Meet Our Faculty
Our dedicated and experienced faculty members provide well-rounded training experiences with one-on-one mentoring that helps you deliver high-quality, compassionate patient care.
Andrew Scott Ryals, DO – Program Director
Dr. Ryals is certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Medicine/OMT. He graduated with a doctor of osteopathic medicine from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences-College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed residency with the McAlester Regional Medical Center-Family Medicine program. Dr. Ryals has been with Mercy full-time since 2024 and has served as a core faculty member for Mercy Hospital Fort Smith’s Family Medicine Residency since 2021. In addition, he holds an adjunct clinical faculty position at Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine and is precepting rotations for third- and fourth-year medical students. Prior to coming to Mercy full time, Dr. Ryals worked as the director of clinical skills and associate professor of family medicine at the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Delilah Easom, MD – Core Faculty and Internal Medicine Program Director
Dr. Easom is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. She graduated with a doctor of medicine from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where she also completed her residency. Dr. Easom has been with Mercy since 2004 and served as medical director of the Mercy Hospitalists Group from 2004 until 2015 and medical director of the Mercy Hyperbaric and Wound Care Clinic since 2013. She became program director for Mercy Hospital Fort Smith’s Internal Medicine Residency in 2022. Dr. Easom is certified as a wound care specialist physician by the American Board of Wound Management.
Christopher Fortson, MD – Core Faculty and Family Medicine Program Director
Dr. Fortson is a native of Arkansas. He attended medical school at St. George's University and completed his residency at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS)-West in Fort Smith. Dr. Fortson has a special interest in HIV care and is passionate about preventive health for all ages. He is married with two children and enjoys movies, reading and gardening in his spare time.
Amy Schochler, DO – Core Faculty and Family Medicine Core Faculty
Dr. Schochler attended medical school at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth and completed residency at the University of Wyoming in Cheyenne. She is married with two daughters. Hobbies include reading, horseback riding and walks with her dogs. She also enjoys leading the medical team on yearly mission trips to Guatemala with John Brown University.
JoAnn Chandler, MS – Program Manager
JoAnn completed her master’s degree in College Student Personnel and has worked nearly 25 years in higher education. Most recently, she served as the director of clinical rotations at the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine. JoAnn is an avid baker, scout troop leader and mother to three teenage boys.
