The Department of Anesthesiology

Get to know our residents

Tyler Breckenkamp, M.D.
Medical School: Saint Louis University
BIO/Hometown: I am from Washington, Missouri, a small town near Saint Louis. My wife and I moved to Knoxville in 2022 and while in residency we had our daughter. We also have a border collie/ poodle mix named Tex.
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: I really like the blend of private and academic medicine. I also really liked the idea of early autonomy that is afforded to residents.
Anesthesia Interest: I plan to work for Indian Health Services for 4-5 years following residency. We will then plan on moving back to the Saint Louis area to work in private practice.

Hunter Calvert, D.O.
Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
BIO/Hometown: I grew up on a farm about two hours south of Nashville in the small town of Ethridge, TN. I spent most evenings and summer breaks hauling hay, selling firewood, or operating heavy machinery necessary to row crop corn, soybeans, and wheat. After high school, I attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where I majored in Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology. I then completed medical school at LMU-DCOM in Harrogate, TN. When I am not at the hospital you can find me playing bogey golf at one of the many golf courses around Knoxville, fishing in one of Knoxville’s many waterways, or hanging out with my significant other Madison and our pup Millie. Reach out with any questions or concerns and I will be glad to be of assistance!
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: Knoxville was an easy decision for me. I went to undergrad and medical school in Knoxville. My significant other is from Knoxville. Doing residency here has been great.
Anesthesia Interest: General anesthesia
Research Projects/Paper/Poster Presentations: Calvert, H, Swengel, J. (2025) Anesthetic Management of a Parturient with Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase II Deficiency. Poster presented at Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology, Portland, OR.

Komal Chaudhry, M.D.
Medical School: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
BIO/Hometown: I grew up in a small town in Illinois called Carbondale, and I’ve spent most of my life in the state. I went to undergrad at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and following a gap year, continued on to medical school at Southern Illinois University in Springfield.
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: UTHSC COM-Knoxville offers a unique blend of academic training and private practice exposure, giving me a well-rounded perspective that aligns with my career goals. During my interview day, it stood out to me how well the residents all got along with one another regardless of PGY level. As someone who grew up in the Midwest, I was also excited for the chance to experience a different part of the country
Anesthesia Interest: General anesthesia

Ashley Cowan, D.O.
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
BIO/Hometown: I'm originally from Kingston, TN and moved to Knoxville, TN for high school and completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Tennessee. I now am happily married to my college sweetheart and have a cockapoo puppy named Teddy!
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: I grew up in Knoxville, TN and attended the University of Tennessee for undergraduate. UTHSC COM-Knoxville felt like home to me during my away rotation and interview. I love getting to serve the community who shaped me while growing up. The close-knit environment of the residency is also exactly what I was looking for in a residency. I feel supported here and am so happy to have chosen tom complete residency at UTHSC COM-Knoxville!
Anesthesia Interest: Private Practice - General Anesthesia
Research Projects/Paper/Poster Presentations: Anesthetic Management During Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement Utilizing Anterior Leaflet Laceration: A Case of Mitral Stenosis with Prior Complex Surgical History - Poster Presentation at Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) April 2025

Chris Evers, M.D.
Medical School: University of South Alabama
Hometown: Hartselle, AL
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: I wanted to stay in the South East, and I knew UTMC had the clinical volume to allow me to be well-prepared for practice beyond residency.
Hobbies/Fun Fact: Guitar, cooking, college football; Fun fact: I used to race go karts semi-professionally
Anesthesia Interest: Regional Anesthesia, Chronic Pain Management

Britton Huskey, M.D.
Medical School: Quillen College of Medicine
BIO/Hometown: I’m from Englewood, TN and I went to ETSU for undergrad and medical school. I like to read and my favorite series is the Kingkiller chronicles. Additionally, I love traveling, with my most recent trip being Italy where me and my husband celebrated our honeymoon. I have two amazing dogs, a golden doodle named Toast and a german shepherd named Riley.
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: I felt the program did well balancing learning and autonomy. Everyone seemed to get along well and there seemed to be great relationships between faculty and staff.
Anesthesia Interest: General
Research Projects/Paper/Poster Presentations: "Cardiovascular Disease and Thrombocytopenia in Pregnancy," a case study presented at SOAP 2022

Sam Hutcheson, M.D.
Medical School: University of South Alabama College of Medicine
BIO/Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: Knoxville is a great city to live in. Large enough to have plenty to do while also being small enough to be affordable as a resident. Also, being a mix of private practice and academia, the residency is fantastic for preparing you for the real world once you graduate.
Anesthesia Interest: Regional
Research Projects/Paper/Poster Presentations: Hutcheson S, Pehrson A, Gassert RB, Guffey E, Shanahan PC, Sisk L, Patton S, Solla CA. Risk Stratification for Postoperative Opioid Induced Respiratory Depression: A Retrospective Case-Control Analysis of Existing Validated Tools. J Pain Res. 2025 Apr 28;18:2233-2240. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S495181. PMID: 40322587; PMCID: PMC12047283.

Austin Martindale, M.D.
Medical School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
BIO/Hometown: I’m originally from a tiny town in Alabama. I did my undergrad at the University of Alabama, my graduate studies at Auburn (Roll Tide), and went to medical school at UAB. Outside of medicine, I enjoy staying active and being outdoors. I play competitive tennis, and when I’m not on the court, you’ll probably find me hiking, hunting, fishing, or cooking
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: I chose this program because a friend of mine who trained here spoke highly of the experience and the quality of education. It offers the best of both worlds - a strong academic foundation with the hands-on, high-volume exposure you'd expect from a private practice environment. That combination really stood out to me.
Anesthesia Interest: Obstetrics
Research Projects/Paper/Poster Presentations: "Anterior Mediastinal Mass with Significant Pericardial Effusion at 22 Weeks of Pregnancy" presented at American Society of Anesthesia National Meeting 2024

Billy Morvant, M.D.
Medical School: University of Tennessee
BIO/Hometown: I grew up in West Monroe, LA and moved to TN for undergrad in Nashville, where I met my wife, who is now an endocrinologist at Vanderbilt. I enjoy rock climbing, soccer, traveling, and cooking/eating.
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: The department was very supportive of me when I was a medical student and offers great opportunities to function independently which is not always the case at major academic centers.
Anesthesia Interest: Will do my Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology fellowship at Duke University in 2026. Interested in complex cardiac surgery and cardiac support.

Brant Young, M.D.
Medical School: USC School of Medicine Greenville
BIO/Hometown: Abbeville, SC
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: Nearby access to lakes and things to do outside. Personable and approachable people during interview.
Hobbies/Fun Fact: Hunting and fishing; I grew up on a farm and my wife and I started buying Highland cattle during residency.
Anesthesia Interest: Likely rural general

Cody Bly, D.O.
Medical School: UNTHSC- Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
BIO/Hometown: I was born in Williamsport, PA but moved to White Oak, TX when I was 8 years old and lived there since. I worked as an anesthesia tech in my gap year prior to starting medical school which initiated my pursuit of anesthesiology. I met my beautiful wife while in medical school, and now we have a precious14-month old girl and a little boy on the way!
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: I had a 4th year away rotation at UTHSC COM-Knoxville and my wife was able to accompany me. The hospitality and friendliness of the group towards my wife and I was much appreciated since we don’t have family here. The level of autonomy entrusted to residents from the start, camaraderie amongst various specialties, and overwhelming support of the department were some of the many reasons I chose to train here.
Anesthesia Interest: Cardiac and Critical Care, Medical Missions
Research Projects/Paper/Poster Presentations: Medically Challenging Cases at ASA

Christian Bolton, M.D.
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
BIO/Hometown: Hometown: Petoskey, Michigan Undergrad: University of Michigan
Originally a music major, I ended up majoring in Economics and minoring in music. I took a long route to medicine with 4 gap years working as a research assistant under the chronic pain department at University of Michigan and completing a masters in physiology. I prioritize my time outside of the hospital golfing, woodworking, reading and doing crosswords.
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: UTHSC COM-Knoxville produces excellent clinicians but not at the expense of work/life balance. I think it is extremely rare to find a residency program that gives you as thorough training as here while still allowing time to study and live your life outside of the hospital.
Anesthesia Interest: Cardiothoracic

Daren Chen, M.D.
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Hometown: Hometown: New Hyde Park, NY
Hobbies/ Fun Fact: Cooking, movies, video games, board games, saltwater fishing, art history; I have a minor in art history.
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: I felt very relaxed and comfortable during my interview with UTHSC COM-Knoxville, and everyone seemed friendly and well supported. As someone who is a bit tired of growing up close to NYC, Knoxville is a great city that is not too big, but is active with a lot of stuff to do. I've had a great experience with all the other residents and faculty I've had the opportunity to work with.
Anesthesia Interest: General Anesthesia

J. Brett Crump, M.D.
Medical School: University of Utah
BIO/Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: Education and training are important, but most importantly I wanted my residency to be a fun life adventure. Moving across the country put me out of my comfort zone, but Knoxville has been the best part of my residency. I love the culture, the outdoors, and the "small town" feel of an otherwise big city. The program does a great job encouraging and supporting residents to be able to prioritize their life outside the hospital. Also, I needed an SEC football team to cheer for and UT happened to be peaking at just the right time.
Anesthesia Interest: Cardiac

Logan Evans, M.D.
Medical School: University of Kentucky
BIO/Hometown: Ashland, KY
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: The academic/private practice hybrid model was very appealing and the level of autonomy in the program was hard to beat! I can’t imagine being anywhere else. Anesthesia Interest: Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, Critical Care
Research Projects/Paper/Poster Presentations: Ketamine Use for Pain Control in Endocarditis and Septic Emboli: Association with Increased Hospital Length of Stay and Potential Treatment Completion Benefits - ASA 2025

Andrew Killion, M.D.
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
BIO/Hometown: I am from Avon, IN - a suburb of Indianapolis. I went to Indiana University in Bloomington for college where I met my wife and enjoyed watching the Hoosiers. We moved back to Indianapolis for medical school after graduation where we got our dog Beau!
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: There were several reasons why I chose UTHSC COM-Knoxville. On interview day, there was an immediate click with leadership and residents. The autonomy given to the residents to help foster growth was something that intrigued me. I also grew up traveling to the Smoky Mountains as a kid with my family and knew I loved the area.
Anesthesia Interest: Private Practice

Jacob Letson, M.D.
Medical School: University of South Alabama
Hobbies/ Fun Fact: Travel, watersports, watching college football, golfing poorly; I’ve been to 17 different countries.
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: Great resident camaraderie, down to earth faculty that allow for perfect balance of education and clinical duties.
Anesthesia Interest: Chronic Pain

Alan Philip George, M.D.
Medical School: UAB Heersink SOM
BIO/Hometown: I grew up in Massachusetts and moved to Huntsville Alabama in high school. I finished undergraduate and medical school at UAB in Birmingham Alabama. My lovely wife is a pediatrics resident at Vanderbilt.
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: I really enjoyed how welcoming and laid back all the residents and faculty were at UTHSC COM-Knoxville. I also really enjoy the Knoxville area and the proximity to so many beautiful areas nearby that are great for biking and hiking.
Anesthesia Interest: Cardiac and Critical Care Anesthesia

Joey Raffel, M.D.
Medical School: Wake Forest School of Medicine
Hometown: Stuart, FL
Hobbies/ Fun Fact: Playing with my dog, hiking, fantasy football, weightlifting, and everything New York Giants; My favorite movie is Goodfellas and my favorite food is sushi.
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: After my interview, I knew this is where I wanted to be. Everyone was extremely friendly, and I was confident that I would receive fantastic training in a supportive environment. The location, beautiful scenery, and numerous activities to do outside of work were an added bonus. The faculty is so kind, helpful, and supportive. The residents are very close with one another and it truly feels like a family. Plus we get to root for great collegiate teams, go Vols!
Anesthesia Interest: Chronic pain, regional, or general

Ruthann Tincher, M.D.
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
Hometown: Columbus, GA
Hobbies/ Fun Fact: Hiking, college football, spending time with friends; I’ve met a strange amount of celebrities at random places
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: I love the people here! Everyone supports one another and it feels like a true community. I know I will receive excellent training with a supportive and fun working environment.
Anesthesia Interest: General/private practice

Neel Atawala, M.D.
Medical School: Mercer University School of Medicine (Savannah, GA)
BIO/Hometown: I'm originally from Toronto, Canada but grew up in Albany, Georgia. I went to Georgia Tech for undergrad and graduated with a degree in neuroscience. Prior to medical school, I worked as a medical scribe in an emergency department and ENT clinic.
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: I was drawn to the anesthesiology program because of its small class size and emphasis on early resident autonomy during anesthesia training. Outside of residency, I've enjoyed exploring various trails in/around Knoxville as well as the Smokies nearby.
Anesthesia Interest: Cardiothoracic anesthesia

Thompson Butler, M.D.
Medical School: UAB Heersink SOM
Hobbies/ Fun Fact: Working out, shopping, flower arranging; My favorite food is Macaroni and Cheese
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: Close to home, great faculty and staff, significant exposure to routine and complex medical problems
Anesthesia Interest: OB or cardiac

Shelby Chaney, M.D.
Medical School: Western Michigan University Homer Stryker SOM
BIO/Hometown: I am from a small town south of Chicago. I grew up on a horse ranch and barrel raced for many years. Right now it’s just me, my husband, and our 2 cats in Knoxville, but our parents will be moving here soon!
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: My interview at UTHSC COM-Knoxville stood out from all my others because of how down to earth and genuine everybody was. And it was very important to me that I was able to train somewhere I felt comfortable and supported. Also the landscape and weather is so beautiful here compared to the Midwest.
Anesthesia Interest: Not sure yet- maybe chronic pain

Dylan Parker, M.D.
Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Hobbies/ Fun Fact: I love spending time with my wife and son, whether it’s going to the park, zoo, or playing golf. I am a huge soccer and football fan, so the fall is one of my favorite times of the year.
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: UT has always been home for me. I was born at UTMC, I researched here in college, and I did medical a school here. I have always had great experiences in this hospital, so it was a no brainer to stay on for residency.
Anesthesia Interest: General Anesthesia

Alex Schneller, M.D.
Medical School: University of Kentucky
BIO/Hometown: Bowling Green, KY
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: WHY NOT!? Interviewing here made me want to come here over my home program it felt so much like home. The residents couldn’t hide how much they loved it and now I see why. The attendings were exactly what I was looking for in that they loved to teach not just the science of anesthesia but how to practice it in this modern world. You get every experience you could ask for in a residency here and I have no regrets ranking and matching here.
Anesthesia Interest: Pain/General

Emily Stewart, M.D.
Medical School: Indiana University
BIO/Hometown: I grew up in the small town of Henryville, IN, and earned my undergraduate degree from the University of Louisville. I’ve always loved spending time outdoors, and in my free time, you can usually find me kayaking, fishing, or biking.
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: Interview day was wonderful - the faculty and residents were warm, friendly, and down-to-earth. Everyone at the hospital is kind and welcoming, which makes coming to work an enjoyable experience each day. Outside of work, Knoxville felt like the perfect fit. It’s close to my family in Indiana and Kentucky and offers plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy in my free time.
Anesthesia Interest: General Anesthesia

Owen Van der Werf, M.D.
Medical School: Loma Linda University
BIO/Hometown: I was born in LA and grew up in Palm Desert, California where I met my wife when we were 18 years old. I attended Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ for undergrad before going back to California for Medical School at LLU. I originally planned to do ENT, but after not matching to a position and having a young child at home I completed a year of preliminary general surgery residency at my home institution before setting my sights on Anesthesiology. My wife Montana and I have 2 children, hoping to have more.
Why UTHSC COM-Knoxville: Where I started my training doing general surgery in California we served the population of San Bernadino County, which inspired much of Grand Theft Auto 5. I learned a lot, but it was not what I was looking for regarding my growing family. I wanted something different and UTHSC COM-Knoxville was a breath of fresh air along the interview trail. The people were kind, genuine, and had actually read my CV. I knew it was a place I would be happy. More importantly, I knew my family would be happy too.
Anesthesia Interest: General / Pain
Research Projects/Paper/Poster Presentations: "A Review of Drug-Drug Interactions Between Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV (PREP) and Medications Commonly Administered During General Anesthesia" presented at Disneyland during the California Society of Anesthesiology Conference, April 2024.