognized as an international leader in these fields, and has served as invited faculty for numerous meetings, including TCT, NY ACE, The Hilton Head ACI Meeting, The CRF Fellows Course, C3, Intervention 2003-05, and EURO PCR. He has been an invited “live case operator” for TCT and NY ACE, and has conducted PV and Carotid stent courses for several industry-sponsored courses.

 

Gerald Blackwell, MD FACC
Co-Medical Director,
Cardiovascular University®

President, Medical Director The Heart Center Associates, Inc, Wellmont CVA Heart Institute

Dr. Jerry Blackwell is a Board Certified cardiologist who has been involved in tomographic cardiovascular imaging for many years. Following an Internal Medicine Residency and Clinical Cardiology Fellowship at the Ohio State University, he completed a special Research Fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1989 to become one of the first formally MRI trained, clinical cardiologists in the United States. He remained on faculty at UAB as Clinical Director of CVMRI until 1995. Subsequently, he joined The Heart Center Associates, Inc, Wellmont CVA Heart Institute in 1995. He is the Director of Advanced Cardiac Imaging as well as President, Medical Director, The Heart Center Associates, Inc, Wellmont CVA Heart Institute. He is involved in all diagnostic imaging techniques, including: echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, vascular ultrasound, diagnostic cardiac catheterization, MRI and CT. He has been involved at the national level in MRI for many years and was an early adopter of CT techniques. He is a founding member of both the Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR) and the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT). Dr. Blackwell has garnered teaching awards at each level of his career and his passion relates to the dissemination of cutting edge tomographic imaging techniques into the mainstream of clinical cardiology practice. Dr. Blackwell is Level 3, ACCF/AHA MRI and CT trained.



Timothy W. Attebery
VP & CEO

The Heart Center Associates, Inc, Wellmont CVA Heart Institute

Mr. Attebery currently serves as Vice President and CEO of The Heart Centers Associates, Inc, Wellmont CVA Heart Institute, a nationally and internationally recognized, comprehensive cardiovascular and surgical group. In July, 2010, The Heart Center Associates, Inc celebrated thirty-two years of dedicated cardiology services in the regions of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Thirty-six Board Certified cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons provide specialized services in all areas of cardiovasculr, peripheral and endovascular treatment. 
 He also has over 20 years of experience in practice management with a specialty in Cardiovascular Services Management.  He has been widely published in the industry with numerous articles on clinical IT, future of cardiovascular services, cardiology workflow, and cardiovascular computed tomography.






Janet Powell, MSN, APRN-BC
Faculty

Janet Powell, MSN, APRN-BC received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Tennessee at Memphis in 1982. She then completed her Master's of Science degree in Nursing at East Tennessee State University in 2000. She is Board Certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Janet joined The Heart Center Associates, Inc, Wellmont CVA Heart Institute in 1997 and is the Director of the Electrophysiology Department at The Heart Center.

 

Tammy Gott, CPC-CARDIO
Faculty

Tammy Gott, CPC-CARDIO is a Specialty Certified Cardiology Coder with 28 years of medical experience including 16 years in leadership roles. She is a member of the American Academy of Professional Coders. Her expertise includes all aspects of coding and billing in the fields of Interventional and Non-Cardiology, Electrophysiology, Peripheral Vascular Specialties, and Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery.  She has extensive experience clinically and clerically in all medical office operations.  Previously, Tammy was employed at Holston Valley Medical Center for 16 years in the Laboratory Department. In addition to being an experienced phlebotomist, she served as Laboratory Office Coordinator and Lead Client Services Representative for the hospital. She joined The Heart Center Associates, Inc, Wellmont CVA Heart Institute in 1997.



D. Tyler Greenfield, MD, FACS
Faculty

Dr. Tyler Greenfield received his undergraduate degree from Baylor University, Waco, Texas in 1980 and his Medical Degree from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas Texas in 1984. Dr. Greenfield completed his General Surgery Internship, and residency at the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals, Richmond Virginia, from 1984-1990. He then completed his Fellowship in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals, Richmond, Virginia in 1992 and a Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery Fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1993. Prior to joining The Heart Center Associates, Inc, Wellmont CVA Heart Institute, he was a member of the Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery Section, Covenant Medical Center/Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, TX. Dr. Greenfield specializes in Cardiothoracic Surgery and Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the American College of Surgeons.

 

Travis Hanshew, RT-R, RDCS, RVT
Faculty

Travis Hanshew, RT-R, RDCS, RVT graduated from a Certified Radiology program 1992 and has been working in the radiology field since 1990. He has 15 years of experience in multiple modalities, including: X-Ray, CT, MRI, Ultrasound, and special procedures. His credentials include:  ARRT- Registered Radiologic Technologist, ARDMS- Registered Vascular Technologist, and ARDMS- Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer. Travis is the Operational Manager of The Heart Center Associates, Inc, Wellmont CVA Heart Institute Diagnostic Services and has been at the Heart Center since July 1997



Robin Harris, MSN, APRN-BC, CS
Faculty

Robin Harris, MSN, APRN-BC, CS received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from East Tennessee State University in 1984 and her Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Virginia in 1990. She is Board Certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Robin is a member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. Robin joined The Heart Center Associates, Inc, Wellmont CVA Heart Institute in 1994 and currently oversees the Lipid and Heart Failure Clinics.

 

Gregory K. Jones, MD, FACC
Faculty

Dr. Gregory Jones received his Medical Degree from the University of California, at Los Angeles in 1988 and completed his Internship, Residency, and Chief Residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Washington, at Seattle in 1991.  Dr. Jones then completed a Cardiology Fellowship in 1993 and an Electrophysiology Fellowship in 1995, both at the University of Washington prior to joining The Heart Center Associates, Inc, Wellmont CVA Heart Institute in 2002.  He is Board Certified in Cardiovascular Diseases and Electrophysiology. Dr. Jones is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a member of the American Medical Association. 

 

Marc Mayhew, MD, FACC
Faculty

Dr. Mayhew received his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University in 1995 and his medical degree from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in 2001. He completed his internship, residency, and cardiology fellowships at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and subsequently joined The Heart Center Associates, Inc, Wellmont CVA Heart Institute in 2008. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, Interventional Cardiology and Nuclear Cardiology. Dr. Mayhew has expertise in all aspects of general cardiology, and he has special interests in catheter-based treatment of coronary artery disease and structural heart disease. Dr. Mayhew is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.

 

Sandy McCrary, PA-C
Faculty

Sandy McCrary, PA-C received her Bachelor of Science degree for Physician Assistants from Trevecca Nazarene College in 1982. She is Board Certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and is a member of the Tennessee Academy of Physician Assistants and The American Academy of Physician Assistants. Sandy joined The Heart Center Associates, Inc, Wellmont CVA Heart Institute in 1995 and currently oversees the Lipid and Heart Failure Clinics at The Heart Center.

 


James J. Merrill, MD, FACC
EP faculty
Dr. Merrill graduated from the University of Washington School of Medicine in 1986 and completed his Internship and Residency at parkland Hospital in 1989. Dr. Merrill then completed a Cardiology Fellowship and Electrophysiology Fellowship at Duke University in 1994. He joined The Heart Center Associates, Inc, Wellmont CvA Heart Institute in 1994 . He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease and Electrophysiology. Dr. Merrill is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a member of the North American Society for Pacing and Electrophysiology.



Arun Rao, MD, FACC
Faculty

Dr. Rao received his Medical Degree from Government Medical College, in Nagpus, India in 1994 and completed his Internship and Residency at St. Francis Hospital, in Evanston, IL in 1996, Dr. Rao then completed a Cardiology Fellowship at St. Francis Hospital in 1998 an Electrophysiology Fellowship at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in 2000 and served as Instructor in Cardiology/Electrophysiology at the University of Oklahoma.  He joined The Heart Center Associates, Inc, Wellmont CVA Heart Institute in 2001 and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, and Electrophysiology.  Dr. Rao has expertise in all aspects of general cardiology and has special interests in Electrophysiology.  He is a member of the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology, the American College of Physicians and the American Heart Association. Dr. Rao is also a fellow at the American College of Cardiology.

 

Christy Willocks, MSN, APRN-BC
Faculty

Christy Willocks, MSN, APRN-BC received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from East Tennessee State University in 1998. She completed her Master of Science in Nursing with a Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration from ETSU in 2002. She is Board Certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and is a member of the Northeast Tennessee Nurse Practitioner Association. Christy joined The Heart Center Associates, Inc, Wellmont CVA Heart Institute in 2003.