Medical Answer Book 2022

2022 An Appen Media Group Publication

MENTAL HEALTH

In North Metro – Page 6-7

+

Best of North Atlanta Medical Guide, Pages 32-34

Publisher Emeritus Ray Appen Publisher Hans Appen Editorial Carl Appen Chamian Cruz Patrick Fox Amber Perry Alex Popp Delany Tarr Production David Brown Advertising Mike Dorman Paul Flowers June Michaels Steve Neese

Reproduction of the content of the Answer Book— including all maps and photos — is prohibited without expressed written permission. The Answer Book is a trademarked title. All efforts have been made to verify content. Appen Media Group publishes the Education Answer Book, Community Answer Book, Medical Answer Book and Seniors

Welcome to another edition of the annual Medical Answer Book!

We are always honored to present this extensive medical guide to the north Atlanta community every year. We have great partners in local hospitals, physicians and service providers to help us fill the publication’s page with high quality, useful content, and to advertise within the pages, as well. Many of them are locally owned and operated and a true testament to the high quality of medical services the area has come to expect.

Personally, I have begun to go through the life cycle of medical HANS APPEN appointments for my three young children – regular checkups, Publisher vaccinations, dentist appointments and emergency trips to the hans@appenmedia.com ER when one of them falls off a bike and has a 2-inch gash on their forehead…I am grateful for the area’s doctors that keep my children healthy and safe – as they do so many others.

I am also grateful that we have begun to return to (some) pre-COVID levels of care – more personable and hands-on. I of course understood the need for the elevated levels of protection implemented in many waiting rooms and doctors’ offices, but it could be overwhelming nonetheless, especially for small children.

At the same time, I think that we have, as a society, learned how to take care of each other when and where we need to in a remote capacity. Telemedicine has exploded, and many medical services can and are still provided or at least offered over a video conference. This will inevitably expand the reach of care to areas of the country where services are not as in ready supply as they are in north Metro Atlanta.

To be sure, this continues to be an issue we must address, as made evident by the closing of Atlanta Medical Center, and telemedicine resources can only provide so many answers. Telemedicine cannot provide a child stitches, deliver a baby, or give a cancer patient chemotherapy. We must continue to work on creative solutions to meet people where they are with resources to improve their lives and their well-being.

It is a travesty that Georgia continues to remain on the shrinking list of states that refuse to expand Medicaid. Expanding Medicaid will not cure all of our ills, but it will cure a lot of them, and in this case I am in favor of gradual progress.

We need to move in a positive direction.

I hope that when you read the Medical Answer Book 2022, we will have done just that, and all of Georgia can begin to experience the wonderful services found on the following pages.

Best,

Answer Book. Online versions are accessible on AppenMedia.com.

Contact us at 770-442-3278 or email advertising@appenmedia.com.

Hans Appen, Publisher hans@appenmedia.com On the Cover: Johns Creek City Councilwoman Stacy Skinner applauds after reading the 319 North Main Street, Alpharetta AppenMedia.com

No Shame pledge at the council’s meeting Sept. 12. The No Shame campaign, led by One Johns Creek Coalition, was enacted to facilitate a shame-free environment for mental health in the community. Read more on pages 6-7.

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4 | Medical Answer Book 2022

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Medical Answer Book 2022 | 5

Mental health takes center stage in north metro Atlanta

BY AMBER PERRY Appen Media / September 2022 ATLANTA — September is nationally recognized as Suicide Prevention and Recovery Awareness Month. And, some cities in north metro Atlanta are reminding themselves of that.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness says September is a time to raise awareness about suicide, a “stigmatized, often taboo, topic.”

Suicide was the 12th leading cause of death in 2020, claiming the lives of almost 46,000 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting database WISQARS. Milton and Johns Creek city councils have made proclamations at recent meetings to raise awareness about mental health challenges.

But, the cities’ initiatives to break down stigmas extend beyond September.

At the Sept. 7 Milton City Council meeting, Mayor Peyton Jamison declared September as Mental Wellness Month in the city. Since 2019, the City of Milton and the Alpharetta-based LRJ Foundation have partnered to provide educational programming about mental health throughout the community. Teressa Ruspi Stann, LRJ Foundation co-founder and executive director, began the nonprofit after losing her brother to suicide in 2012.

While the foundation focuses on mental health in schools, Stann said that Milton’s efforts extend beyond the classroom.

“They like to wrap in the support of workplace wellness,” she said.

“And I think that’s very important to connect to the community on all different levels.”

Mental wellness webinar Stann introduced the Sept. 21 mental wellness webinar for Milton residents, which focused on Milton first responders. Last year’s webinar focused on older residents.

Mayor Jamison made opening remarks.

“The reality is that many people from all different places, all different backgrounds and in all different situations struggle daily,” Jamison said. “We in Milton are committed to doing what we can to raise public awareness, combat stigmas and to let people know that help is out there, and they’re not alone.”

The webinar featured other speakers, including Milton firefighter Jamie Leavell,who spoke about the benefits of having a therapy guide dog at the station. Katey, who has been registered as an emotional support animal, sat next to her fishing for treats.

“With the fire service, specifically in public safety in general, the stigma is where we run into the big issue,” Leavell said. “And with the dog, it doesn’t seem like you’re getting therapy. It’s just something that makes you feel a little bit better.”

She said Katey bridges a gap and breaks the ice for people who want to reach out for help but who don’t feel like they can.

Police Chief Rich Austin spoke about the free mental health support officers receive as well as the training that helps them handle on-the-job situations that involve people in mental distress.

He also mentioned the Police Department’s goal of implementing a co-responder team that would allow a licensed mental health professional to assist with crisis calls.

Advocate and educator Chantal Webb, whose organization, In It Together, works with children with special needs and mental illness, talked about ways parents can help their children during times of stress.

Around 4.4 million children between the ages of 13 to 17 are diagnosed with anxiety, Webb said. That number reflects those who

6 | Medical Answer Book 2022

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison stands with Teressa Ruspi Stann, LRJ Foundation co-founder and executive director, at the Sept. 7 Milton City Council meeting. Jamison read a proclamation, once again declaring September as Mental Wellness Month in Milton. The city partnered with the LRJ Foundation a few years ago to provide educational programming about mental health to residents. have been diagnosed, so the number is probably much higher, she said.

“One of the important things we want to do is teach them coping mechanisms,” she said. “So, the message isn’t that we’re not going to have stress in our lives, because we do, but how do we cope with it?”

Counselor and author Veronica White Fernandes, who’s been with the LRJ Foundation for nine years, was the last to speak. Fernandes described ways to keep a balance among areas of personal wellness: emotional, occupational, intellectual, environmental, spiritual, physical and social.

Throughout her presentation, she answered the question, “How do we cope?” by describing ways to manage emotions, improve communication skills, maintain relationships and boundaries. She also focused on mindfulness.

“Sometimes mindfulness can sound like a contradiction because it feels like we’re in our mind, when actually we’re doing our best to be more still than in our thoughts,” Fernandes said.

‘No Shame’ campaign In Johns Creek, City Councilman Chris Coughlin led a No Shame proclamation to promote Mental Health and Suicide Awareness and Recovery Month at the Sept. 12 council meeting. Councilwoman Stacy Skinner followed up with a reading of the No Shame pledge.

Mayor John Bradberry offered additional context by speaking about Patriot Day Commemoration, a 9/11 event the city hosted, and he highlighted how the event’s speaker focused on how 9/11 heightened mental health challenges.

Citing statistics among first responders and military, Bradberry said law enforcement officers and firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. He also said that military suicide rates are four times higher than deaths that occurred during military operations since 9/11.

“I mean, think about those very sobering statistics,” Bradberry said.

Johns Creek partnered with One Johns Creek Coalition to participate in the SAFE Project’s No Shame campaign, which encourages individuals to take a pledge to provide a shame-free environment by learning more about mental health challenges, stigma and the disease of addiction.This is the first year Johns Creek is participating in the campaign.

Pursuing strategies One Johns Creek Coalition, which sits under the 501(c)(3) Pathways2Life, only just established itself in December 2020, after receiving a grant from the city. The coalition then acquired an MOU agreement with the city in December 2021.

The coalition pulls together representatives from all sectors of Johns Creek to accomplish seven strategies of community change, including things like modifying policies and laws and reducing barriers, said Kendal McMichael, youth coordinator for the coalition and prevention specialist at Pathways2Life.

Organizations can become a coalition partner and sign up for a 30-minute presentation from the coalition on shame and stigma.

The nonprofit also offers a presentation on trauma.

“Trauma impacts the ability to relate, and it impacts shame and stigma,” said Alyse Hensel, the coalition’s program director. Hensel also does marketing and operations for Pathways2Life.

Most of the coalition’s initiatives are school-driven because they’re student-focused, she said. McMichael went to Centennial High School in Johns Creek and shared her personal struggles as a teenager.

“I couldn’t even put terms to what I was dealing with because there was no avenue for me to talk to anybody about what I was dealing with,” she said.

McMichael said she wants to create a community where it’s normal to talk about mental health.

The No Shame pledge is set for the month of September. But, Hensel and McMichael are working on another wave from October to December.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Milton Firefighter Jamie Leavell discusses her therapy guide dog, Katey, who sits beside her. Leavell was one of several speakers at the Sept. 21 mental wellness webinar hosted

by Milton and the LRJ Foundation.

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Medical Answer Book 2022 | 7

Georgia experts on 9-8-8 national mental health initiative provide early data

BY AMBER PERRY Appen Media / September 2022 ATLANTA — While data collection is still in the early stages, the 9-8-8 Georgia Steering Committee informed the public of trends seen in the first 45 days of the program’s rollout at a Sept. 7 webinar.

“Just over 50 days ago we took the first steps down a long road towards transforming Georgia’s crisis system and making it easy for those experiencing a behavioral health crisis to know who to call in an emergency,” said Judy Fitzgerald, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) commissioner.

In 2020, Congress designated GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES/PROVIDED the new 9-8-8 dialing code to Georgia’s 9-8-8 steering team present data on crisis episodes by race at a Sept. 7 webinar on the 9-8-8 be operated through the existing rollout, a national initiative to improve mental health care access. Over 30 percent of callers in the first National Suicide Prevention 30 days of the rollout were Black/African American, which is the largest identified population by race.

Lifeline. Beginning July 16 of this year, individuals in crisis could call or text 9-8-8 for 24/7 care. more of individuals will have access to community-based crisis care.

“The similarity to 9-1-1 was a message to everyone, saying the Since the rollout, GCAL has received 476 calls that resulted in active behavioral health crisis needs to be at the forefront here,” Fitzgerald rescues for those whose lives were believed to be in danger. said. “I think that’s certainly how we feel it’s a game changer for An active rescue is an incident where call agents have a significant stigma.” Georgia has been ahead of the curve. Residents have enough concern for a person’s immediate health and safety that they already had the ability to use Mobile Crisis Services by calling the must engage with the local 911 center to trigger an EMS or police Georgia Crisis & Access Line (GCAL) at 1-800-715-4225. The singleresponse. dial call, created over 15 years ago, provides help to those in crisis as During the first 30 days of the 9-8-8 rollout, about 10 percent of well as those seeking information on behavioral health. active rescue calls were made by people under age 18.

The 10-digit number is still operational, but the new three-digit During the same period, the preliminary data shows that number makes it easier to seek help. Calls are directed to the same Georgians in rural southern counties reached out for mental health Georgia call center. and substance use crisis support at higher rates than their urban All 9-8-8 calls are answered by master’s-level behavioral health counterparts. professionals and are supervised by licensed professionals, DBHDD For example, residents in Webster County reached out at twice the Director of ASO Coordination Anna Bourque said. All are trained in rate than residents in Fulton County. Georgia’s 9-8-8 steering team the Columbia scale, which is a suicide risk assessment, as well as also presented data on crisis episodes by gender and race, comparing LOCUS (Level of Care Utilization System).Because of easier access, 9-8-8 call data with the Georgia 2020 Census. the feds projected that Georgia’s crisis demand would double in The Census data showed that most crisis episodes were the first year, Fitzgerald said. To mitigate being overwhelmed, the self-identified females, while the other 48 percent were “Other.” government decided against mass marketing. Instead, 9-8-8 has Meanwhile, over 50 percent of 9-8-8 crisis calls were from selfbeen targeted toward specific high-risk groups. identified males. Dawn Peel, the director of DBHDD Office of Crisis With federal cautionary projections, capacity is a concern.

Coordination, said the difference might be that men are less likely to “We’re going to be really thoughtful and strategic about how we’re reach out in typical out-patient services and are more willing to reach going to build capacity based on that data,” Fitzgerald said. out to an anonymous hotline.

Considering the program was implemented only some 50 days On race, the Census data showed most individuals who had crisis ago, findings are preliminary. But, a number of trends have been episodes were White. Meanwhile, over 30 percent of callers were observed.

Black/African American, which is the largest identified population by Georgia answers to the first goal in SAMHSA’s five-year vision: By race. Peel said there has been an increase in suicide attempts and 2023 over 90 percent or more of calls would be answered in-state. In death by suicide for the Black population since 2020. the first 45 days, 97 percent of calls were answered in-state.

For more information about 9-8-8, visit https://988ga.org/ In that same vision, 80 percent or more of individuals will have access to rapid crisis response by 2025. And, by 2027, 80 percent or

8 | Medical Answer Book 2022

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Student health-center opening at Cumming Elementary

BY CHAMIAN CRUZ Appen Media / September 2022 FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County Schools is partnering with Georgia Highlands Medical Services to open a school-based health center at Cumming Elementary School.

The Forsyth County Board of Education approved a memorandum of understanding with the facility at its Sept. 20 meeting. Georgia Highlands Medical Services is a private nonprofit community health center founded in 1979. It provides services to over 5,000 children, 90 percent of them low-income. In the past four CHAMIAN CRUZ/APPEN MEDIA years, it’s grown from one Sarah Taylor, Forsyth County Schools associate superintendent for Student Services, and Health Services pediatric provider to four.

Facilitator Heidi Avila explain what the new school-based health center will look like at Cumming Elementary While an opening date has School after the school board approved a memorandum of understanding with Georgia Highlands Medical not been set, the school-based Services to open one at its Sept. 20 meeting. health center at Cumming Elementary School will provide “This is not new, but I think we’re going to start seeing this a lot on-site medical and mental health services for students and staff, across our counties,” Avila said. “Across our country, there’s 2,500, especially to those who do not have a primary care physician, to so there’s definitely a growing [need] for this.” promote health and academic success.

The school-based health center at Cumming Elementary Sarah Taylor, Forsyth County Schools associate superintendent School will operate independently from the school but will work in for student services, said Cumming Elementary School was chosen partnership with the school nurses. It will also have a secure exterior for the school-based health center because of its location and Title I entrance and exit to the building and will include two exam rooms status. The plan is for the school to collect parents’ consent for their and a lobby area. student to use the clinic at the start of the year, and when they need “[Students and staff] can be offered same-day sick visits, wellto visit the clinic, they can be on the phone with them but won’t need care appointments, completion of state required immunizations, to show up to the school in person. sports physicals, completion of health forms that are required for “Having the school-based health center will allow both the student registration, and assistance with care plans and preventative students and the staff to obtain immediate medical care so that treatment to manage chronic health conditions,” Avila said. “Again, they may return to school and work without delay once it’s safe to for students that may not have access to those services, our school do so,” Taylor said. “The health center will have the ability to accept community will certainly benefit from this partnership.” individual and family insurance, and if they’re uninsured, the health Avila said the school can expect to have healthier students with center will have a very reasonable sliding fee scale.” the opening of the clinic, and in turn, see attendance rates rise. She Forsyth County Schools Health Services Facilitator Heidi Avila said added that the school-based health center will allow families to Emory University’s Department of Pediatrics has been advocating remain at work while providing them with more financial security. for these type of health centers for the past 10 years, working on “We know that healthier students learn better on a larger scale for grants through the Georgia Department of Educations to make them our state,” Avila said. “This also helps reduce Medicaid costs and possible. reduce emergency room visits.”

Avila said Georgia Highlands Medical Services has already School Board Vice Chairwoman Kristin Morrissey said the initiative received funding through the Health Resources and Services seems like a great way to build trust and get students and their Administration and Georgia Primary Care Association as well as families in the habit of seeing a doctor on a regular basis. secured a nurse practitioner and licensed clinical social worker for Forsyth County Schools Superintendent Jeff Bearden said the the clinic at Cumming Elementary School. district is working through “some facility issues” before it can open Currently, there are 54 school-based health centers in Georgia, the school-based health center, but that it may end up being opened with many more in the planning stages, Avila said. The Georgia in stages. He said more information would be announced later.

School-Based Health Alliance works to promote and support schoolbased health centers across the state.

10 | Medical Answer Book 2022

Atlanta Recovery Place rejects cookie-cutter approach to recovery “Although we are a for-profit facility, this is the only place I’ve ever heard of, or ever worked at, where people are first and finances are second,” Tobish said.

The organization was founded around five years ago when a group of people with a lot of recovery time saw that Atlanta was in need of more treatment services, Director of Business Development Cody Davis said.

Davis started out as a clinician at ARP about three and a-half years ago. He left temporarily to start his own recovery program for men coming out of incarceration and was invited back to take on his current role. He said it was an easy sell because he really believes in ARP’s program.

“I truly believe that we fully understand that we’re not really treating addiction, we’re treating the trauma,” Davis said.

Individualized programming is ARP’s touchstone. Patients are expected to participate in one-on-one therapy. The center PROVIDED recently added an LGBTQ+ track for those Atlanta Recovery Place, located on Mt. Vernon Road in Dunwoody, was founded five who identify within that community. Davis years ago. Its staff heralds its individualized approach to substance abuse treatment and said this is an important feature for a diverse recognizes the trauma that often underlies addiction. city like Atlanta. As of 2021, 4.6 percent of Atlanta’s overall population identifies as LGBTQ+, according to a

BY AMBER PERRY report from UCLA’s Williams Institute.

Appen Media / August 2022 Both Orrie and Tobish said that ARP doesn’t take the “cookiecutter approach” to treatment.

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Devin Orrie has been director of admissions at “A lot of facilities are going to get you in, stick you in as many Atlanta Recovery Place since the beginning of 2020. groups as possible because that’s how most places drive revenue He coordinates everything from the initial phone call, where – you know, attendance and stuff like that,” Orrie said. “Get in the either the patient or a family member calls in. During that call, they groups, rinse and repeat the material they use. Whereas here, I felt will discuss what’s going on with the patient to make an informed like it was almost like a fresh, new approach.” decision on the best route to take.

But, Orrie has seen the other side of Atlanta Recovery Place (ARP) as a patient himself, having sought help from the Dunwoody facility in 2019. At the time, he also began working at a sober living home. According to ARP’s website, sober living provides a safe living space filled with “like-minded individuals to encourage sobriety during the early stages of independence after substance abuse.”

As an ARP client, Orrie said he got close with one of the owners who knew his job history and thought he would be a good fit. Once the opportunity arose, Orrie said he was eager to hop on board.

“I really admired Atlanta Recovery Place staff, their ability to connect and really felt like they cared,” he said.

The center offers different program options that are assigned based on need – partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient and outpatient. Apart from setting up long-term therapy and psychiatry for aftercare, staff can place patients in sober living upon request.

For sober living, staff use corporate leases at a luxury apartment complex down the road from the facility.

Atlanta Recovery Place is a private, for-profit organization, meaning its funding primarily comes from insurance and self-pay.

There is no state funding. ARP Program Director Jeff Tobish, who’s also in recovery, said that ARP owners have a vested interest that PROVIDED lies outside of financial benefit – the owners are in recovery, too.

Medical Answer Book 2022 | 11

Functionize Health & Physical Therapy treats the ‘everyday athlete’

BY AMBER PERRY Appen Media / October 2022 DUNWOODY, Ga. — Lauren Sok was a preteen when she knew she wanted to go into physical therapy. At age 12, she broke her elbow.

To this day, she can’t fully bend her arm due to a botched physical therapy experience.

Sok, who owns Functionize Health & Physical Therapy in Decatur and Dunwoody, might just fit the stereotype of someone who would own a physical therapy clinic. With a pixie cut, athletic attire and a powerful stance and voice that fill up a room, despite short AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA stature, Sok said her childhood injury and Lauren Sok, owner of Functionize Health resulting physical & Physical Therapy, stands next to her therapy experience business sign at the Dunwoody location launched her on a Oct. 11. Sok started her physical therapy path to becoming a business in Decatur in 2015, then expanded physical therapist. to Dunwoody this year.

She decided she never wanted someone to go to physical therapy and not meet their goals. Nor did she want someone to go through the same pain of rehabbing something, like she did with her elbow.

After high school, Sok went straight into a physical therapy fasttrack master’s program, earning her degree in 2000. Since then, she’s

earned certifications in Selective Functional Movement Assessment, Trigger Point Dry Needling, Women’s Health and Stott Pilates.

Functionize first opened in Decatur in 2015. And in March, Sok opened a second location in Dunwoody on Nandina Lane. Sok’s business idea was sparked by frustrations in her 16 years of partnering with traditional physical therapy companies, where oneon-one with clients wasn’t the norm.

Before opening Functionize, she began doing concierge physical therapy. She recalled going door-to-door around Atlanta, carrying her table and a bag of supplies that she would use to treat people. When Sok built a sizable client base, she branched out with an established clinic to treat the “everyday athlete.”

Sok said a big misconception about physical therapy is that it’s just for injuries.

“We believe if you have a body, you’re an athlete,” Sok said.

“Just like every athlete should perform at a high level, so should you — whether you like doing cross stitching or cross fitting or cross country. You can do the whole thing. We just have to help you get there.”

Well-rounded care While Functionize focuses on physical therapy, Sok approaches her work by accounting for all four pillars of healthy living and thriving: exercise, nutrition, sleep and relaxation.

There’s five physical therapists on-staff, including Sok, in addition to a nutritionist who clients can see virtually. Staff also regularly work with functional medicine doctors to provide additional insight into client care. If the Functionize team concludes that a client needs more attention in a certain area, they refer out to specialists, like orthopedists or psychologists.

AMBER PERRY / APPEN MEDIA

Jesse Brown, a physical therapist at Functionize, leads the Strength Foundations class. Participants learn the principles of resistance training using a variety of barbell/dumbbell exercises.

12 | Medical Answer Book 2022

At Functionize, physical therapy encompasses a wide range of specialties, like postpartum and pelvic therapy, dry needling, temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) and vestibular rehabilitation.

Staff also uses the Redcord Neurac system, which helps restore proper alignment and muscular control.

Functionize therapists also help clients within different performance areas, providing general performance assessments, clinical Pilates and assessments for swimming and golf.

A mainstay at Functionize is its running assessments. With the clinic’s Fit Run Shop, Functionize combines the expertise of Posecertified physical therapists and the newest footwear technology from Atlanta-based Big Peach Running Co. An avid runner, Drew Whitcomb wanted to address hamstring and ankle pain he’d been experiencing. Friends suggested he see a running-specialized physical therapist.

So, Whitcomb sought care from Functionize after hearing Sok and Jake Reynolds, another physical therapist on staff, on a podcast with Big Peach. Whitcomb is also the COO and co-founder of a WearTesters, a running shoe review website, and has worked in the running industry for years.

He said his running form has improved after each Functionize visit, documenting the difference in pictures from past races.

“It’s been a process, but every time I’m just feeling better and better,” Whitcomb said.

AMBER PERRY / APPEN MEDIA

Functionize Health & Physical Therapy in Dunwoody has two therapy rooms. There are five physical therapists on staff, shared among the two locations. There’s also a nutritionist who clients can see virtually.

A cash-based system For Sok, one important feature of Functionize is its cash-based system, which avoids the pitfalls associated with insurance companies.

The Functionize website explains the cash-based model and its benefits.

“In our 25+ years of combined experience, third-party payers pressuring for fast diagnosis, insisting on canned treatments, and obstructing the therapy we want to provide often hurts the patient’s progress.”

Sok said insurance companies typically require patients to visit practitioners two to three times a week, which calls for co-pays or

full costs if deductibles aren’t met. Plus, in-network companies often entail a cookie-cutter approach filled with standard protocols that overlook individualized needs and goals, she said.

And when Sok worked with traditional companies, she typically tended to multiple people at the same time, people of different ages and with different needs.

“I always said it was like daycare,” Sok said. “You were keeping people occupied basically, and not thinking through it.”

Whitcomb, who has seen many physical therapists over the years, said Functionize is different from all the others. “[With] every other physical therapist, you go in there for an hour, and you usually are sharing the time with at least one other patient, where they’re bouncing back and forth between you and that other patient,” Whitcomb said. “That’s been my experience with every single physical therapy place I’ve been to, but then with Functionize, you’re not.”

He also said treatment at Functionize is not much more expensive than other companies, where you have multiple co-pays.

Sok said the average cost per visit, and there’s usually around 10 per client, runs from $200 to $249.

But clients have the option to submit the itemized bill to insurance for reimbursement.

Building a health community Sok is focused on building community in Dunwoody. During a tour of the facility Oct. 11, Sok talked about the room behind the group exercise studio. She plans to lease it as a coffee shop, to bring community through coffee.

The room is empty, save for a colorful art piece hanging on the wall that asks, “Are you living your dream or still dreaming of living?” Sok saw the painting before she started her business and said it’s a big part of her inspiration. She wrote about the painting for one of her newsletters, which she writes regularly.

“It was like the light bulb moment,” she said. “Like, okay, ‘This bright, colorful painting is telling you something. I’m ready to start living my dream.’”

Some of Sok’s clients are members of Run the Wood, a local running group that meets on the second and fourth Saturday of the month. Sok, who lives in Dunwoody, formed the group last year after observing many solo runners in the Dunwoody community.

“People always say, ‘The hardest part is an adult is making friends.’”

Allison Thornton, another Functionize client, said she’s been a part of the group since it started.

“I know some friendships have formed out of that group,” Thornton said.

Thornton sought treatment from the Functionize team this year for hip and shoulder pain. Because she’s had improvement over the course of her visits, Thornton goes sporadically, as needed. Her husband and daughter also go to Functionize.

Thornton has also used the small group exercise classes offered at Functionalize.

She attended the Strength Foundations group exercise class, led

by Jesse Brown, a physical therapist on staff. She has also attended Sok’s Mat Pilates class.

“Between those two classes, I just feel like I’m overall stronger, maybe more than I have been in my whole life,” Thornton said.

For more information about Functionize, visit functionizehealth.com or call (404) 907-4196.

Medical Answer Book 2022 | 13

Local organizations launch ‘Roswell Teen Talk’ to address mental health ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Rotary and Wellstar North Fulton are partnering to increase access to behavioral health resources and prevent suicide among youth. “Roswell Teen Talk,” a five-episode limited series podcast, launched Oct. 11, featuring peerto-peer content and stories with resources, tips and experiences intended to help listeners determine when and how to seek help for themselves, a friend or a loved one.

While the experiences shared come straight from a diverse group of Roswell High School and Fellowship Christian students, they are guided by Wellstar Health System experts to ensure the resources shared are accurate, relevant and actionable.

The first episode is titled, “Don’t Say ‘Yes’ to the Stress: Stressors, Coping Mechanisms and Mental Health.” In the episode, Roswell teens talk about how stress impacts them and share practical tips on how to cope with the effects. The Roswell teens participating in the podcast were chosen by fellow Rotarians and represent all grade levels.

They include band members, cheerleaders and football players, which Roswell Rotary Club past President Becky Stone said was important to let others know they’re not alone and it’s OK to seek help.

“You never know whose story could make a difference in someone else’s life,” Stone said.

Typically, Roswell Rotary divides the funds raised from its annual golf and tennis tournament among 30 charities. This year, Stone said they decided to focus on a Community Impact Project with the hopes of making a “big difference.” Roswell Rotary and Wellstar North Fulton then met with different parties, including a social worker from Roswell High School, to brainstorm ideas.

From there, they decided to invest $57,000 toward the launch of “Roswell Teen Talk” through a partnership with the Wellstar Foundation. Dr. Ryan Breshears, chief behavioral health officer at Wellstar Health System, will serve as a guide. He said the emergency rooms in local hospitals treat youth every single day for a wide range of behavioral health crises.

“It is so important to find ways to assist teens, their parents and loved ones through difficult times and direct them to resources before they end up in the emergency department,” Breshears said.

According to Wellstar, nearly 4 million people in Georgia are living with a behavioral health condition, and the last few years of the pandemic have only exacerbated the severity of the problem and the need for enhanced, accessible behavioral health resources.

This is especially true for youth, many of whom have or know a friend or loved one who has faced behavioral health issues. Wellstar states youth ages 11-17 are more likely than any other age group to exhibit moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety and depression.

With 1,451 deaths by suicide in Georgia in 2019, prior to the impact of the pandemic, and suicide as the second leading cause of death in the state for individuals 10 to 34, there is an urgent need to expand education, support and access to behavioral health care in local communities, according to Wellstar.

Roswell Rotary Club immediate Past President Terry Taylor said he hopes the podcast format will help reduce barriers and stigmas related to behavioral health.

“This critical information is available privately, and it’s accessible right in your phone or laptop,” Taylor said. “Teens, teachers, friends and parents can listen on their own to start getting the help they need even before they ask for it.”

All five episodes of “Roswell Teen Talk” are available now and are streaming for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or at roswellteentalk. podbean.com. In addition to listening to the podcast, if you or someone you know needs help, the new 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available. For help, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.

14 | Medical Answer Book 2022

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Alpharetta, GA 30009

Improving cancer treatment

Specialist in Integrative Oncology Cancer Treatments Including: Chemotherapy

Brought to you by - Jonathan Stegall, MD, The Center for Advanced Medicine

Immunotherapy Nutrition

How is cancer treatment different today than it has been in the past?

The field of oncology is changing rapidly. We now have more tools in our tool chest than ever before, ranging from chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation to hyperthermia, mistletoe, nutrition, supplementation, and stress reduction therapies.

The art of cancer treatment today is to choose which treatments are best for each patient on a case-by-case basis, in order to maximize treatment effectiveness and minimize side effects while enhancing overall health. This field is known as integrative oncology, and I believe it is the best way to treat cancer.

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How do you choose which cancer treatment(s) to recommend for each patient?

I view each cancer case like a fingerprint – no two are exactly alike.

Each patient’s internal environment is a unique culmination of his or her specific cancer diagnosis, genetics, lifetime environmental exposures, and even emotional stressors. Every detail matters.

Using a combination of advanced diagnostic and lab testing, as well as a thorough understanding of each patient’s unique history, a personalized treatment plan is developed. This is contrary to the one-size-fits-all approach many oncologists today are still using.

What advice would you give to patients investigating cancer treatment options for themselves or a loved one?

Knowledge is power! I encourage patients (and their families) to do their research and not feel rushed into a decision. Oncology can be a very fear-based specialty if we aren’t careful, and I find that approach to be counterproductive. Choosing which treatments to pursue is a huge decision, and patients should feel confident in their decisions. However, spending too much time trying to find the perfect treatment is likely to be detrimental, not only because many cancers are aggressive, but also because there is a lot of bad information out there (especially on the internet!).

How can patients get more information?

The best way is to visit my website, cancersecrets.com, where I share a wide range of helpful information in a variety of formats.

My bestselling book, Cancer Secrets, can be purchased there in paperback and Kindle formats. My podcast, The Cancer Secrets Podcast, can also be accessed on the site. Finally, there is also information about my online cancer course, Cancer Secrets University. My goal is to provide as much information as possible for cancer patients and their loved ones. For those individuals looking for an integrative oncologist, my office number is (770) 551-2730, and my practice website is tcfam.com.

Jonathan Stegall, MD 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

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Medical Answer Book 2022 | 15

Thanks for voting Dr. Bradley Hepler – Best Dentist 2022!

Brought to you by – DR. BRADLEY HEPLER AND DR. JEFFREY PRILUCK, THE ATLANTA CENTER FOR DENTAL HEALTH Wow! Thank you. We are truly honored and humbled by the support of our community and amazing patients to be voted North Atlanta’s “Best Dentist”Dr. Bradley Hepler and 1st runner up for “Best Dentistry” Atlanta Center for Dental Health.

Dr. Bradley Hepler and the Atlanta Center for Dental Health have proudly served the North Atlanta community for almost 20 years! In our conveniently located state of the art dental practice, patients discover the immense benefits that come from dentistry with a deep commitment to the very highest quality. The care designed by Dr. Hepler is tailored to the needs of each individual patient. In our friendly, clean professional environment, we utilize the latest technologies and highest quality materials. We are pleased to offer all your treatment needs within our practice to save you time and money. Atlanta Center for Dental Health provides a wide range of Comprehensive, Cosmetic, Implant, and Sedation dentistry, as well as Periodontal Therapy, Orthodontics and Facial Rejuvenation procedures.

Our amazing, highly trained team has had the privilege to develop long lasting relationships with our patients over the years who have become our patient family. We get tremendous joy seeing our patients healthier and more confident. Our patients continue to trust and refer their family and friends to the Atlanta Center for Dental Health. It is the greatest compliment we can receive.

Dr. Bradley Hepler obtained his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry. He then traveled to San Diego, CA to receive advanced training in comprehensive dentistry.

Upon the completion of this one-year residency program, Dr Hepler received Advanced Education in General Dentistry certification. Prior to starting private Practice here in Alpharetta in 2003, Dr. Hepler served in the US Navy as a Dental Officer.

Dr. Hepler is one of the Founding members of the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health. In addition to his dedication to practical experience, Dr. Hepler sees the immense value in continued education. He and his staff regularly attend courses that will enable them to provide the very best care to patients of the Atlanta Center for Dental Health. Dr. Hepler and his wife Renee live in Fulton County with their three sons. His recreational pursuits include reading, cycling, running, and spending time outdoors.

16 | Medical Answer Book 2022

Dr. Jeffrey Priluck was born and raised in Pawtucket, RI. He attended Boston University for his undergraduate studies. Dr. Priluck then graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in Philadelphia where he earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. He served as a clinical instructor at the Emory University School of Dentistry and established his private practice in Dunwoody, GA. He has treated generations of patients in this community for over 40 years.

We would like to extend a warm welcome to all new patients in need of the very best dentistry North Atlanta has to offer! Call us at 770-992-2236 or visit us.

Atlanta Center for Dental Health 11190 Haynes Bridge Road Alpharetta, GA 30022 atlantacenterfordentalhealth.com

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Premier Dermatology – Providing Excellence. Every Patient. Every Time.

Brought to you by – PREMIER DERMATOLOGY Congratulations to Premier Dermatology and Mohs surgery of Atlanta for its fifth year in a row of being voted Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist of North Fulton! Since opening in 2017, Premier Dermatology has quickly become the go-to dermatology practice for Mohs surgery and comprehensive dermatologic care. As in years past, I decided to sit down with Dr. Brent Taylor to get his take on his success and to learn a bit more about him.

Alyssa: Hey Dr. Taylor! Thanks for meeting with me again.

Winning the Best Dermatologist and Best Vein specialist for five years in a row means you must be doing something right! In the past, we have discussed some of your personal interests, but this year I thought we would hear some more anecdotes about your professional lives, experiences and accomplishments. First off, do you have a patient care moment or a diagnosis of which you are exceptionally proud?

Dr. Taylor: Thank you! It is absolutely our goal to deliver outstanding dermatologic care. Regarding diagnoses that I’m proud of, the first instances that come to mind involve catching a disease that is technically outside my specialty. For example, a patient looked a bit yellow, and I ordered a liver function test and caught acute liver failure. I helped another patient discover that one of his ureters had been accidentally cut during a surgery at the hospital.

Within my own specialty I’m often most proud of how simply being thorough can be critical to a patient’s care. By being thorough, I have caught melanomas on the scalp and bottom of the feet of patients who were sometimes surprised I asked them to take out a hair tie or take their socks off. Likewise, photography helps us monitor moles for change, and just last month we caught a melanoma early because a slight change from a previous photo prompted an early biopsy.

Alyssa: Do you have any uncomfortable or funny moments you’ve experienced during training that you’re willing to share?

Dr. Taylor: When I was training during my fellowship in San Diego, a patient brought his pet horned lizard to sit in his shirt pocket during surgery. He told me not to make it feel threatened or it would shoot blood at me from its eyes. I looked it up later. Sure enough, that is one of the horned lizard’s self-defense tactics!

Alyssa: Has a patient or teacher or coworker ever asked you out on a date?

Dr. Taylor: (Laughs) Yes they have. Sadly, the number of patients in their 90s who have asked me on a date is higher than the number of non-patients who ever asked me on a date before I was married.

Alyssa: Is there a funny medical fact that you have learned?

Dr. Taylor: Actually I have a good one! An ENT professor in medical school told us that as men age they lose the ability to hear higher pitch sounds, and, as women age, their voices increase in pitch. Thus, men naturally lose the ability to hear women with time.

So the next time your wife accuses you of ignoring her: blame biology, not the football game!

Alyssa: Do you have a pet peeve of which patients or staff are guilty?

Dr. Taylor: I really don’t get frustrated easily. I understand that everyone has a life and everyone’s lives have struggles about which we often know little. If someone is being rude, I usually chalk it up

20 | Medical Answer Book 2022

Dr. Taylor and family to unseen struggles. That being said, I do wish that certain patients would realize what a marvel Mohs surgery really is. My primary pet peeve is patients mistreating my coworkers. Sometimes, patients get frustrated waiting on their tissue to process during a day of Mohs surgery. And they sometimes take it out on my medical assistants, who are wonderful and caring and are in healthcare for the right reasons.

There is a comedian who has a bit on youtube called “everything’s amazing and nobody’s happy.” He talks about how upset people get on airplanes when just a few hundred years ago a trip across the country was like the videogame Oregon Trail – the journey took months, and half of the wagon party died of cholera on the way. Like air travel, skin cancer treatment nowadays is miraculous. Prior to Mohs surgery, far more skin cancers routinely caused disfigurement and even death. Now, Mohs surgery offers a cure rate of 99% for most skin cancers, and the aesthetic results are often outstanding. Modern skin cancer care truly is fantastic.

Unfortunately, the same day shipping world in which we live has made people expect immediate results, and they sometimes take out their frustrations on my coworkers. The world can always use a little more kindness, patience and grace.

Thank you to Dr. Brent Taylor for sharing a little more about themselves and congratulations again for winning both Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist in North Fulton for 2022!

Doc, can treating this wait?

Brought to you by – BRENT TAYLOR, MD, PREMIERE DERMATOLOGY AND MOHS SURGERY OF ATLANTA “Cancer is inconvenient,” a patient of mine recently remarked. I had never thought of it quite like that before, but you know what?

She was right!

Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, a vacation or a wedding, many commitments justifiably raise the question of whether receiving medical treatment can be safely delayed. It’s one of the most common questions that I get asked.

In the field of dermatology, we most commonly deal with three skin cancers – basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma.

BCC’s are generally slow growing, locally destructive and have a low chance of metastasis (spreading to other parts of the body). Most of the time, treating a BCC can be safely delayed a few months provided that the tumor is small, has not been growing quickly, and is not located in a “critical area.” Important or critical areas include areas such as the tip of the nose, the ears, lips and eyelids. If a BCC on the eyelid grows even a tenth of an inch larger, the result can be a dramatically harder wound to close after surgery. Preserving eyelid tissue and function means removing cancers when they are as small as possible. In contrast, a small BCC on someone’s back can be removed several months after the date of the biopsy with little risk that the cancer’s growth during that time will impact the final result after surgery.

Melanomas are the most dangerous of the three most common skin cancers. Even though SCC’s result in about the same number of deaths each year as melanoma, SCC’s are far more common and so are less dangerous on a per case basis.

SCC’s are more dangerous than BCC’s. SCC’s result in approximately as many deaths each year as melanomas do. SCC’s are divided into those that are only in the top layer of the skin (squamous cell carcinoma in situ) and those that have begun to grow into deeper

tissues (invasive squamous cell carcinoma). The in situ SCC’s can often be treated similarly to how a BCC is treated. A short delay is acceptable in most patients provided the location on the body is not “critical,” the cancer is small and slow growing, and the patient has a normal, healthy functioning immune system (for example, the patient has not had an organ transplant). Invasive squamous cell carcinoma should be treated more aggressively. Treatment should generally not be delayed Melanomas are the most dangerous of the three most common skin cancers. Even though SCC’s result in about the same number of deaths each year as melanoma, SCC’s are far more common and so are less dangerous on a per case basis. Melanomas are very dangerous, can easily spread to other parts of the body, and should be treated as the life-threatening cancers that they are.

Like SCC, melanomas are divided into those that are in the top layer of the skin – “melanoma in situ” – and melanomas that have begun to grow into deeper tissue “invasive melanomas.” An invasive melanoma is about as close to an emergency as most dermatologists regularly encounter. Invasive melanomas trump travel plans, upcoming parties and work functions. Melanoma in situ should also be treated urgently, because biopsies often only sample a lesion, and a possibility of invasive melanoma exists even when the original biopsy report only reads “melanoma in situ.”

The above are all rules of thumb. Decisions about an individual cancer ideally take the whole person and his or her circumstances into account. A good doctor patient relationship can allow some cancer treatment to be delayed… a little while… sometimes. But in short, yes, cancer is all too often unavoidably inconvenient.

Medical Answer Book 2022 | 21

Co-responder programs take root in north metro

BY AMBER PERRY Appen Media / September 2022 ATLANTA — Meagan Wynn recently responded to a call from a witness, who saw a man expose himself in public.

Wynn is a full-time licensed clinician who has been with the Dunwoody Police Department’s co-responder team since July. She’s responsible for behavioral health evaluations and crisis intervention. Wynn also authorizes transport to an emergency receiving facility.

Rather than criminal charges, the call ended in an involuntary treatment for a person exhibiting symptoms posing an imminent threat to themselves or others.

Dunwoody Police spokesman Michael Cheek said the department is familiar with the man from that call. He said officers have run into him more times than they can count.

“He’s homeless, he’s got some mental health issues, and we have had very little ability to get him the true help that he needs,” Cheek said. “There have been a few times in the past where we have been forced to arrest him because we just really couldn’t avoid it.”

While officers were attempting to talk to him, the man couldn’t be convinced to get the help he needed until Wynn showed up at the scene.

In May, the Dunwoody City Council approved the co-responder contract with View Point Health to hire Wynn, who is on-call for incidents involving behavioral health crises. The contract is funded by American Rescue Act II funds for up to three years.

The co-responder team is one of several Police-Mental Health Collaboration programs. The model combines the knowledge of trained police officers and mental health professionals to more effectively respond to behavioral health crises, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance.

Wynn said most of her work concerns follow-up.

“One of Meagan’s big responsibilities in these follow-ups is to prevent people from being re-offended and get them the best possible help that we can get,” Cheek said.

Realization and possibilities Other north metro cities have co-responder programs in place or are well on their way to implementing one. Still others have had preliminary discussions about enacting a similar initiative.

The Forsyth County Sheriff Office’s Crisis Intervention Response Team (CIRT) assists the Cumming Police Department when needed.

The Sheriff Office team has one full-time clinician, Josh Bell, a certified peer specialist. Bell helps review incident reports from the previous night to look for calls that may require a follow-up by CIRT. The team conducts follow-ups as needed or requested and responds to calls for service as they occur in the community.

Established in 2020, Forsyth County’s CIRT operates as a dayshift, Monday through Friday resource. The Sheriff’s Office received a Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to help launch the program.

The Sheriff’s Office partnered with its local community service board, Avita Community Partners, to pair a licensed clinical social worker and certified peer specialist with a specially trained sheriff’s deputy.

The idea behind the program is that the Crisis Intervention Response Team can have meaningful conversations to learn the root cause of the incident, looking for unmet needs and gaps in services, sheriff’s officials said. If the call results in an involuntary treatment, CIRT is responsible for a follow-up to talk with subjects about any additional resources that may be needed.

In the past, CIRT worked with those in crisis to schedule appointments for services, coordinated with local nonprofits for food and clothing. Team

22 | Medical Answer Book 2022

members even drove them to appointments and resource providers, sheriff’s officials said.

CIRT also trains deputies how to respond to mental illness in the community.

“This has raised the agency’s proficiency level as a whole,” the Sheriff’s Office wrote in an email.

It said it has seen a reduction in certain categories of mental health flagged inmates by half.

Officer training Alpharetta Police Public Information Officer David Freeman said the department has been researching all aspects of a new co-responder program. While the department doesn’t have a co-responder team, Freeman said that over 40 percent of the force are Crisis Intervention Team trained and that the number continues to grow.

Meanwhile in Sandy Springs, police spokesman Sgt. Matthew McGinnis said the department hasn’t found the right partnership for a co-responder team. But, it is researching different approaches, he said. If co-responder teams haven’t been established, police can use Georgia’s new Mental Health Parity Act that went into effect July 1. The act allows officers to take people into protective custody for a mental health evaluation without the need for criminal charges. Before the act was passed, officers couldn’t take people into treatment without some violation of the law.

Officers also have access to Mobile Crisis Services, a program available at all hours administered through the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities.

Milton Police Chief Rich Austin stated he’s used the program for a handful of mental health-related calls. But, he said that the program isn’t a viable option for immediate safety concerns because its average response time is within an hour.

The Milton Police Department has discussed Johns Creek Police’s Clinician and Officer Response Team program as a possible model to pursue, Austin said.

Johns Creek proposes clinician With a part-time mental health advocate already on staff, the Johns Creek Police Department is looking to hire a full-time clinician.

The advocate has been with the department for a little over a year, Johns Creek Officer Robert Hall said. The advocate, a former minister, primarily works with people who have made suicidal threats to connect them to counseling services, Hall said.

Johns Creek Police used to have a part-time clinician.

In 2020, the city approved a partnership with Behavioral Healthcare Link to provide the part-time clinician to work alongside Johns Creek police.

The partnership formed the Clinician Officer Response Team. But, because Behavioral Healthcare Link was experiencing staffing issues, the clinician was frequently in and out of the office, according to statements provided in the 2023 budget draft.

The proposed full-time role will exist to act as a liaison between the city and various social service agencies, providing follow-up and monitoring of cases upon request from department members or from cases referred to police from other sources, according to the budget draft.

Funding for the full-time position would come from the city’s general fund. Hall said government grants often require audits, whereas a direct hire doesn’t.

When asked if he sees a co-responder team as a long-term preventative measure, Hall said the co-responder team can only do so much.

“It’s like leading a horse to water,” he said. “They can drink it, or you know…”

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Sixth Sense Massage & Bodywork officially opened their doors Aug. 1. From left are co-owners Kevin Morgan-Shaffer, Sarah Howell and Bradlee Morgan-Shaffer. Howell holds a plant gifted by a client.

Sixth Sense Massage abides a holistic, intuitive attitude to health care

BY AMBER PERRY Appen Media / August 2022 CUMMING, Ga. — Massage is often seen as a spa ordeal, a luxury, a superfluous form of self-care. To the three owners of Sixth Sense Massage & Bodywork, massage therapy is health care.

Bradlee Morgan-Shaffer, his husband Kevin, and Sarah Howell are all licensed massage therapists and value a holistic, client-centered approach. Using the myriad techniques they’ve learned, they select what’s appropriate and fashion them into a unique and dynamic plan of care for clients.

Bradlee said he collaborates with his co-workers on what diagnoses is best suited for his clients, asking himself about the potential pathologies first. If Sixth Sense staff can’t come to any conclusions on their own, they refer out to other experts.

After acquiring all the necessary business licenses in late July of this year, Sixth Sense officially opened Aug. 1. The owners obtained required licensing by July 17, to be exact, which is a special date for Bradlee. Last year, coincidentally on the same day, he ran a poll on different logo options. The year before that he, also coincidentally, ran a poll on business names. Sixth Sense has been in the works for a while.

“I feel like everything aligns whenever it’s supposed to,” Bradlee said.

Things fell into place, but not without what seemed to be an uphill battle for Sixth Sense, whether that was funding, an abundance of red tape or misconceptions about massage therapy.

Massage therapists are still lobbying to be recognized, Bradlee said. Therapists have had the option to obtain National Identifier

24 | Medical Answer Book 2022

AMBER PERRY / APPEN MEDIA

In the evening on Aug. 17, one of four treatment rooms at Sixth Sense Massage & Bodywork was open to viewing, which had relaxing, deep gray walls, dim light and a bed with crisp white sheets. The doors have black tinted glass, a must, co-owner Bradlee Morgan-Shaffer said.

Numbers (NPI) since 2007, a number that allows health care providers to receive insurance payments, thus opening the door for more clients.

Yet, there’s still grief.

“Right now, there’s a very small number of insurance companies that actually view massage therapy as a medical practice,” Kevin said.

Even with NPIs, Sixth Sense is fighting hard for clients to eventually use insurance as payment.

At Sixth Sense, massage therapy is more than just massage itself. Staff incorporates other strategies to expand means of care, which involves the initial in-depth conversation, assessment, plan of

AMBER PERRY / APPEN MEDIA

A rainbow brick sits on the front desk, signaling Sixth Sense Massage & Bodywork as an LGBTQ+ friendly business. care and reassessments after each session. On average, the plan of care will contain 5-7 sessions. But that range could be more or less, depending on the individual.

“The plan of care is a map,” Bradlee said. “You can take the scenic route, or you can take direct A to B. I have some clients that are going directly from A to B, and they are seeing results.”

A big part of massage therapy is holding space for clients, Bradlee said.

“Some just need to come in and decompress,” he said. “Then there’s other times when I have clients that talk to relax.”

With some clients, conversation is necessary for more “involved” therapeutic work, he said. With this kind of work, therapists will place their hands somewhere on the body and ask the client how the placement feels.

“The body tells on you,” Bradlee said.

Coliene Belle is one of Bradlee’s clients. Her job as a photographer has added to lower back pain. In the few sessions that she’s had, pain has substantially subsided, she said. Belle talked about the conversation Bradlee has had with her when targeting pain areas, how he was able to make the experience feel personal and not clinical.

“It’s lovely to be in an environment where it does feel incredibly medical and physical therapy-ish,” she said. “But at the same time, you’re still getting a massage. It’s really the best of both worlds.”

Sometimes, massage therapy can involve something as simple, but as important, as breathing.

“I will have clients do breathing with me to get them into more of a meditative state,” Howell said. “That alone can just let the whole body kind of relax. You can get into really deep tissues that way.”

Each therapist has their own strengths, whether it be Bradlee’s focus on intuition and the spiritual, energetic underpinnings of massage, Kevin’s preference for deep tissue work and increasing range of motion or Howell’s knack for tailoring to clients, using knowledge developed over her eight years of massage therapy experience.

But Bradlee stressed Sixth Sense as a collective mind.

“Whenever you get one therapist here, you don’t get one therapist — you get all of them.”

Sixth Sense staff are always learning from each other, bouncing off ideas, but also actively seeking knowledge elsewhere to hone their craft. Outside of taking classes to renew her license every couple of years, Howell just earned her certification in traditional Thai massage and orthopedic manual therapy.

She will also offer one-on-one yoga classes at the studio.

Though expertise and intuition facilitate healing at Sixth Sense, passion for the work is foundational.

And that passion to help people was clearly visible when speaking to the crew. After asking Howell about her motivation for doing this kind of work, she held back tears.

“I see how you can change someone’s life in not just a physical way, but even mentally or emotionally,” she said. “I saw COVID as the entire world grieving at the same time, which was heavy. And I think that we need touch more than ever — healthy touch, consensual touch.”

She continued.

“I got into it because it was just so amazing to see someone light up and be a beacon in the world, to be empowered in their body.”

Sixth Sense is open Sunday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

To book an appointment, call (678) 341-0384 or go online at https://sixthsensemassage.com/

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Cities sign settlement with former solicitor

By SAM WHITEHEAD and ANDY MILLER Kaiser Health News

► PAGE 4

Townhome plan delayed

by Alpharetta council

► PAGE 5

ALEXANDER POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Reaching for consensus Mediator Barry Fleming leads the first local option sales tax mediation session between Fulton County and city officials at the Georgia Municipal Association in Atlanta on Friday, Sept. 23. Read more, Pages 8-9.

Local governments plan mental health projects

► PAGE 10-11

SPONSORED

Best of North Atlanta winners announced

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Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival to host 10-year celebration DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Hebrew Order of David has announced the official in-person and live return of the Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival taking place on Oct. 23.

The event will run from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Brook Run Park in Dunwoody.

Celebrating its official 10-year anniversary, the festival will host over 20 teams including traveling participants from Florida, Texas and Washington, D.C., to take part in this year’s competition.

Organizers expect more than 4,000 barbecue lovers and community supporters to be in attendance. The festival offers events and musical programming for all ages in addition to barbecue

tastings and vendor booths showcasing local Kosher caterers, community organizations, first responders, artisans and more.

For the past several years the Cobb County Police Department has entered a team to participate in the festival’s competition. In light of recent events, in which two Cobb County deputies were lost in the line of duty, the festival and its organizers will be making a donation with a portion of the event proceeds to honor their memories and families left behind.

“In these tough situations, we must all find ways to support each other,” said Jody Pollack, the executive director for the Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival.

ATLANTA — Like many neighborhoods in cities across the country, Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward is changing.

Condo buildings and modern minimalist homes punctuate city blocks of lowincome housing. Many longtime residents of the historic neighborhood where Martin Luther King Jr. was born have been priced out and pushed to other parts of town.

Atlanta Medical Center, a 460-bed Level 1 trauma center, will be the next fixture to change.

Despite banners proclaiming the hospital’s commitment to the area — “120 Years Caring For Atlanta,” one reads — its nonprofit owner, Wellstar Health System, recently announced plwans to close the hospital’s doors on Nov. 1.

Georgia has seen several rural hospitals shutter in the past decade, but this year Atlanta has joined other urban centers with facility closures, including a previous downsizing at a facility in the nearby city of East Point.

The Wellstar announcement has stoked the political debate over Medicaid

Perimeter Center vision to be open house topic ► PAGE 3

expansion ahead of the Nov. 8 midterm elections. Like 11 other states, Georgia has not expanded eligibility rules for its Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act, and hospital officials across the state say inaction has hurt their bottom lines because they still treat high numbers of uninsured patients, many of whom cannot pay for treatment.

The Wellstar announcement shocked city officials, including Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, as well as other members of the community.

On a recent weekday morning, Teresa Smith, 60, who lives in the neighborhood, said she frequently receives care there for a chronic digestive issue.

“This hospital will be missed by the whole community,” she said.

Liliana Bakhtiari, the Atlanta City Council member whose district includes the hospital, was sharp in her assessment.

“There will be loss of life and critical injuries that will not be taken care of, and I wish that mattered more to Wellstar,” she said.

Wellstar declined KHN’s request for an interview about the closure.

See WELLSTAR, Page 4

Farmers market still draws crowds ► PAGE 4

County leaves public out of sales tax talks

Appen publisher welcomes readers

► PAGE 3

► PAGE 19

‘Save Fulton cities’

October 6, 2022 | AppenMedia.com | An Appen Media Group Publication | Ser ving the community since 1976

Impending hospital closure rattles health care landscape

Woman sentenced in fatal hit and run ► PAGE 2

O c t o b e r 6 , 2 0 2 2 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 1 , N o . 1

Unity leads sales tax negotiations Cities sign settlement with former solicitor

► PAGE 3

New agreement may spell end to water wars

City Council holds on plans for coffee shop

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat News Service

ALEXANDER POPP/APPEN MEDIA

‘Walk humbly and do justice’ University of North Georgia Public Safety cadets stand at attention for an inspection Oct. 3. The 28 men and woman are the first class in a partnership academy between the university and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. Read more, Page 8.

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Representatives of water supply systems in Gwinnett, Forsyth and Hall counties finalized an agreement with the state Sept. 26 guaranteeing them water from Lake Lanier through 2050.

The long-term deal, first announced last month, closes the chapter on a major portion of the tristate “water wars” between Georgia, Florida, and Alabama going back to the 1990s.

“This landmark agreement is the final step in a 30-year-long process to secure water rights for Lake Lanier,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared during a ceremony at the state Capi-

See WATER, Page 21

to keep more than the 5 percent share it has been getting over the past decade.

The cities say the county’s proposal will cost them tens of millions of dollars they need to pay for local services without

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Plans for a Scooter’s Coffee location near Johns Creek’s busiest intersection have been put on hold for now.

At the Sept. 26 City Council meeting, a host of people associated with the project spread across three rows to await a decision on their request to change zoning conditions that would allow a 664-square-foot Scooter’s Coffee location.

The building would stand as an outparcel in an existing shopping center on the intersection of Medlock Bridge Road and State Bridge Road.

The area is currently used for parking.

The application, which requests a variance in the existing C-1 (Com-

See TAX, Page 4

See COFFEE, Page 6

ALEXANDER POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin, left, and Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry display a bar graph showing decreases in service demands Fulton County has experienced over the past 10 years, Officials from 11 Fulton County cities hosted a town hall at the Georgia International Conference Center Sept. 28 to discuss distribution of the local option sales tax.

Cities unite over sales tax

Mayors meet to discuss negotiation with Fulton County

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — Mayors and representatives of 11 Fulton County cities projected a message of unity and strength Sept. 28 at a second town hall

meeting to discuss distribution of the countywide local option sales tax.

The cities are locking horns with Fulton County over how an estimated $3 billion in sales tax revenue will be distributed over the next 10 years. The cities are fighting a Fulton County bid

ALEXANDER POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison, second from right, joined mayors from 10 other cities in College Park Sept. 28 for a public forum on the countywide local option sales tax. The mayors are united in opposing a bid by Fulton County to receive a greater share of the proceeds from the tax which are expected to generate $3 billion over the next 10 years.

Cities unite over sales tax

Fulton County students enroll in Auburn classes

► PAGE 5

Mayors meet to discuss negotiation with county

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — Mayors and representatives of 11 Fulton County cities projected a message of unity and strength Sept. 28 at a second town hall meeting to discuss distribution of the countywide local option sales tax.

The cities are locking horns with Fulton County over how an estimated $3 billion in sales tax revenue will be distributed over the next 10 years. The cities are fighting a Fulton County bid to keep more than the 5 percent share it has been getting over the past decade.

The cities say the county’s proposal will cost them tens of millions of dollars they need to pay for local services without raising property taxes.

Held at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, the meeting was well attended by residents and a diverse panel of city officials from Alpharetta, College Park, East Point, Fairburn, Hapeville, Johns Creek, Milton, Palmetto, Sandy Springs, South Fulton and Union City.

City representatives spent nearly two hours answering questions on the proposed distribution negotiations with Fulton County officials, which have be-

come increasingly heated.

“What Fulton County has been doing for the last few months, is not working together to help our residents,” Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin said. “The one thing that is common amongst all of us in this room is if you live in Fulton County, and Fulton County gets what they want, we’re all gonna get screwed.”

Every 10 years, the county and its cities – now 15 in number – renegotiate how money collected from LOST is distributed. Most often, the pot is generally apportioned based on each city’s popula-

See TAX, Page 6

Opinion: The backstory of a Crabapple church

► PAGE 10-11

SPONSORED Monthly North Atlanta Real Estate Report

► PAGES 13-22

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — Mayors and representatives of 11 Fulton County cities projected a message of unity and strength Sept. 28 at a second town hall meeting to discuss distribution of the countywide local option sales tax.

The cities are locking horns with Fulton County over how an estimated $3 billion in sales tax revenue will be distributed over the next 10 years. The cities are fighting a Fulton County bid to keep more than the 5 percent share it has been getting over the past decade.

The cities say the county’s proposal will cost them tens of millions of dollars they need to pay for local services without raising property taxes.

Held at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, the meeting was well attended by residents and a diverse panel of city officials from Alpharetta, College Park, East Point, Fairburn, Hapeville, Johns Creek, Milton, Palmetto, Sandy Springs, South Fulton and Union City.

City representatives spent nearly two hours answering questions on the proposed distribution negotiations with

A note to our new readers

Fulton County officials, which have become increasingly heated.

“What Fulton County has been doing for the last few months, is not working together to help our residents,” Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin said. “The one thing that is common amongst all of us in this room is if you live in Fulton County, and Fulton County gets what they want, we’re all gonna get screwed.”

Every 10 years, the county and its cities – now 15 in number – renegotiate how money collected from LOST is distributed. Most often, the pot is generally apportioned based on each city’s population, while the county keeps a small portion for administrative fees.

But from the beginning of talks over the new 10-year agreement, the county has insisted on taking a greater share than it has in the last two decades. Fulton County initially proposed to increase its share from 5 percent to 35 percent.

City officials have come down hard against that proposal, saying it would devastate municipalities that rely on LOST proceeds to pay for things like law enforcement, fire and emergency rescue, parks and recreation, roads and other services.

Since that initial offer, negotiators on

ALEXANDER POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul speaks at a public forum in Roswell held Sept.

21 to discuss negotiations with Fulton County over the countywide sales tax. Mayors held another public forum Sept. 28 in College Park. both sides have exchanged proposals.

Most recently at a Sept. 23 mediation session with the Georgia Municipal Association in Atlanta, talks stalled when county officials refused to participate in negotiations in front of the public.

“There’s no reason for the county that they can justify an increase in their

percentage of LOST,” Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry said. “If they want an increase in their percentage, they need to come to us, they need to come to you with a concrete proposal.”

The hostilities with the county over

See UNITY, Page 8

Today marks the beginning of Appen Media’s move into the City of Sandy Springs. We welcome the chance to provide you with the best, most thorough local news coverage with our community-based brand of reporting. While new to this area, Appen has been a neighbor for three decades, serving the cities of Alpharetta, Roswell, Johns Creek, and more recently, Dunwoody. The one thing all our publications have in common is a dedication to the communities we serve and a willingness to listen to our readers. Our ears are open.

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“There are so many great options for women,” Dr. John Reyes said. “It’s our job to get that information to them and make them aware they don’t need large incisions, long hospital stays, or painful recovery times.”

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RESOURCES

Emergency + Community ORGANIZATION

PURPOSE

PHONE

WEBSITE

United Way

To find help

211 or 404-614-1000

211online.unitedwayatlanta.org/

North Fulton Community Charities

Help in Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton

770-640-0399

nfcchelp.org

Community Assistance Center

Help in Sandy Springs/Dunwoody

770-552-4015

ourcac.org

DFACS

Food Stamps/TANF/Medicaid

404-252-2180

dfcs.dhs.georgia.gov

FACAA/LIHEAP

Energy Assistance

404-320-0166

facaa.org

St. Vincent de Paul

Financial Assistance

770-458-9607

svdpatl.org

Housing Authority of Fulton Co.

Section 8 and Public Housing

404-730-5841

hafc.org

Homestretch/Housing Initiative

Transitional Housing

770-642-9185

homestretch.org

Roswell Public Housing

Public Housing

770-993-6226

roswellhousing.org

The Drake House

Emergency housing women with children

770-587-4712

thedrakehouse.org

Metro Fair Housing

Housing Discrimination

404-524-0000

metrofairhousing.com

Salvation Army

General Assistance

404-352-3597

salvationarmy.org

Gateway Center

Emergency Shelter

404-215-6600

gatewayctr.org

Travelers Aid/Hope Atlanta

Homeless prevention, newcomers

404-817-7070

hopeatlanta.org/

EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Com)

Employment Discrimination

800-669-4000

eeoc.gov/field/atlanta

Department of Labor

Unemployment Office

866-873-5676

dol.state.ga.us

Child Abuse and Neglect

To report abuse

404-699-4399

dfcs.dhs.georgia.gov/Child-abuse-neglect

GA Council on Child Abuse

Info, resources

800-532-3208

preventchildabusega.org

Child Support Assistance

Child Support Enforcement

877-423-4746

dcss.dhs.georgia.gov/

Fulton County Schools

General Information

404-678-3600

fultonschools.org

Fulton Co. School Social Workers

Information

404-763-6774

fultonschools.org

G.E.D.

Enrollment Opportunities at NFCC

678-387-4458

nfcchelp.org/education

Head Start

3-4 Year Olds

678-585-9100

georgiaheadstart.org

Child Dev. Center North Fulton

Child Care

770-992-4006

cdakids.org

Family Haven (NF & Forsyth)

24 Hour Hotline-Domestic Violence

770-887-1121

forsythcountyfamilyhaven.info

PADV (Partnership Against Domestic Violence)

24 Hour Hotline-Domestic Violence

404-873-1766

padv.org/

Jewish Family and Career Services

Family and Career Counseling

770-677-9300

yourtoolsforliving.org

Senior Services North Fulton

Meals on Wheels, Transportation

770-993-1906

ssnorthfulton.org

HOUSING & HOMELESS

EMPLOYMENT

FAMILY & CHILDRENS SERVICES

ORGANIZATION

PURPOSE

PHONE

WEBSITE

CredAbility

Consumer Credit Counseling

404-527-7630

credability.org

NID Housing Counseling Agency

Foreclosure Information/assistance

404-612-0405

atlhca.com

HOPE

Foreclosure assistance

888-995-4673

995hope.org

Atlanta Legal Aid

Legal Assistance

404-524-5811

atlantalegalaid.org

Anonymous Police Tip Hotline

Roswell – Crime/Drugs

770-641-3959

roswellgov.com

City of Alpharetta

Alpharetta – Crime/Drugs

678-297-6307

alpharetta.ga.us

City of Johns Creek

Johns Creek – Crime/Drugs

678-474-1610

johnscreekga.gov/services/police.aspx

City of Milton

Milton Police Department General

678-242-2570

cityofmiltonga.us

Rape Hotline

24 Hour Hotline

770-887-1121

fultoncountyga.gov/contact-us-solicitor

Grady Rape Crisis Center

Crisis line

404-616-4861

gnesa.org/content/grady-rape-crisis-center

Fulton County Records

Birth/Death Records

404-613-1260

fultoncountyga.gov/dhw-vital-records

Social Security

Social Security, Disability, SSI

800-772-1213

ssa.gov

Tags/Titles

Fulton County Office

404-730-6100

motor.etax.dor.ga.gov

Veterans Administration

VA Health, Housing, Benefits

800-827-1000

va.gov

Fulton County Housing & Human Services

Info on County programs

404-613-7944

fultoncountyga.gov/divisions-and-programs

MARTA

bus, rail schedules, fares

404-848-4711

itsmarta.com

Georgia Crisis & Access Line

24 hour -mental health, addiction & crisis service

800-715-4225

bhlweb.com/tabform/

North Fulton Regional Health Center

Public Health (in Alpharetta)

404-332-1958

fultoncountyga.gov

North Fulton Service Center

Common Ground (co-located svcs)

404-612-3917 or 404-612-6372

North Fulton Health Center - Grady

Primary Care clinic in NF (Sandy Springs)

404-616-1550

gradyhealthsystem.org/

Northside Behavioral Health

Mental Health

404-851-8960

northside.com/medical_services

Children’s at NorthPoint (Mansell Rd)

pediatric primary care

770-643-1792

choa.org/About-Childrens/Locations-and-Directions

Good Samaritan Atlanta

primary care clinic downtown

404-523-6571

goodsamatlanta.org/

Georgia Highlands

primary care clinic serving North GA

678-887-1668

georgiahighlandsmedical.org

North Fulton Hospital

Hospital - Roswell

770-751-2500

nfultonhospital.com

Grady Memorial Hospital

Hospital

404-616-1000

gradyhealth.org/

Scottish Rite (Childrens Hospital)

Pediatric Hospital

404-785-5252

choa.org/

Emory Johns Creek

Hospital - Johns Creek

678-474-7000

emoryjohnscreek.com/

Northside Hospital

Hospital - Sandy Springs or Forsyth

404-851-8000

northside.com/

St. Joseph Hospital of Atlanta

Hospital - Sandy Springs

404-581-7001

stjosephsatlanta.org

Gwinnett Medical Center - Duluth

Hospital

678-312-6800

gwinnettmedicalcenter.org

CREDIT COUNSELING/ LEGAL/ POLICE

GOVERNMENT

HEALTH

AWARDS

2022

Best Of North Atlanta Presented By

BEST COSMETIC SURGERY Robinson Facial Plastic Surgery, Dr. Burke Robinson 3400 Old Milton Pkwy.

Bldg. C, Ste 330 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-667-3090 robinsonfps.com The Graivier Center 3333 Old Milton Pkwy. #260 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-772-0695 thegraiviercenter.com BEST COUNSELING Summit Counseling Center 2750 Old Alabama Rd. #200 Johns Creek, GA 30022 678-893-5300 summitcounseling.org

How the winners are displayed

MAIN CATEGORY SUBCATEGORY Winners appear in bold.

Address, phone number and website 1st runner-ups appear in normal text.Address, phone number and website BEST AUDIOLOGIST Mraz Audiology Consulting 3400-C Old Milton Pkwy., Ste. 385 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-653-7027 www.AudiologyConsulting.com Robb Family ENT 3400 Old Milton Pkwy Bldg. C, #575 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-410-0202 robbfamilyent.com BEST CHIROPRACTOR North Fulton Chiropractic Center 254 N Main St. Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-754-4567 www.nfultonchiro.com North Atlanta Spine 5755 North Point Pkwy., #240 Alpharetta, GA 30022 678-691-3221 northatlantaspine.com 32 | Medical Answer Book 2022

Family Solutions Counseling, LLC 3534 Old Milton Pkwy.

Alpharetta, GA 30005 678-220-0090 familysolutionscounselingga.com BEST DENTISTRY Roswell Dental Care 1570 Old Alabama Rd. #102 Roswell, GA 30076 678-802-8576 roswelldentalcare.com Atlanta Center for Dental Health 11190 Haynes Bridge Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30022 770-992-2236 www.atlantacdh.com BEST DERMATOLOGIST Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta 3180 North Point Pkwy., Ste 420 Alpharetta, GA 30005 678-345-1899 premierdermatologyatlanta.com Goodman Dermatology P.C. 2500 Hospital Blvd., #280 Roswell, GA 30076 770-754-0787 goodmandermatology.com BEST ENT Robb Family ENT 3400 Old Milton Pkwy.

Bldg. C, #575 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-410-0202 robbfamilyent.com

Northeast Atlanta Ear, Nose & Throat, PC Multiple Locations 770-237-3000 northeastatlantaent.com BEST FAMILY PRACTICE North Atlanta Primary Care 3400-C Old Milton Pkwy., Ste. 270 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-442-1911 northatlantaprimarycare.com Laureate Medical Group 3400 Old Milton Pkwy., C-500 Alpharetta, GA 30005 Multiple Locations 678-775-2284 www.laureatemed.com BEST HAIR RESTORATION The Graivier Center 3333 Old Milton Pkwy., #260 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-772-0695 thegraiviercenter.com Anderson Center for Hair 2710 Old Milton Pkwy., Ste. 170 Alpharetta, GA 30009 404-256-4247 atlantahairsurgeon.com BEST HOLISTIC/ ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE Salt n’ Sauna Wellness 735 N Main St., Ste. 1900 Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-580-2501 saltnsauna.com Next Level Stretch 3950 Johns Creek Ct., #125 Suwanee, GA 30024 678-620-4018 www.nextlevelstretch.com BEST HOME CARE FOR SENIORS Home Helpers Home Care 5755 North Point Pkwy., #259 Alpharetta, GA 30022 770-681-0323 homehelpershomecare.com/ Alpharetta Skylark Home Care 4265 Johns Creek Pkwy., Ste. B Johns Creek, GA 30024 404-410-1510 skylarkseniorcare.com

BEST INTERNAL MEDICINE Johns Creek Primary Care Physicians 4365 Johns Creek Pkwy., #400 Suwanee, GA 30024 678-957-1910 johnscreekprimarycare.com North Atlanta Primary Care 3400-C Old Milton Pkwy., Ste. 270 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-442-1911 northatlantaprimarycare.com BEST MED SPA Salt n’ Sauna Wellness 735 N Main St., Ste. 1900 Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-580-2501 saltnsauna.com The Graivier Center 3333 Old Milton Pkwy., #260 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-772-0695 thegraiviercenter.com BEST MEDICAL ESTHETICIAN Heather Davis, LE Visage Skin Care & Laser Center 3400 Old Milton Pkwy.

Bldg. C, Ste. 330 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-667-3090 robinsonfps.com Ashley King The Graivier Center 3333 Old Milton Pkwy., #260 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-772-0695 thegraiviercenter.com BEST MEDICAL WEIGHT LOSS Elvina Vitkin, M.D. Weight Control 631 N Main St., Ste. 203 Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-664-0803 drvitkin.com Salt n’ Sauna Wellness 735 N. Main St. Ste. 1900 Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-580-2501 saltnsauna.com BEST MEMORY CARE Celebration Village Forsyth 3000 Celebration Blvd.

Suwanee, GA 30024 770-744-0832 agewellliving.com

The Memory Center 12050 Findley Rd. Johns Creek, GA 30097 770-476-3678 www.thememorycenter.com BEST MOBILITY STORE/ SERVICES Heavenly Wheels 6375 McGinnis Ferry Rd., #101 Johns Creek, GA 30005 678-847-0301 heavenlywheels.com

BEST ONCOLOGY The Center for Advanced Medicine – Jonathan Stegall, MD 3333 Old Milton Pkwy., Ste. 560 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-551-2730 advanced-med.com Piedmont Cancer Institute 755 Mt. Vernon Hwy. Sandy Springs, GA 30328 404-350-8711 www.piedmontcancerinstitute.com

Mobility Georgia 2905 Jordan Ct., Ste H Alpharetta, GA 30004 470-357-6130 mobilitygeorgia.com

BEST OPHTHALMOLOGY Milan Eye Center Multiple Locations 678-381-2021 milaneyecenter.com

BEST NUTRITIONIST/ DIETICIAN Medical Fitness & Wellness Group 10700 Medlock Bridge Rd. #105 Johns Creek, GA 30097 770-623-4078 exercise4prevention.com

Thomas Eye Group Roswell Office Multiple Locations 770-475-5515 thomaseye.com

Johns Creek Primary Care Physicians 4365 Johns Creek Pkwy., #400 Suwanee, GA 30024 678-957-1910 johnscreekprimarycare.com BEST OBGYN Modern Obstetrics & Gynecology of North Atlanta Multiple Locations 404-446-2496 reyesobgyn.com Roswell OBGYN Multiple Locations 770-751-3600 roswellobgyn.org BEST OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY High Hopes Children’s Therapy 3538 Old Milton Pkwy.

Alpharetta, GA 30005 678-395-3269 highhopestherapy.com All About Kids Therapy Peachtree Corners/ Norcross 3850 Holcomb Bridge Rd., #245 Norcross, GA 30092 770-710-0181 allaboutkidstherapyservices.com

BEST OPTOMETRY Thomas Eye Group – Roswell Office 11690 Alpharetta Hwy. Roswell, GA 30076 770-475-5515 thomaseye.com Caris Eye Centers – Alpharetta 9995 Jones Bridge Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30022 770-475-1242 cariseyecenters.com BEST ORAL SURGERY Paul Korb, DMD & Craig Taylor, DMD - Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 4355 Johns Creek Pkwy., Ste. 530 Suwanee, GA 30024 770-495-9193 korbtaylor.com Atlanta Oral and Facial Surgery Multiple Locations 877-269-2637 atlantaoralsurgery.com BEST ORTHODONTIST Hiser Orthodontics Multiple locations 470-330-9083 hiserortho.com

Smile Doctors by Jordan Orthodontics Dr. Jeff Jordan, Dr. Jim Awbrey Multiple Listings 770-751-1688 smiledoctors.com BEST ORTHOPEDICS Resurgens Orthopedics Multiple locations 770-475-2710 resurgens.com Peachtree Orthopedics Multiple Locations 404-355-0743 peachtreeorthopedics.com BEST PAIN MANAGEMENT Pain Physicians of Atlanta 3333 Old Milton Pkwy., Ste. #400 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-391-3979 painphysiciansofatlanta.com Align Spine and Pain Institute 960 Warsaw Rd., Ste. 150 Roswell, GA 30076 770-988-7246 alignspine.com BEST PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY Children’s Dental Zone 3455 Old Alabama Rd. Johns Creek, GA 30022 770-777-1222 childrensdentalzone.com Alpharetta Children’s Dentistry & Orthodontics 4205 North Point Pkwy.

Alpharetta, GA 30022 770-664-4936 alpharettachildrensdentistry.com BEST PEDIATRIC PRACTICE Roswell Pediatric Center, P.C. Multiple Locations 770-751-0800 roswellpediatrics.com North Fulton Pediatrics 1285 Hembree Rd., #100 Roswell, GA 30076 770-442-1050 northfultonpediatrics.com

BEST PHARMACY (LOCAL) Lily’s Pharmacy & Wellness Center 11670 Jones Bridge Rd. Johns Creek, GA 30005 678-964-5459 lilyspharmacy.com North Fulton Compounding Pharmacy 305 S Main St. Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-475-8903 northfultonrx.com BEST PHYSICAL THERAPY Johns Creek Physical Therapy 4060 Johns Creek Pkwy., Ste. H Suwanee, GA 30024 770-622-5344 johnscreekpt.com Medical Fitness and Wellness Group 10700 Medlock Bridge Rd. Ste. 105 Johns Creek, GA 770-623-4078 exercise4prevention.com BEST PODIATRY Ankle & Foot Centers of GA Multiple Listings 770-418-0456 ankleandfootcenters.com Dean P. Kostakos, DPM 1380 Upper Hembree Rd. Roswell, GA 30076 770-346-7500 BEST SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER Skylark Adult Day Care 4265 Johns Creek Pkwy., Ste B Johns Creek, GA 30024 404-410-1510 skylarkseniorcare.com Sexton Hall Enrichment Center 2115 Chloe Rd. Cumming, GA 30041 770-781-2178 BEST SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY Celebration Village 3000 Celebration Blvd.

Suwanee, GA 30024 770-744-0832 agewellliving.com

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Village Park Senior Living Multiple Locations 678-740-3499 villageparkseniorliving.com BEST SPEECH THERAPY High Hopes Children’s Therapy 3538 Old Milton Pkwy.

Alpharetta, GA 30005 678-395-3269 highhopestherapy.com

BEST URGENT CARE Piedmont Urgent Care — Milton/Alpharetta Multiple Locations 770-521-6690 wellstreet.com Here to Help Urgent Care 1137 Alpharetta St. Roswell, GA 30075 678-336-9240

Rogers Bridge Pediatric Therapy 2845 Summercrest Ln. Duluth, GA 30096 478-454-8889 rogersbridgepediatrictherapy.com

BEST UROLOGY Advanced Urology Multiple Locations 404-586-4570 advancedurology.com

BEST SUBSTANCE ABUSE/ ADDICTION TREATMENT No Longer Bound 2725 Pine Grove Rd. Cumming, GA 30041 770-886-7873 nolongerbound.com

Georgia Urology: David M Banks MD 1800 Northside Forsyth Dr., #370 Cumming, GA 30041 678-947-6199 www.gaurology.com

BEST VEIN SPECIALIST Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta 3180 North Point Pkwy., Ste. 420 Alpharetta, GA 30005 678-345-1899 premierdermatologyatlanta.com North Atlanta Vascular Clinic Multiple locations 770-771-5260 navascularclinic.com

BEST VETERINARIAN Midway Animal Hospital 6785 Atlanta Hwy. Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-475-2003 midwayvets.com Dr. Beatriz Segarra The Village Animal Hospital 5075 Abbotts Bridge Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-754-1234 www.thevillageanimalhospital.com

Summit Counseling Center 2750 Old Alabama Rd., #200 Johns Creek, GA 30022 678-893-5300 summitcounseling.org

ALPHARETTA-ROSWELL HERALD | FORSYTH HERALD | JOHNS CREEK HERALD | MILTON HERALD | DUNWOODY CRIER | SANDY SPRINGS CRIER Serving Metro Atlanta Since 1977 | Hello@AppenMedia.com | 770.442.3278

Delivering Readers Award-Winning Newspapers 2022 Georgia Press Association 1st – Health Care Advertising 1st – Serious Column 1st – Investigative Reporting 1st – Food Advertising 1st – Signature Page 2nd – News Photograph 2nd – Feature Writing 2nd – Food Advertising 2nd – Service Advertising 2nd – Special Issues/Sections 2nd – Business Writing 3rd – Business Writing 3rd – Page One 3rd – Locals News Coverage

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3rd – Spot News Photograph 3rd – Breaking News Writing 3rd – Lifestyle Feature Column 2022 Association of Community Publishers 1st – Orig. Editorial Photo Sports 1st – Orig. Writing Opinion 1st – Orig. Writing Sports 2nd – Feature Article Layout 2nd – Front Page Special Section 3rd – Orig. Editorial Photo Feature 3rd – Food & Drink Single Ad Color 3rd – Grocery/Liquor Single Ad Color 3rd – Special Promotion/Section Stand-Alone Gloss

Look for the Leaf.

At Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS), our team cares for more than 1 million people across the region through four hospital campuses and a variety of other locations.

Locations convenient to you include: MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDINGS Dozens of physician offices representing multiple specialties come together in one building for your convenience NORTHEAST GEORGIA PHYSICIANS GROUP More than 650 providers represent more than 40 specialties at more than 95 locations, including Cumming, Buford and more. Visit www.ngpg.org to find a provider near you.

GEORGIA HEART INSTITUTE More than 80 practitioners at more than a dozen locations including Cumming, Buford and more. Visit georgiaheartinstitute.org to find a provider near you.

IMAGING CENTERS Five locations including Buford URGENT CARE Eight locations for treatment of minor injuries and illnesses including Buford, Dacula and more REHABILITATION CENTERS Six locations for physical, speech and occupational therapy including Buford VIRTUAL CARE Our dedicated staff members work tirelessly to ensure you receive exceptional and compassionate care. Visit ngpg.org/care to learn more about our virtual care options.

Visit nghs.com to learn more.