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

Dr. Ernesto de la Torre graduated from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in 1998, completed a family medicine internship at Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, VA and then completed his family medicine training at Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, FL. He is board certified in Family Medicine and spent 8 years on active duty in the US Navy as a physician including one tour in Iraq in 2006-07. He has spent the last 14 years practicing medicine in Western NC and joined MAHEC in 2025 to work in the multispecialty clinic in Cullowhee to serve the community and ultimately act as a preceptor for providers-in-training in a rural setting.

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

MAHEC Ob/Gyn Specialists
119 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 771-5500

MAHEC Ob/Gyn Specialists at Franklin
56 Medical Park Drive
Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 634-4565

MAHEC Health Center at Cullowhee
Western Carolina University, Health & Human Sciences Building
3971 Little Savannah Road
Cullowhee, NC 28723
(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
Mental Health Professional

MAHEC Health Center at Cullowhee
Western Carolina University, Health & Human Sciences Building
3971 Little Savannah Road
Cullowhee, NC 28723
(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.