Chair, Professor, Associate Dean

Dr. Reid Blackwelder is originally from Atlanta, GA, but NE TN/SW VA has been home since 1992. He graduated from Haverford College in Pennsylvania and received his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine, cum laude. After completing his residency and a teaching fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia, he became "a simple country doctor" in Trenton, GA, a town of 1400. This experience opened his eyes to the truly sacred nature of being a physician. He also recognized that how we teach medicine leaves out critical aspects such as thinking, tolerance, and good communication skills!

Dr. Blackwelder returned to an academic setting to try to change what he could from within the system. He uses his practice experiences to fill in gaps left by his traditional allopathic training. He is always looking to integrate different healing systems when caring for his patients, and routinely prescribes botanical and allopathic medications, discusses exercise and nutritional issues, explores a person's emotional and spiritual support systems, and refers to other healers, such as a local practitioner of Chinese medicine and Native American healers. Moreover, he has greatly enjoyed learning osteopathic techniques here at ETSU.