Our five board-certified dermatologists all have extensive teaching backgrounds and are continually investigating the most current procedures and treatments.

Dr. George B. Winton Dr. Donald E. Clemons Dr. Robert J. Clemons Dr. Paul M. Benson Dr. Steve L. Peterson Dr. Timothy L. Gardner

Skin cancers are the fastest growing type of cancer in the United States. Skin cancer represents the most commonly diagnosed malignancy, surpassing lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. More than 1 million Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in 2008.

A physician, medical practitioner or medical doctor is a person who holds a medical degree, practices medicine, and is concerned with maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease and injury. This is accomplished through a detailed knowledge of anatomy, physiology, diseases and treatment the science of medicine and its applied practice the art or craft of medicine.

Dr. Winton graduated with distinction from the United States Military Academy (West Point) in 1967.  He was commissioned a second Lieutenant in the Regular Army and served tours of duty as a field artillery officer in West Germany and Vietnam.  In Vietnam he was awarded a Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal. In 1971 he attended Stanford University on an Army scholarship and earned a Masters Degree in Aeronautic/astronautics in 1972 and a Degree of Engineer in biomedical engineering in 1973.  After serving briefly as an instructor of mathematics at West Point, he began studies at the Medical University of South Carolina, graduating in 1978.  He completed both a dermatology residency and a fellowship in dermatologic surgery at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX.  As a military dermatologist, he held positions as chief of Dermatology and Chief of Medicine at Fort Jackson SC, Assistant Chief of Dermatology and Chief of Mohs Microscopic Surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington D.C.  While at Walter Reed, he received the "A Designator" of the Surgeon General of the Army indicating exceptional competence in his specialty. 

Dr. Winton Retired from the Army in 1989, receiving the Legion of Merit for his 22 years of military service.  He moved to Johnson City, TN where he has remained in private practice.  He is Board Certified in Dermatology and a Fellow of the American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology,  the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery.  He has  authored or co-authored 27 articles in the medical literature and has been named to "Best Doctors in America" for 1996, 2001, and 2006, He is co-founder of Tri-Cities Skin and Cancer. 

Dr. Clemons graduated from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in 1967 and from Louisiana State University School of medicine in New Orleans on a full military scholarship in 1971 while on active duty in the Army.  He finished his residency in Dermatology at Fitzsimons Army Medical center in Denver, Colorado in 1977, spent three years in Landstuhl Germany as chief of Dermatology for the regional army hospital and then completed a dermatopathology residency at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology at Walter Reed Army; Medical Center in 1981.  He was assigned to the teaching staff in the department of dermatology at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio Texas where he retired from the army in 1987 as a full Colonel.  He settled in Johnson City in the spring of 1987 and began his private practice of Dermatology.  He continues to lecture and teach to resident physicians, medical students, physicians in practice, as well as the general community. 

He is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, American Society of Dermatologic Surgery and American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery. He is past President of both the East Tennessee Dermatologic Society and the Tennessee Dermatologic Society.  He has authored numerous Dermatology articles, a chapter in a Dermatologic text book, and is co-author of a Dermatologic/Ophthalmologic text book.

Dr. Robert Clemons graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1994 with a Batchelor of Science degree and began his medical training at the James H. Quillen College of Medicine in Johnson City, Tennessee in 1994.  After graduating in 1998 he traveled to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to study in the department of Dermatology.  He was elected in the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society while in his Internship year.  He was elected to chief resident during his final year of residency in 2002 and was also elected to president of the resident council that year.  Following his training in Dermatology, Dr. Clemons returned home to Johnson City to begin practice at Tri-Cities Skin and Cancer where he is in practice today.  He has particular interest in pediatric skin conditions and contact dermatitis and is on adjuvant faculty in the department of pediatrics at the Quillen College of Medicine.

Dr. Paul Benson joined the staff of the Tri-Cities Skin and Cancer Clinic in August 2004.  He retired as a Colonel from the US Army in June 2004 after serving more than 26 years on Active Duty in the Army Medical Corps.  He is a graduate of Tulane School of Medicine in New Orleans and Completed a Flexible internship at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu.  He completed his dermatology training at Letterman Army  Medical Center in San Francisco and has been Board Certified Since 1982.

After serving a 3 year tour of duty in Germany he was assigned to Walter Reed Army Medical Center.  While in Washington D.C. he served as Chief of the Dermatology Service for 4 years and the Combined Dermatology Residency Program Director for the Walter Reed-National Naval Medical Centers dermatology residency program for 5 years.  He was also a Dermatology Consultant to the Office of the Attending Physician at the US Capitol.  He is co-author of more than 50 medical publications and book chapters.  He has been a co-investigator on a number of clinical research studies including skin cancer and most recently tropical diseases of  soldiers in the Gulf.

Dr. Peterson joined Tri-Cities Skin & Cancer in 2005.  He is Board Certified in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery; and certified by the American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology, and the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons.

His practice is limited to the surgical management of cancer, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Dr. Peterson attended Cornell University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  He received his bachelor degree in Bacteriology in 1983, and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1988.  He was in private practice for 5 years and then completed an Internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery in 1994 at Kansas State University.  He attended the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC; and received his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1998.  He completed a residency in Otolryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in 2003; and a fellowship in Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology in 2004, at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences,  His training has encompassed all aspects of general otolaryngology (ENT), pediatric otolaryngology, otology, head and neck oncology, and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Dr. Timothy Gardner joined the staff of the Tri-Cities Skin & Cancer team in March 2007.  He is originally from Abingdon, VA and has moved back to the region after his dermatology training and 13 years in the U.S. Army.  Dr. Gardener spent the last 5 years on the dermatology residency teaching staff of Brooke Army Medical Center and the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio.  He was responsible for teaching both clinical dermatology and dermatopathology to over 20 residents.  He attended medical school at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville (1993), Dermatology residency at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio (1999), and Dermatopathology fellowship at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington D.C. (2000).

Dr. Gardener's experience has allowed Tri-Cities Skin & Cancer to incorporate dermatopathology into the region as he and Dr. Donald Clemons have worked to open Tri-Cities Dermatopathology Lab.  Partnering such years of experience only continues to improve the quality of skin care provided to our community.

Dr. Gardener's interest include skin cancer, inflammatory diseases of the skin, and issues of aging skin.