Ob/Gyn Residency

Dr. Lauren Knowlson joined MAHEC Ob/Gyn Specialists as faculty in August 2019 after completing her Residency training at MAHEC. She received her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Doctorate of Medicine degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill. She has a passion for residency education, curriculum innovation, and resident wellness/well-being as well as an interest in residency research and simulation. Dr. Knowlson joined the residency leadership team as Associate Program Director in January 2022 and has served on the Clinical Competency Committee and as both the Outpatient Curriculum Director and Advocacy Curriculum director. She has an interest in obstetrical care, advanced gynecologic care, and surgery for women of all ages. She enjoys teaching residents and has special interests in gyn surgery, gyn office-based practice, and pelvic & vulvar health. Outside of work, Dr. Knowlson enjoys running and spending time with her family in the beautiful mountains of Western NC.

Dr. Katherine Grette joined MAHEC Ob/Gyn Specialists in October 2022 from the University of South Alabama, where she completed residency before joining faculty. Dr. Grette has a passion for educating patients about their health, as well as for training resident physicians. Her clinical interests include polycystic ovarian syndrome, chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and minimally invasive surgical techniques. She participates in women’s health research and will continue to act as a resource for resident research at MAHEC.

Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, time with family, and an annual two week hunting trip in the Idaho wilderness! She is excited to explore all that Asheville has to offer.

Dr. Barrow was born and raised in the panhandle of Florida. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Food Science & Human Nutrition and his medical degree at the University of Florida. He completed is Ob/Gyn residency training at University of South Florida in Tampa, FL. He then moved to Brevard in 2010 where he has been practicing full-spectrum Ob/Gyn care since then. He performs gynecologic surgery with a focus on minimally-invasive laparoscopic surgery such as single-site total laparoscopic hysterectomies, among many other procedures for prolapse, incontinence and sterilization. In addition to surgery, he attends deliveries at Mission Hospital on Labor and Delivery and teaches residents. In the office, he sees patients for prenatal and postpartum care, annual wellness visits, ultrasounds, contraceptive counseling, incontinence care and a multitude of procedures. Dr. Barrow has also served as Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery for Transylvania Regional Hospital and earned his Masters of Business Administration in 2018 from University of Florida. He is now honored to be Medical Director for MAHEC Women’s Care at Brevard and remains dedicated to continue providing care to the community for many years to come.

When not at work Dr. Barrow enjoys relaxing with his wife and 2 children, hiking, rowing, lifting weights, woodworking/building, gardening and traveling.

Undergraduate: Elon University
Medical School: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton, OH
Residency: MAHEC Ob/Gyn Residency Program
Board Certified

Dr. Bre Bolivar is a recent graduate of the MAHEC Ob/Gyn Residency Program and is delighted to stay in Asheville as a faculty member. She currently works as an Ob/Gyn Hospitalist where her primary role is to care for hospitalized obstetric patients and manage obstetric emergencies. She also provides urgent gynecologic care and consultation for patients in the emergency department or those already admitted to the hospital. Dr. Bolivar also serves as the Patient Safety Officer for Women’s Services at Mission Hospital. Her specific interests include improving management of obstetric hemorrhage and decreasing the rate of cesarean section. She finds joy in helping women feel comfortable during their hospital stay while navigating unexpected experiences. Outside of work, Dr. Bolivar enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter.

Dr. Lisa Carroll is a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist. She joined the MAHEC Maternal-Fetal Medicine division in 2020 after completing Medical School at the University of North Carolina, Ob/Gyn Residency at Boston Medical Center, and MFM Fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. Throughout her training and career, Dr. Carroll’s clinical and research interests have been guided by her commitment to social justice and equity for marginalized populations.

Dr. Carroll specializes in providing care for women who are ‘at risk’ and considering pregnancy, or those who are experiencing ‘high-risk’ or complicated pregnancies for a variety of reasons. Dr. Carroll sees patients who are undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic procedures such as comprehensive ultrasound, chorionic villus sampling and genetic amniocentesis. She also consults with patients who have medical and surgical disorders coincident with or prior to pregnancy, which includes heart disease, chronic hypertension, diabetes/other endocrinologic disorders, kidney/gastrointestinal diseases and infectious diseases. Otherwise healthy women who may require these services are those whose pregnancies are at markedly increased risk for adverse outcomes, such as those with abnormal serum screens, multiple gestations, recurrent preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes or growth abnormalities of the fetus. Dr. Carroll considers it a great privilege to walk with women through questions and complications that arise in pregnancy in effort to achieve the healthiest possible outcomes for women and their growing families.

Dr. Amelia Cline is a generalist Obstetrician and Gynecologist who joined MAHEC faculty after completing residency at MAHEC Ob/Gyn. Prior to that she received her BSPH at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and attended medical school at UNC School of Medicine.

Dr. Cline enjoys practicing the full spectrum of obstetrics and gynecology including managing high risk pregnancies and gyn care for patients of all ages. She has a special interest in rural medicine and maintaining access to high quality outpatient and surgical care throughout WNC. She works in both MAHEC’s Franklin and Asheville locations as well as Angel Medical Center and Mission Hospital. Outside of work she loves Dolly Parton, cooking, and finding new swimming holes in these beautiful mountains.

Dr. Carol Coulson is a Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist. She specializes in providing care for women who are ’at risk’ and considering pregnancy or those who are already pregnant and ’high-risk’ or complicated for a variety of reasons. Dr. Coulson sees patients who are undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic procedures such as comprehensive ultrasound, chorionic villus sampling, and genetic amniocentesis. She also consults on patients with medical and surgical disorders coincident with or prior to pregnancy including heart disease, chronic hypertension, diabetes and other endocrinologic disorders, kidney and gastrointestinal diseases, and infectious diseases. Otherwise healthy women who may require these services are those whose pregnancies are at markedly increased risk for adverse outcomes such as those with abnormal serum screens, multiple gestations, recurrent preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, or growth abnormalities of the fetus.

Medical School: Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 1997
Residency: Ob/Gyn Residency Program, St. John’s Mercy Medical Center, St. Louis, MO, 2001
Board Certified

Dr. Currens provides general gynecologic and obstetrical care for women. She has a special interest in pediatric and adolescent gynecology, gynecologic care for patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities, resident and medical student education, and mindfulness education for healthcare providers.

Medical School: University of Florida, 2008
Residency: University of Florida, 2012
MFM Fellowship: University of Florida, 2015
Board Certified

Dr. Kathryn Davidson is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist. She joined the MAHEC Maternal-Fetal Medicine division in 2014 after completing medical school, residency, and fellowship at the University of Florida. Although she grew up on the Space Coast of Florida, she previously called North Carolina home while attending undergrad at Wake Forest University. She is passionate about helping families grow by optimizing the health of each pregnancy.

Dr. Davidson specializes in providing care for women who are ’at risk’ and considering pregnancy, or those who are experiencing ’high-risk’ or complicated pregnancies for a variety of reasons. She sees patients who are undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic procedures such as comprehensive ultrasound, chorionic villus sampling, and genetic amniocentesis. Dr. Davidson also consults with patients who have medical and surgical disorders coincident with or prior to pregnancy, which includes heart disease, chronic hypertension, diabetes/other endocrinologic disorders, kidney/gastrointestinal diseases, and infectious diseases. Otherwise healthy women who may require these services are those whose pregnancies are at markedly increased risk for adverse outcomes, such as those with abnormal serum screens, multiple gestations, recurrent preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, or growth abnormalities of the fetus.

Medical School: Quillen College of Medicine, ETSU
Residency: MAHEC Ob/Gyn Residency Program
Board Certified

Dr. Elizabeth England grew up in the mountains of Eastern Tennessee. She joined MAHEC Ob/Gyn Specialists in May 2018 after working as a rural Ob/Gyn provider in the far Western portion of North Carolina. She completed Medical School at Quillen College of Medicine, ETSU, and her Residency at MAHEC Ob/Gyn. Dr. England has a special interest in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery as well as resident and medical student education. She enjoys practicing the full range of generalist obstetrics and gynecology in the hospital and in the office. Dr. England enjoys virtually all outdoor activities, including whitewater rafting, mountain biking, and snow skiing.

Undergraduate Education: Duke University
Medical School: Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Residency Program: MAHEC Ob/Gyn Residency
Board Certified

Dr. Fan has been practicing general obstetrics and gynecology at MAHEC since 2013. After receiving her residency training at MAHEC, she graduated and joined our Ob/Gyn faculty because of her love for the program and the people she met along the way. Dr. Fan has precepted medical students since 2013 and became the Ob/Gyn clerkship site director in 2020. She assumed the role of Academic Advisor for SOM Asheville in 2025. In MAHEC's Ob/Gyn residency program, she works closely with interns during their weekly continuity clinic and advises several residents as Core Administrative Faculty. She provides full-spectrum Ob/Gyn care, which includes contraception, prenatal care, and osteoporosis. When she is not working, she enjoys baking, hiking, and learning new languages.

Dr. Foglia joined MAHEC Ob/Gyn Specialists in September 2022. She retired from the U.S. Army after over 24 years of service. She completed her Residency and MFM Fellowship at Madigan Army Medical Center and was the Designated Institutional Official at Womack Army Medical Center at Ft. Bragg, NC. Dr. Foglia enjoys teaching residents and fellows and was the Ob/Gyn Residency Program Director at Madigan for seven years. She has special interests in medical education, health equity, and simulation. She is also active in ACOG and currently serves as the Chair of the Armed Forces District. Outside of work, she enjoys hanging out with her dog Sophie, yoga, and enjoying all the culinary delights that Asheville has to offer.

Medical School: A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Womack Army Medical Center, Ft. Bragg, NC
Board Certified

Dr. Rob Malsby joined MAHEC Ob/Gyn Specialists in April 2019. He previously served as the Assistant Deputy Commander for Women’s Health, Winn Army Community Hospital, Fort Stewart, GA. He was also Chief of Clinical Operations and teaching faculty in the Department of Ob/Gyn at Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, NC, after serving as Division Surgeon with the 82nd Airborne. He received numerous Commendation and Service Medals while providing service to our country. He is an Associate Clinical Professor with the University of North Carolina School of Medicine’s Department of Ob/Gyn and now serves as Medical Director with MAHEC Ob/Gyn Specialists.

Dr. Erica Manogue joined MAHEC Ob/Gyn Specialists in February 2022. Her Residency was completed at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center after finishing medical school at the University of South Alabama. After spending a few years in private practice in Atlanta, GA and Auburn, AL, she and her family moved to the mountains of Western North Carolina. Dr. Manogue has an interest in obstetrical and gynecologic care for women of all ages. She enjoys teaching residents and has special interests in pediatric and adolescent gynecology. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 kids, as well as baking and hiking.

Dr. Marietta joined MAHEC Ob/Gyn Specialists in January 2023 after working for seven years as a rural family medicine physician in Polk County, NC. She completed her Family Medicine Residency in 2012 at Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency, and she was board certified in Addiction Medicine in January 2022. She is passionate about caring for pregnant and parenting people with substance use disorders and working to bring these services to more people in rural communities. She also has specific interests in comprehensive reproductive health access, providing gender-affirming care, and teaching medical students and resident physicians. Outside of work, she enjoys yoga, hiking, swimming, visiting local fairs and farmers’ markets, and exploring all the beautiful nooks and crannies of Western North Carolina with her family.

Dr. Nathan Mullins is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist and addictionologist with expertise in substance used disorders in pregnancy. He works as the medical director for an opioid treatment program as well as part-time faculty for the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) Ob/Gyn residency program. Dr. Mullins earned his medical degree from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and completed his residency at MAHEC.

Dr. Mullins obtained his DATA-2000 waiver in 2016 and began treating pregnant and postpartum patients with buprenorphine for opioid use disorder as part of a multidisciplinary team at MAHEC where he supervises and educates MAHEC residents and serves as a consultant for community physicians on the treatment of opioid use disorder in pregnant patients. Dr. Mullins is also the medical director for a community-based opioid treatment program that uses both methadone and buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder.

Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
Residency: Oregon Health & Science University Ob/Gyn Residency Program, Portland, OR
Fellowship: Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
Board Certified

Dr. Patricia Overcarsh joined MAHEC Ob/Gyn Specialists in October 2019. She has trained in various regions of the country and is happy to now call Asheville home. She completed a fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and completed residency at Oregon Health & Science University and medical school at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Overcarsh provides full-scope Ob/Gyn care and has a special interest in the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding, endometriosis, fibroids, and pelvic pain. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, and playing tennis.

Dr. Kiran Sigmon is a general obstetrician and gynecologist with a particular interest in the diagnosis and management of vulvar skin disease and sexual pain. She started the MAHEC Vulvar Clinic in 2006 to assist other providers in the WNC region with difficult cases, including recurrent vaginitis, lichen sclerosis, lichen planus, lichen simplex chronicus, and vulvodynia, to name a few. She works with other local providers to provide patients with opportunities to explore treatments, including physical therapy, acupuncture, and nutritional counseling. She also helps patients address the psychosocial components of living with chronic pain by working closely with local mental health professionals. Dr. Sigmon feels strongly about educating patients, other providers, and the community about issues related to genital health and sexuality, and many local physicians rotate seeing patients with her in the Vulvar Clinic.

Medical School: Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
Residency: Walter Reed Army Medical Center/National Capital Consortium
MPH: Yale University School of Public Health
Board Certified

Dr. Amy Willis joined MAHEC Ob/Gyn Specialists in October 2017. Before moving to Asheville, she was an Ob/Gyn provider at Womack Army Medical Center in Fort Bragg and was a Staff Physician at the 21st Combat Support Hospital in Tikrit, Iraq. She completed her Residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Medical School at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. She also received her Master’s Degree in Public Health from the Yale University School of Public Health. Dr. Willis has an interest in advanced gynecologic care and treating women of all ages from adolescence through menopause. Her special interests include in-office procedures, contraception, infertility, abnormal bleeding, and menopausal disorders. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, reading historical fiction, hiking and traveling.

Medical School: UNC School of Medicine
Residency: University of Pittsburgh
Fellowship: Northwestern

Dr. Harkness graduated from the University of South Florida School of Medicine. He completed his residency in OB/GYN here in Asheville at MAHEC. Dr. Harkness then completed his fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Minnesota.

Undergraduate: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
Medical School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
Residency: University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences Center, Magee-Women’s Hospital
Fellowship: University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences Center, Magee-Women’s Hospital

Dr. Howden has been practicing UroGynecology in Asheville since 2005, a partner at Western Carolina Women’s Specialty Center. She is married to her husband, Jeff, and they have twin boys, Frank and Charles. Everyone in the family enjoys being outside, swimming, golf, running, baseball, and watching/cheering all things Tarheel!

Dr. Vanderkwaak graduated from the Wayne State College of Medicine. He completed his OB/GYN residency and his fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Aimee Feste is a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) at MAHEC OB/GYN Specialists. She provides personalized care from your first period until after menopause, plus all the important health events in between. Her interests are providing individualized care that focuses on partnering with the woman, and active involvement of clients and families. Aimee’s interests include focusing on health and wellness and physiologic labor and delivery and providing “Centering in Pregnancy” prenatal care.

Cheryl Harrington, MSN, CNM, was drawn to Centering because it offers wonderful continuity of care and the ability to follow a woman all the way through her pregnancy. She appreciates having more time with women to educate, support, and facilitate empowerment for the healthiest pregnancy possible. Cheryl has been married for 17 years and has one canine baby, Porter, a mini bull terrier that looks just like the Target dog. She is the oldest of 12 children, so she has plenty of family. Cheryl lives just outside of Pisgah Forest where she likes to play and enjoys hiking, mountain biking, and learning to swing dance.

Karen Hilbert is a native of Pennsylvania, but has spent her entire medical career in the South. She graduated from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania with her Bachelors of Science Degree in nursing. Her first love was labor and delivery and began her career in that field shortly after graduation. After several years as a labor and delivery nurse in several tertiary care hospitals, she pursued her Master’s Degree in nursing from the Medical College of Virginia. She subsequently was Board Certified as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. After working in Northern Virginia, Raleigh, NC, Mt. Pleasant, SC and Greenville, SC she joined MAHEC Women’s Care at Brevard in April 2022.

Karen enjoys taking care of women throughout their lifespan and enjoys establishing long term relationships with her patients and catching up on their lives at each appointment. She has a particular fondness for obstetric patients due to her extensive labor and delivery experience. She enjoys teaching patients about their health so they are active participants in their wellbeing. During her free time, Karen enjoys spending time with her husband and grown twin children. She enjoys reading, cross stitching, photography, gardening and traveling to visit her extended family in Pennsylvania.

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Summa Cum Laude, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 1994
• Masters of Science in Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 1996
• School Nurse Certification Program, St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA, 2008

Wendy Jones joined MAHEC Ob/Gyn Specialists in March 2020. She is a Certified Nurse-Midwife, and received her midwifery degree at Oregon Health & Science University, in Portland, OR. Before moving to Western North Carolina, Wendy was working with the Navajo and Hopi populations in Northern Arizona. When she is not working, she likes to run on the trails around Asheville.

Katie Lillethun joined MAHEC OB/GYN Specialists in September 2018. She is a Family Nurse Practitioner who provides full-scope care for women of all ages. Katie received her Masters of Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner Degree from East Tennessee State University and her Bachelors of Science Nursing Degree at Eastern Kentucky University. She also has a degree in English and Film from Emory University. Before joining MAHEC, Katie worked in primary care for more than six years with Hot Springs Health Program in Madison County. She was a nurse for many years at Mission Hospital Emergency Department Level II Trauma Center before returning to school for her Masters’ Degree. Katie’s passion has always been Women’s Health and she enjoys caring for women of all ages. In her spare time, she’s typically engaging in an outdoor activity with her husband and her two young boys.

• Bachelor of Science, Nursing, Rush University College of Nursing, 1996
• Masters of Science, Nursing, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, 2015

• BSN, UNC-Chapel Hill
• CNM, MSN, Vanderbilt University

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.