MAHEC Health Center at Cullowhee

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Ernesto de la Torre, MD Ernesto de la Torre, MD
Family Practice Physician Faculty

MAHEC Health Center at Cullowhee map
Western Carolina University
Health & Human Sciences Building
3971 Little Savannah Road
Cullowhee, NC 28723
phone (828) 257-4719

Born and raised in NC, Dr. Ernesto de la Torre graduated from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in 1998 and later completed a family medicine internship at Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, VA. He is board-certified in Family Medicine and spent eight years as a physician on active duty in the U.S. Navy. He practiced in Western NC for 14 years before joining MAHEC in 2025. Dr. de la Torre provides full-scope family medicine services and strongly believes in shared decision-making with his patients, encouraging them to take an active role in their care. He provides care for all ages, from newborn and pediatric care to geriatric care.

Christi Garrett Hunt, MD Christi Garrett Hunt, MD
Ob/Gyn Generalist

MAHEC Health Center at Cullowhee map
Western Carolina University
Health & Human Sciences Building
3971 Little Savannah Road
Cullowhee, NC 28723
phone (828) 257-4719

Undergraduate: BA, University of North Carolina -Chapel Hill
Graduate: MD, St. Louis University
Residency: OBGYN University of Missouri-Kansas City

Christi Garrett Hunt, MD, was raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and developed a strong appreciation for Western North Carolina during her undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. After she and her husband, Jason—an Emergency Medicine physician—completed their medical training in the Midwest, they chose to return to WNC to build their careers and family life, raising their two girls in Asheville.

Dr. Hunt joins MAHEC following 25 years of a rewarding private practice in the Asheville community. She is committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care in a smaller community setting and is especially passionate about supporting women through all stages of their reproductive and menopausal transitions. Known for her attentive listening and clear communication, Dr. Hunt values collaboration with patients and families to help them achieve their personal health goals.

She brings extensive experience in contraceptive counseling and management, menopausal care, in-office procedures, infertility treatment, obstetrical care, laparoscopic surgery, and a wide range of minor and major gynecologic surgical procedures. Dr. Hunt is excited to join the MAHEC team and looks forward to continuing her dedication to patient-centered women’s health.

Dolly Pressley Byrd, CNM, PhD Dolly Pressley Byrd, CNM, PhD
Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Certified Nurse Midwife

MAHEC Health Center at Cullowhee map
Western Carolina University
Health & Human Sciences Building
3971 Little Savannah Road
Cullowhee, NC 28723
phone (828) 257-4719

Undergraduate: BA, Wake Forest University
Graduate: MSN, Yale University
Doctoral: PhD, UNC Greensboro School of Nursing

Dolly Pressley Byrd was born and raised in Western North Carolina. She returned to the area and joined MAHEC in 2005 as a Certified Nurse Midwife. Dolly loves her experience of being "with women through their lifetime"―especially fostering new and growing families. Dolly embraces the shared decision-making model and encourages her patients to be involved in the process of planning their care. In addition to prenatal appointments and attending deliveries at Mission Health Systems, she also provides well-women gynecologic, preconception counseling, and contraceptive services―specializing in IUD and Nexplanon insertions.

Ashley Tickle, LCMHC-A Ashley Tickle, LCMHC-A
Mental Health Professional

MAHEC Health Center at Cullowhee map
Western Carolina University
Health & Human Sciences Building
3971 Little Savannah Road
Cullowhee, NC 28723
phone (828) 257-4719

Ashley earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Florida State University and her master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Montreat College in 2023. Before joining our team, she worked as a school-based therapist, supporting children and families in developing healthy coping skills and emotional resilience. She’s excited to now provide mental health services to the Cullowhee community and is passionate about creating a warm, supportive space where clients can feel understood and empowered to make meaningful change.

Ernesto de la Torre, MD Ernesto de la Torre, MD
Family Practice Physician Faculty

MAHEC Health Center at Cullowhee map
Western Carolina University
Health & Human Sciences Building
3971 Little Savannah Road
Cullowhee, NC 28723
phone (828) 257-4719

Born and raised in NC, Dr. Ernesto de la Torre graduated from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in 1998 and later completed a family medicine internship at Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, VA. He is board-certified in Family Medicine and spent eight years as a physician on active duty in the U.S. Navy. He practiced in Western NC for 14 years before joining MAHEC in 2025. Dr. de la Torre provides full-scope family medicine services and strongly believes in shared decision-making with his patients, encouraging them to take an active role in their care. He provides care for all ages, from newborn and pediatric care to geriatric care.

Christi Garrett Hunt, MD Christi Garrett Hunt, MD
Ob/Gyn Generalist

MAHEC Health Center at Cullowhee map
Western Carolina University
Health & Human Sciences Building
3971 Little Savannah Road
Cullowhee, NC 28723
phone (828) 257-4719

Undergraduate: BA, University of North Carolina -Chapel Hill
Graduate: MD, St. Louis University
Residency: OBGYN University of Missouri-Kansas City

Christi Garrett Hunt, MD, was raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and developed a strong appreciation for Western North Carolina during her undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. After she and her husband, Jason—an Emergency Medicine physician—completed their medical training in the Midwest, they chose to return to WNC to build their careers and family life, raising their two girls in Asheville.

Dr. Hunt joins MAHEC following 25 years of a rewarding private practice in the Asheville community. She is committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care in a smaller community setting and is especially passionate about supporting women through all stages of their reproductive and menopausal transitions. Known for her attentive listening and clear communication, Dr. Hunt values collaboration with patients and families to help them achieve their personal health goals.

She brings extensive experience in contraceptive counseling and management, menopausal care, in-office procedures, infertility treatment, obstetrical care, laparoscopic surgery, and a wide range of minor and major gynecologic surgical procedures. Dr. Hunt is excited to join the MAHEC team and looks forward to continuing her dedication to patient-centered women’s health.

Dolly Pressley Byrd, CNM, PhD Dolly Pressley Byrd, CNM, PhD
Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Certified Nurse Midwife

MAHEC Health Center at Cullowhee map
Western Carolina University
Health & Human Sciences Building
3971 Little Savannah Road
Cullowhee, NC 28723
phone (828) 257-4719

Undergraduate: BA, Wake Forest University
Graduate: MSN, Yale University
Doctoral: PhD, UNC Greensboro School of Nursing

Dolly Pressley Byrd was born and raised in Western North Carolina. She returned to the area and joined MAHEC in 2005 as a Certified Nurse Midwife. Dolly loves her experience of being "with women through their lifetime"―especially fostering new and growing families. Dolly embraces the shared decision-making model and encourages her patients to be involved in the process of planning their care. In addition to prenatal appointments and attending deliveries at Mission Health Systems, she also provides well-women gynecologic, preconception counseling, and contraceptive services―specializing in IUD and Nexplanon insertions.

Ashley Tickle, LCMHC-A Ashley Tickle, LCMHC-A
Mental Health Professional

MAHEC Health Center at Cullowhee map
Western Carolina University
Health & Human Sciences Building
3971 Little Savannah Road
Cullowhee, NC 28723
phone (828) 257-4719

Ashley earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Florida State University and her master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Montreat College in 2023. Before joining our team, she worked as a school-based therapist, supporting children and families in developing healthy coping skills and emotional resilience. She’s excited to now provide mental health services to the Cullowhee community and is passionate about creating a warm, supportive space where clients can feel understood and empowered to make meaningful change.

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