About Us
Mission:
Cleveland Medical Associates is committed to providing primary medical care services to the residents of Bradley County and surrounding communities in a quality, caring, efficient, and cost-effective manner while striving to continuously improve.
Goals:
Quality Of Care: Maintain and improve the quality of care and services provided to our patients in a time effective manner.
Accessibility: Continually seek to improve accessibility for our patients to Cleveland Medical Associates and to improve our accessibility to potential patients in our service area.
Objectives
- To create a safe environment for daily operations
- Provide an atmosphere of compassion and understanding.
- Promote convenience and efficiency for both the patient and staff.
- Strive to achieve a team approach regarding delivery of health care toward each patient.
- Promote knowledge and skills for the staff’s professional development.
- Maintain all patient information as confidential.
- Promote Patient education and preventative health.
Our Practitioners
Azhar Sheikh, MD
Dr. Azhar Sheikh began his career over 7000 miles away in 1987 in Lahore, Pakistan. After earning his medical degree from Allama Iqbal Medical College, Dr. Sheikh worked as an anesthesiologist.
As someone who appreciates a wide scope of practice and developing long-term relationships with his patients, Dr. Sheikh decided to transition to Internal Medicine starting with a move to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the early 90s. There, he completed his residency at Western Pennsylvania Hospital.In 1996, Dr. Sheikh moved to Cleveland, TN, where he has been practicing since.
He has held various leadership positions throughout his career, including Chief of Staff at Cleveland Community Hospital and involvement in leadership committees at Tennova Hospital. He also finds joy in teaching and uses this passion to lead preceptorships for both medical students and advanced practice provider students.
With over two decades of experience in Internal Medicine, Dr. Sheikh manages a large range of medical conditions with a compassionate approach to patient care, taking the time to understand each individual’s unique needs.
Outside of work, he enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending quality time with his wife and daughter.
Dr. Sheikh’s dedication to exceptional healthcare and his caring approach has made him a trusted provider in the community.
Kamran Farrukh, MD
Dr. Kamran Farrukh is a Board-Certified Internist and has been providing Primary Internal Medicine Care to patients for over 30 years. He specializes in Adult Medicine and is well trained to solve diagnostic problems, provide preventive care services, and manage severe long-term illnesses including hypertension, diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, cardiovascular, pulmonary, GI, and renal disorders.
Dr. Farrukh has vast experience in Hospital Medicine and taking care of Geriatric patients. He partners with patients to maximize outcomes and practices with compassion while employing evidence-based practice to yield a holistic experience for the patient.
He has worked as a County Physician for Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department taking care of public health needs and providing care for undeserved indigent population at the homeless clinic for 3 years before transitioning to a Primary Care Practice in Cleveland, TN. He completed a year of Medical-Surgical Internship at Mayo Hospital and Medical Center after obtaining a Medical Degree from King Edward Medical College in Pakistan in 1989. He trained for a year in Rheumatology at the Allegheny-Hahnemann University Center in Philadelphia, PA. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency in 1996 from Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, an affiliate of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, NY.
Dr. Farrukh gets his motivation from reading quotes, listening to renowned scholars, and common people he encounters in his daily life. For instance, when life brings challenges, he remembers the quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt “a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor,” and feels inspired by words of Rumi, a Turkish poet that stated, “If everything around seems dark, look again, you may be the light.”
Outside of work, he loves to travel, hike, enjoys historical sites, and spends valuable time with his family. He has been married for over 30 years to a caring wife and his two wonderful children, a daughter and a son, who both are college graduates from UAB in Birmingham, AL.
Although he has benefited immensely from educational institutions, Dr. Farrukh believes his best teachers have been his family, friends, and above all, his wonderful patients. He promotes the notion that in the walks of life and practical relationships, “kindness changes everything.”
Nicole Bernatowicz, DO
Nicole Bernatowicz joined CMA in 2021. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Physics and Chemistry at a Church of God college called Anderson University in Indiana. She then went to Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pennsylvania from 2003 to 2007. Prior to her military commitment, she completed one year of internship training at Michigan State University Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies.
Dr. Bernatowicz served her country in the United States Air Force from 2008 to 2012 as a Flight Surgeon, taking care of the flyers and their families, while getting experience with aircraft mishap investigations, public health inspections, and acute medical care.
She received excellent training at University of Tennessee in Chattanooga at UT Family Practice from 2012 to 2015. She worked for Tennova primary care clinic for 8 years prior to coming to CMA.
She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. She keeps up on the latest medical recommendations by subscribing to American Family Physician publication.
She and her husband have 3 handsome boys who are very active in sports and even bull riding. She and her husband are the owners of M6:8 Functional Fitness and Running Trails in Ooltewah, TN, so they are very active in the community for the promotion of health and fitness. So, to sum Dr. Bernatowicz up, she loves God, Family, Country , her community and her patients.
Kent Chastain, MD
Dr. Kent Chastain was born in Athens, Tennessee, and grew up in Polk County. He has traveled around the Southeastern area but settled down in Delano, Tennessee. He graduated from Polk County High School with honors.
Dr. Kent Chastain went to undergraduate school at Tennessee Wesleyan University in Athens, TN where he was inducted into the Alpha Sigma Epsilon. He obtained his medical degree at The University of Tennessee in 1982 where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society and Alpha Omega Alpha fraternity, and won the Department of Medicine award. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at Duke University where he served as Junior and Senior Assistant Resident in Medicine and Chief Resident at Durham County General Hospital, and was inducted into the Phi Chi fraternity. He became board certified in the area in 1985.
For the past 38 years, Dr. Chastain has worked as an internal medicine provider and served in a variety of settings in Cleveland, TN. He was a managing partner for Internal Medicine Group and Peerless Medical Associates. He served as the Medical Director of the Echocardiogram Lab and Chief of Staff at Bradley Memorial Hospital. He has been the Medical Director at Tennova Hyperbaric and Wound Treatment Center since 2010. He was the Medical Director for Peerless Medical Associates for 15 years before moving to Cleveland Medical Associates.
Additional Certifications:
Certified Clinical Densitometrist since 2007
Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation since 2008
Community Service: Good Samaritan Center
Dr. Chastain is an avid farmer who enjoys his sheep, cows, pigs, dogs, and chickens. He grew up on a farm where his parents farmed cattle. He fell in love with the lifestyle and has ran a successful farm for over 15 years with his spouse.
Daniel B. Vance, MD
Dr. Daniel B. Vance was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Dr. Daniel Vance III and Dr. Minnie Vance, obtained his bachelor’s degree in 1975 from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In 1979, he earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences in Memphis.
Following this, he completed his Internal Medicine residency training at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis in 1983. Dr. Vance then relocated to Cleveland with his wife, Dr. Janet Snoddy, and they have three daughters: Dr. Elizabeth Randolph, Katherine Vance, and Dr. Leah Utset.
Dr. Vance joined Cleveland Medical Associates in 2021 and is affiliated with MDVIP. His MDVIP practice emphasizes personalized healthcare, prevention, and longevity.
His medical journey included 38 years of experience as a Hospice Medical Director and a founding member of the American Academy of Hospice Physicians in 1988.
Dr. Vance is a member of MDVIP – a national network of primary care doctors who see fewer patients so they can focus on delivering personalized medicine, patient-centered medicine and preventive care that starts with the MDVIP Wellness Program. To become a member, visit his direct link: https://www.mdvip.com/doctors/danielvancemd
Kristy Henegar, MSN, NP-C
Kristy Henegar joined Cleveland Medical Associates in 2022. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2009 and worked as a registered nurse in various settings. She received her Master of Science in Nursing from UTC in 2018 and has worked in primary care since. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and traveled to Australia to present research at the STTI Nursing Congress in 2018. She is also a member of Chattanooga Area Nurses in Advanced Practice. She and her husband reside in Cleveland with their son, and enjoy being outdoors, camping, hiking, and traveling.
Leslie Casteel, MSN, NP-C
Leslie Casteel joined Cleveland Medical Associates in 2024.
Leslie has 26 of nursing experience. She received her Master’s Degree in Nursing from Southern Adventist University in 2020. She enjoys primary medicine and encouraging her patients to live a healthy lifestyle. Outside of work she enjoys watching her boys play baseball, watching sports, especially the Atlanta Braves and Tennessee football, and spending time with her family.
Ashlee Downey, Physician Assistant
Ashlee Downey joined the staff at Cleveland Medical Associates in 2023.
Ashlee is a Cleveland native and received a masters in medical sciences from Lincoln Memorial University in 2018. Since graduating she has practiced in a wide range of medical specialties including Emergency Medicine, Hematology/oncology and Orthopedics. She is trained in a wide variety of procedures including joint injections. When not taking care of patients Ashlee enjoys traveling with her husband and spending time outdoors with their two dogs, hiking, running, and biking.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are you open?
Office hours:
- MONDAY-THURSDAY 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- FRIDAY 8:OO AM – 12 NOON
- PROVIDER HOURS MAY VARY
- LAB HOURS MAY VARY
I am a new patient. What can I expect?
New patient appointments are scheduled with Physicians only.
Due to this protocol there can sometimes be a wait to get an appointment with a provider.
For this reason it is so very important to keep your scheduled appointment if at all possible.
We call our new patients one week prior to their appointment to confirm and then we send out an automated reminder 48 and 24 hours prior to your appointment.
We want to make every effort to allow you to cancel and reschedule your appointment so that other patients may be seen if they have a need.
If you fail to cancel your appointment or if you no show the provider could possibly deny future appointments to you.
Please make all reasonable effort to contact us with rescheduling needs.
How do I schedule an appointment?
You can call our office at (423) 478-1050 or if you are sick and need an immediate appointment, “click here” to schedule with our Physician’s Assistant.
Do you accept my insurance?
As we take most insurances, please contact your insurance directly to make sure we are in network.
Are you taking new patients?
Many of our providers are taking new patients. Please call us at (423)478-1050 to make an appointment.
What if I am late to my appointment?
Please call the office if you are going to be more than 10 minutes late.
What is your scheduling policy?
It is always our priority to schedule our patients as soon as possible. There may be times that it is necessary for you to see our nurse practitioner or physician assistant for the earliest availability.
What if I miss an appointment?
For a missed or no-show appointment, the provider may elect to terminate their relationship with you in the event of multiple appointments missed due to no show.
My appointment was cancelled, now what?
Do you charge a fee for a missed appointment?
What if I need an appointment today?
We make every effort to see a patient who is sick or needs same day care.
What is a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?
A Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is meant to enhance your health and focuses on your well-being through interviews and assessments of your lifestyle factors. You will be asked to fill out a health risk assessment before your appointment.
Why do I need a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?
This visit aims to keep you healthy and give you the tools to have a good quality of life as you age. It also allows your health care team to review your health status, design a personalized prevention plan and connect you with critical preventive services covered by Medicare Part B.
How often should I see my doctor?
- If you are on a controlled substance, you should be seeing your doctor every 3 months.
- If you are well, you should check up at least once a year with your doctor.
- When you are sick, please call us immediately.
How do I get my test results?
Each provider may have different processes in place for test results. Please ask your provider how to expect to receive your results.
How to I get my prescription refilled?
Call the office line at 423-478-1050 and leave the following information:
- Full name
- Date of Birth
- Your phone number
- pharmacy name (address if there is more than one)
- name and dosage of medications
You can also request a refill through the Patient Portal
Refill – we require refills be requested at least 48 hours for maintenance medications and 7 days for controlled substances.
How long does it take for my prescription(s) to be ready?
If you have left a voicemail or a message through the portal with our nurse, please allow up to 24-48 hours for our nurse to listen to that voicemail or read the message and put in the refill to your pharmacy. You can contact your pharmacy after to get an accurate wait time on your prescription(s).
What information should I leave in a voicemail?
You should leave the patient’s name, patient’s date of birth, and a brief description of what you are calling about.
How long should I wait for a response after I leave a voicemail or message through the patient portal?
Please allow up to 24-48 hours for a response.
Who do I talk to about my bill?
Call the office line at 423-478-1050 ext 136
Lab questions may be directed to the number for Path Group on your bill.
How do I get set up with the patient portal?
You can download the Healow app on your iPhone or Android. If you have any questions, you can call our office at (423) 478-1050.
How do I get in touch with my nurse?
You can call the office at (423) 478-1050 and leave a voicemail on the nurses line or send a message through the patient portal.
What do I need to do if I am scheduled for an ultrasound?
What is our fax number?
(888) 853-7312
When calling the office after hours you will hear a prompt for the on-call service.
If you are experiencing a life threatening emergency please call 911!
Our Office
Hours
Monday - Thursday:
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday:
8:00 am - 12 noon
Provider Hours May Vary
Lab Hours May Vary