Meet Our Providers
Our best-in-class providers are here to partner with you on the road to better health
Dr. Richard Mays, MD is a family physician who has been in private practice in Knoxville, TN since 1978. He is board certified in two different medical specialties, the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) and the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM). He is board eligible for the American Board of Integrative Medicine. He is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the Tennessee Medical Association (TMA) and the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) as well as several other professional societies such as Who’s Who Among American Professionals.
Dr. Mays did his undergraduate training at University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Ky from 1976-1980, where he double majored in Mathematics and Chemistry. While there he achieved the status of High Honor every year and was a member of the J.T. Vallandingham Society (the highest honor bestowed upon a student at the University of the Cumberlands). Dr. Mays then attended medical school at the University of Kentucky-Lexington where he graduated in the top 25% of the class in 1984. Dr. Mays completed his residency training program in Family Medicine at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville from 1984-1987.
In 2008, Dr. Mays authored “The Bible Diet” a book which discussed Biblical principles on healthy eating and disease prevention. Dr. Mays has traveled for speaking engagements on diet, nutrition, and healthy living all over the South-Eastern United States. Dr. Mays has special interest in nutrition, obesity, disease prevention as well as chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, adrenal fatigue, diabetes, and other fatigue syndromes.
On a personal note: Dr. Mays has a strong faith in God and has taught at multiple churches the Biblical healing principles and spiritual laws. Dr. Mays is married to his wife of 38 years and has 3 beautiful adult daughters, 3 great sons-in-law, and three grandchildren. Dr. Mays enjoys organic gardening, hiking, photography, basketball, and antique collecting.
Dr. Edward Blanco
Dr. Edward A. Blanco comes to Optimal Health with 22 years of experience in private practice where he focused on structure and function of the spine. Dr. Blañco understands that if you bring balance and function to the spine the patient will have a greater quality of life. Dr Blanco received his Bachelor's degree from Ohio State University in 1989, and his chiropractic degree from Life College in Marietta, Georgia in 1999 where he graduated Cum Laude. Dr. B, as he is known to his patients, has many hobbies. He enjoys spending time working out at the gym or at the beach vacationing! He has one daughter named, Criket, who lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee with her husband Justin.
John Wier NP-C joined Brown Chiropractic and Optimal Health in 2015 after graduating Lincoln Memorial Family Nurse Practitioner program. Before becoming part of the team he practiced as an Emergency Medicine Registered Nurse at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge, Tennessee for nearly a decade.
John has been married to his wonderful wife Katina for 19 years. He has no children but cherishes time spent with his wonderful nieces Adriana and Kasi. His hobbies include boating, shooting, and vacationing at the beach with family.
Dr. Daniel Wilder, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Dr. Daniel Wilder received his B.S. degree in Rehabilitative Science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2003. After receiving his degree there, he then went into the Graduate Physical Therapy program at UTC, where he then earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree in 2005. During his time as a Physical Therapy Clinician, he served as Director of Rehab Services for an over 200+ bed skilled nursing facility and gained experience working in outpatient orthopedic clinics.
Dr. Wilder has treated a variety of Orthopedic and Neurological conditions ranging from acute/chronic Spinal conditions, Stroke Rehabilitation, Vertigo/Vestibular dysfunctions, post-surgical rehab of multiple extremities (hips, knees, shoulders, and ankles), post CVA Rehabilitation, and general debility/balance disturbances, all with positive functional outcomes. He has attended numerous post graduate courses focusing on Stroke Rehabilitation and improving manual therapy skills so that he can maximize patient’s functional outcomes.
In addition, outside of the clinic, Dr. Wilder enjoys going to UT football and basketball games, spending time outdoors, traveling, going to concerts and spending time with his family.