Meet Dr. Christopher Hayes: Bringing Compassionate Women’s Care to Sevier County

When Christopher Hayes, DO, was searching for his first practice after residency, he wasn’t looking for a large city hospital, instead, he was looking for a community, a desire that ultimately led him to Covenant Health LeConte and LeConte Women’s Healthcare Associates.  

“I was really looking for a kind of rural place,” Dr. Hayes said. “After talking with the team and seeing what they had built here, I realized this would be a really great place to work.” 

From Military Service to Medicine 

Dr. Hayes was raised in a military family. He became the first in his family to go directly to college after high school. He initially studied computer science before realizing he wanted to work more closely with people. 

Using ROTC to help pay for college, he served eight years in the Army before earning his medical degree from Lincoln Memorial University. 

His desire to continue serving others never changed. 

“I was thinking about what a good fit for my family would be while allowing me to keep serving others and strengthening communities,” he shared. 

That search eventually led him to obstetrics and gynecology. 

Now, the Army veteran and father of four with a fifth child on the way is bringing his passion for women’s healthcare to Sevier County. 

Caring for Women Through Every Stage of Life 

What attracted Dr. Hayes to OB-GYN was the chance to build lifelong relationships. 

“You really get to support women throughout their whole life,” he said. 

Unlike many specialties, OB-GYN allows physicians to care for patients through major life milestones. They support women in pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and beyond. 

During residency in Buffalo, New York, Dr. Hayes delivered more than 500 babies. Some of his most meaningful experiences came from helping families through difficult pregnancies and celebrating healthy deliveries after years of infertility or pregnancy loss. 

“There’s nothing greater than working in your community with people that you love and being able to help them,” he said. “You can’t beat it.” 

Why LeConte Stood Out 

After interviewing across East Tennessee, Dr. Hayes found himself drawn to LeConte for a simple reason: it offered the feel of a community hospital backed by the strength of Covenant Health. 

As someone passionate about rural healthcare, he understands how important local labor and delivery services are to a growing community. 

“When you lose obstetric services, it’s like losing a school in a town,” he said. 

Many people associate Sevier County with tourism, but after moving his family to the area, Dr. Hayes found something different. “There’s a lot more to the town and area than we would have imagined,” he said. “That has been a nice surprise.” 

He appreciates that LeConte remains deeply connected to the local community while still offering the resources, specialists, and support of the Covenant Health network. 

Bringing Advanced Surgical Technology to Patients 

Dr. Hayes also brings specialized training in robotic-assisted surgery, which expands treatment options for women needing gynecologic procedures. 

As Covenant Health LeConte continues investing in advanced technology, patients will have access to innovative surgical care closer to home. 

“Covenant Health is a strong organization with a lot of good resources,” Dr. Hayes said. “Whenever we have very complicated cases, we’ve got specialists, support, personnel, and equipment that we can rely on.” 

For patients, that means community-based care with access to the expertise and technology of East Tennessee’s largest health system. 

Life Outside the Clinic 

 Away from work, Dr. Hayes enjoys many of the things that drew his family to  East Tennessee. 

He works on his own vehicles, keeps a garden, raises chickens, and enjoys homesteading with his family. 

Those experiences help shape the approachable style he brings to patient care. 

“I want my patients to know they can bring whatever concerns and questions they have and we’ll work it out together,” he shared. 

In fact, if a patient has a concern they’ve seen on Facebook or TikTok, he has a simple response, “Show me the video,” he said. “Let’s watch it together.” 

His goal is to create an environment where patients feel heard, respected, and comfortable asking questions. 

“It doesn’t have to be a bad experience,” he said. “They can come to a team that is willing to listen to them and work with them.” 

Schedule an Appointment 

Covenant Health LeConte provides care for women through gynecology, pregnancy, labor and delivery and more. Dr. Hayes is now accepting patients at LeConte Women’s Healthcare Associates.