Brian Johnston, MSS, ATC, OTC
Assistant Athletic Director
For Sports Medicine
Brian is entering his sixth year and was recently named Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine. A former graduate of the NATA approved Athletic Training Curriculum, Brian has been associated with East Tennessee State University for over 10 years.
After graduating from ETSU in 1998, Brian worked with Southeastern Sports Medicine in Asheville, NC and then at Greenwood High School where he taught Anatomy and Physiology and oversaw the schools athletic training needs. Brian rejoined the ETSU Athletic Training Staff in 2001 as the Assistant Athletic Trainer where he oversaw the Buccaneer Football team for three years. During that time, he assisted the sports medicine staff with the Pittsburgh Steelers in mini camp sessions. In 2003, Brian became the interim head athletic trainer and interim Clinic Director for the Jerry Robertson BucSports Athletic Medicine Center.
Brian serves as the primary athletic trainer for baseball while overseeing the entire Sport Medicine program. He also has responsibilities for men’s soccer, women’s soccer, men’s golf, and women’s golf.
The Knoxville, TN native received his Masters in Sport Science Degree from the United States Sports Academy in 2002 and a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with a concentration in Athletic Training in 1998. He is a certified instructor for CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer. He is a member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association, Southeastern Athletic Trainer’s Association, and Tennessee Athletic Trainer’s Society. Brian currently resides in Johnson City and is married to the former Sherri Saltys (ETSU ‘98) and has two children, Derek and Isaac.
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Brett Lewis, MA, ATC
Assistant Athletic Trainer for Male Sports
Brett is entering his third year as Assistant Athletic Trainer. Prior to becoming Assistant Athletic Trainer, he served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer for ETSU. During his tenure as a graduate assistant, Brett worked with the baseball, women’s basketball, men’s tennis, and women’s tennis teams.
Brett serves as the primary athletic trainer for men’s basketball while overseeing responsibilities for men’s tennis, women’s tennis, and cheerleading. He is certified in CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer.
The South Pittsburg, TN native received his Master of Arts degree in Exercise Physiology from East Tennessee State University in 2007 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from Middle Tennessee State University in 2005. Brett is a licensed athletic trainer in the state of Tennessee and is a member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association, Southeastern Athletic Trainer’s Association, and Tennessee Athletic Trainer’s Society. He currently resides in Johnson City, TN.
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Lori Hill, MHS, ATC
Assistant Athletic Trainer for Female Sports
Lori is entering her fourth year as Assistant Athletic Trainer. Prior to coming to coming to ETSU, she served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer for Western Carolina. During her tenure at WCU, Lori worked as the primary athletic trainer for the volleyball and baseball teams.
Lori serves as the primary athletic trainer for women’s basketball while overseeing responsibilities for volleyball and softball.
The Knoxville, TN native received her Master of Health Sciences degree from Western Carolina University in 2006 and a received a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from Gardner-Webb University in 2004. Lori is certified in CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer. She is licensed athletic trainer in the state of Tennessee and is a member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association and Southeastern Athletic Trainer’s Association. She currently resides in Jonesborough, TN.
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Elizabeth Schoen, MA, ATC
Assistant Athletic Trainer
Liz is entering her second year as Assistant Athletic Trainer and Executive Aid for the Center of Excellence. Prior to this, Liz served two years as a graduate assistant for ETSU. During her tenure as a graduate assistant, Liz worked with the ETSU men’s and women’s track and field and cross-country teams while also working extensively with the SPEC program. She will now serve as the primary athletic trainer for the men’s and women’s track and field and cross-country teams.
A native of Warrenton, VA, Liz earned her Master of Arts degree in Sports Management from East Tennessee State University in 2008 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan in 2005. While at Northern Michigan, Liz worked with the men’s ice hockey and football programs. She previously worked for Hood College in Frederick, Maryland working with the men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and football programs. She also worked with U.P. Sports Medicine Clinic and with area orthopedic surgeons.
Liz is a certified in CPR/AED for the professional rescuer and is a licensed athletic trainer in the state of Tennessee and is a member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association. She currently resides in Jonesborough, TN.
Ralph L. Mills, M.D.
Team Physician
Dr. Ralph L. Mills is a native of Madisonville, TN. Dr. Mills joined ETSU/BucSports, the athletic medicine arm of the ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, in December 2003. He has served as the Team Physician for East Tennessee State athletes since 2004.
A graduate of King College, Mills earned his M.D. degree from the James H. Quillen College of Medicine in 1984 and completed his family practice residency with ETSU Family Physicians of Kingsport, where he was named “Most Outstanding Senior Resident” in 1987. At one time he was the youngest licensed physician in the state of Tennessee. He is board certified by the American Board of Family Practice and holds a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Sports Medicine,for which he scored in the top one-third percentile on his certificationexam. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Medicine.
Locally, Mills serves as a team physician for Daniel Boone and David Crockett High Schools, and annually helps coordinate and organize sports physicals for over 1,000 middle and high school athletes. He holds a teaching appointment as Assistant Clinical Professor of Family Medicine with the Quillen College of Medicine, and teaches/runs a rotation in Sports Medicine for Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Pediatric residents.
He is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine(ACSM), American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), Tennessee Academy of Family Physicians (TAFP), and the Southern Medical Association (SMA).
Mills also been affiliated with Appalachian Orthopaedic Associates in Johnson City since 2001, and continues to have a private practice of Sports Medicine there. He is married to Candance (Candi) Mills, and lives in Johnson City.
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Keith Leiting
Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer
Keith is entering his first year as a graduate assistant at ETSU and will be working with the women’s soccer team. He graduated from Western Illinois University in May 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. While at Western Illinois, Keith worked with the football, men’s basketball, women’s soccer, baseball, and track and field teams. Keith also recently completed an internship with Disney’s Wide World of Sports during the spring of 2009. He also served as a Squad leader and Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps from 2001 to 2005. Keith is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, Great Lakes Athletic Training Association, Illinois Athletic Trainers’ Association, and is a Keith is a native of and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology and Performance at ETSU.
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Megan McCauley, ATC
Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer
Megan is entering her first year as a graduate assistant and will be working with the ETSU women’s volleyball team. She graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training. During her undergraduate career, Megan worked with the James Madison swim team and baseball team, William & Mary football, and Eastern Mennonite University men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey, and men’s and women’s track and field. Megan also worked with University of Virginia Gatorade camps during the summer of 2008. She is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Training Association, and the Virginia Athletic Training Association. Megan is a native of New Port News, VA and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology and Performance.
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Kyle Spanik
Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer
Kyle is entering his first year as a graduate assistant at ETSU and will be working with the men’s and women’s cross-country and track and field programs. He graduated from Radford University with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training in May of 2009. While at Radford, Kyle worked with Highlander baseball, women’s soccer, track and field, and men’s basketball. Kyle also worked with Virginia Tech spring football in 2008. He is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and the Virginia Athletic Trainers’ Association. Kyle is originally from Montclair, Virginia and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Sport Management here at ETSU.
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Burena Smith, ATC
Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer
Burena enters her first year as a graduate assistant working with the ETSU women’s tennis and cheerleading. She comes to ETSU after working as an athletic training intern with Wofford College. While at Wofford, she was the primary athletic trainer for baseball and cross-county and also assisted with football. Burena graduated in May 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Human Performance concentrating in Athletic Training from the University of Tennessee at Martin. While at UTM she worked with men’s and women’s basketball, tennis, softball, volleyball, and football. Burena was a varsity cheerleader at UTM and speaks fluent German. She is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Sports Management here at ETSU.
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Andrew Swanson, ATC
Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer
Andrew is entering his first year as a graduate assistant at ETSU and works with the men’s soccer team. Andrew comes to ETSU after working as an athletic training intern for the University of North Carolina at Asheville. There he worked as the primary athletic trainer for volleyball and baseball. He also has previous work experience at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. Andrew received a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from Northern Michigan University, in Marquette, Michigan in May of 2004. While at UNM, he worked with men’s ice hockey, volleyball, basketball, swimming and diving, and football. Andrew is originally from Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Sports Management at ETSU.
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Heather Hess, ATC
Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer
Heather enters her second year as a graduate assistant athletic trainer and works with the ETSU men’s and women’s cross-country and track and field programs. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati, OH in May of 2008. While at Mount St. Joseph, Heather worked with the lacrosse, softball, soccer, basketball, and track and field programs. She also worked with Northern Kentucky Xtreme Semi-Pro Football Team as a student assistant. Heather is a member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association and the Greater Cincinnati Athletic Trainer’s Association and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Sport Management at ETSU.
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Zachary Ensor, ATC
Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer
Zack is entering his second year as a graduate assistant athletic trainer and works with the ETSU baseball team. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Athletic Training from Tusculum College in May 2006. While at Tusculum, Zack worked with the football, men’s basketball, women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball programs. He also worked as a summer intern athletic trainer with the Tennessee Titans in 2005 and 2006 and as a physical therapy technician for Sycamore Shoals Hospital. Zack, a native of Elizabethton, Tennessee, is a member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology and Performance at ETSU.
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Alex Hondl
Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer
Alex enters his second year as a graduate assistant and works with the ETSU men’s tennis and cheerleading programs. He graduated from the University of North Dakota in May of 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training. Alex worked with UND football, volleyball, men’s basketball, women’s soccer, and track programs. He also worked with the Idaho Sports Medicine Clinic performing rehab duties for pre- and post-surgical patients. He is a member the National Athletic Trainer’s Association and the North Dakota Athletic Trainer’s Association. A native of Baxter, Minnesota, Alex is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Sports Management at ETSU.
Dawn Thomas, ATC
Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer
Dawn is entering her second year as a graduate assistant at ETSU and works with the softball program. Dawn graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Human Performance concentrating in Athletic Training. While a student at UTM, she worked with football, softball, baseball, and women’s soccer. She also has worked with several high school sports through STAR Physical Therapy in Union City, Tennessee. The Arlington, Tennessee native is a member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology and Performance.
