Faculty & Staff

Tom G. Kincer, M.D.

Associate Dean for Rural and Community Programs
Professor, Department of Family Medicine
kincert@etsu.edu 

Dr. Kincer was born and raised in Eastern Kentucky. Growing up in this region gave him firsthand knowledge of the education and healthcare needs of the Appalachian region. He attended Berea College and later went to the University of Kentucky School of Medicine. Upon the completion of his medical residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, he began his lifelong academic journey. Early in his career, he served as a faculty member in Kingsport and later moved to Montgomery, Alabama where he would spend most of his career as a program director. Dr. Kincer has since returned to ETSU to serve as the associate dean for rural and community programs to recruit and train students for the rural and underserved communities of our region.

Melissa Robinson, M.D.

Director, Rural and Community Programs
Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine
robinsonmd@etsu.edu

Dr. Robinson is originally from Chicago and was raised between there and the Southeast. She started working straight out of high school, putting herself through college at night at Georgia State University in Atlanta. Afterward, she taught high school chemistry for many years. When her son went off to college, she enrolled in the Rural Track at ETSU Quillen College of Medicine. After completing a family medicine residency in Bristol, she practiced in rural Hot Springs, North Carolina, for five years. She is excited to return as director for Rural and Community Programs to help students prepare for their future. She and her husband return to their 20-acre share of Appalachian heaven for weekends and holidays, where she enjoys gardening and campfires by the creek. 

Randy L. Byington, Ph.D.

Professor, Allied Health Sciences
byingtor@etsu.edu

Dr. Byington is Professor of Allied Health Sciences at East Tennessee State University, teaching healthcare administration and healthcare research at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. A native of Nickelsville, Virginia, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise and served his clinical internship in Medical Technology at Holston Valley Hospital, in Kingsport, Tennessee. He received both his Master of Business Administration and his doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from ETSU with cognate areas of management, economics, and healthcare administration. Dr. Byington has 23 years of experience in healthcare and healthcare administration.  He oversees the Rural Health Research and Rural Health Program Planning courses for medical students in the QCOM rural health track.

Laura Hunt Trull, Ph.D, MSW

Research Faculty, Rural and Community Programs
TRULLH@etsu.edu 

Dr. Trull is a social worker and associate professor of social work at ETSU. She joins the Rural and Community Programs team to support rural health research for medical students in the QCOM Rural Primary Care Track. She is a native of New Jersey and received her Bachelor's of Social Work from James Madison University, a Master's in Social Work from the University of Minnesota with a concentration in Community Organizing and Advocacy, and a PhD in Strategic Leadership with a concentration in Nonprofit and Community Leadership from James Madison University. Her background is largely in nonprofit management and the federal Head Start program. She has a passion for rural health and community-based work.

Skylar Moore, M.P.H., HCMC

Rural and Community Programs Administrator
mooresd1@etsu.edu 

Skylar has lived in the region her entire life and has a deep love for rural people and rural ways of life. Originally from Johnson City, she received a bachelor’s in healthcare administration, master’s in public health and certificate in healthcare management from ETSU. Prior to joining the Rural and Community Programs team, she spent ten years working in healthcare administration. She continues to live in Johnson City with her husband Garrett and their beagle named Boomhauer. Skylar enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with family. You can find her at ETSU football and basketball games cheering on the BUCS!

Sarah Orick, B.S.

Rural Programs Coordinator
oricksg@etsu.edu 

Sarah Orick is an East Tennessee native and graduated with an undergraduate degree in Radiologic Science from East Tennessee State University. Sarah and her husband Nathan spent several years living in the San Fransisco Bay Area, but are excited to be back home and a part of this community. Outside of work, Sarah loves to travel, read and spend time with her friends and family.

Morgan Scott, MHA, CPT

Underserved Medicine Coordinator
murrayma@etsu.edu 

Morgan was born and raised in Bristol, Tennessee. She pursued her academic journey in health administration at East Tennessee State University's College of Public Health, earning both her bachelor's and master's degrees. She shares a profound passion for travel alongside her husband, Hunter, and adores her three beloved dogs: Pudge, Loki, and Layla. Outside of her professional pursuits, Morgan finds joy in spending time with her loved ones and maintaining an active lifestyle through regular gym sessions.

Lindsey Guinn

Rural and Community Program Facilitator and EQUIP Coordinator
GUINNLM@etsu.edu

Lindsey is a Johnson City native that is truly passionate about giving back to the community. She spent several years in the Chattanooga area, as well as time in Dallas before deciding to come back to this beautiful region. Lindsey received her bachelor's in marketing from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga while taking the opportunity to cheer simultaneously. Her pride and joy is her daughter, Luca, who she spends all of her off time with. Some of her other interests also include traveling, working out in any way, and hiking. 

Valerie Suiter

Rural and Community Programs Facilitator and Global Health Coordinator
suiterv@etsu.edu 

Valerie was born and raised in the Appalachia Highlands and has been with ETSU's Rural and Community Programs since March 2019. She has a husband, a son and two dogs. While not in the office, Valerie loves to explore the area and have family game nights. Along with growing indoor plants such as succulents and cacti, she loves to create and craft in different mediums.

Joe Florence, M.D.

Professor Emeritus, Family Medicine
florencj@etsu.edu 

Prior to Dr. Florence’s retirement from ETSU, he served as the director of rural and community programs. Dr. Florence received a master’s in biology along with a bachelor’s in chemistry and religion from Duke University. He later received his doctoral degree at the Medical College of Virginia and completed a residency at Roanoke Memorial Hospitals. During his career he trained medical students, family medicine residents and other healthcare professionals to prepare them to practice in rural underserved communities. Dr. Florence is now an emeritus professor for ETSU’s rural and community programs.