Pediatric Gastroenterologists in the Greater Atlanta Area
Our pediatric gastroenterologists are trained at many of the nation’s leading medical institutions and are considered the top experts in their fields. Our physicians are compassionate caregivers who have been working with children and adolescents for decades. As parents themselves, our doctors take pride in treating you and your child like family.
Schedule your appointment with a GI Care for Kids provider by calling (404) 257-0799. You can also quickly and easily request an appointment now.
Personalized care
Each of our doctors collaborates with a dedicated nurse, providing personalized, 1:1 care for our patients and their families.
Consistent experience
We value consistency and quality. Our patients will always see an MD dedicated to their care at each visit.
Quick responses
Our team is available to answer your questions quickly. Your calls will be returned promptly.
Advanced Practice Providers
When our patients are hospitalized, their care team includes an advanced practitioner who works alongside the GI attending physician to provide the highest quality care. Our highly trained advanced practitioners are valuable members of our team. Under physician supervision, they provide care to patients in the following ways:
- taking medical histories
- performing exams
- ordering and interpreting tests
- making diagnoses
- determining treatments
- prescribing medications
Learn more about our advanced practitioners by selecting their profiles.
Anna Kelly, MSN, RN, CPNP
Anna grew up outside of Atlanta in Norcross and graduated from Emory University in 2002 with a degree in economics. After working in Atlanta’s nonprofit industry for several years, she decided to go back to Emory and graduated with her nursing degree in 2011. After earning her undergraduate nursing degree, Anna worked as a cardiac nurse at Emory University Hospital. In 2014, she began graduate coursework at Georgia State University and graduated with her master’s in nursing in December 2016. Anna began working with GI Care for Kids in April of 2017. Outside of work, Anna enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters. She also enjoys running, tennis, and crafts.
Emily Byrd, MSN, CPNP-AC
Alison Miller, MPAS, PA-C
Alison grew up outside of Atlanta in Covington and graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor of science degree in psychology in 2014. After graduation, Alison started working for GI Care for Kids in various roles, including as an endoscopy technician, medical assistant, and scribe. She then graduated from the physician assistant program at Augusta University (formerly the Medical College of Georgia). Alison is honored and excited to be working for the GI Care for Kids physicians yet again – now as an inpatient physician assistant.
Laura H. Sayewich, CPNP
Laura grew up in North Carolina and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning her Bachelors of Science in Nursing. She worked in the PICU in Chapel Hill, NC for a couple years before moving to Atlanta to attend Emory University. After completing her Masters Degree in Nursing at Emory, Laura worked in the Emergency Room at CHOA for 12 years before joining GI Care for Kids in 2021.
Outside of work, Laura enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, as well as staying active, volunteering, and reading.
Clair Talmadge, MMSC, PA-C
Clair is a native Atlantan who graduated from the Emory University School of Medicine’s physician assistant program in 2004. She has been working on the GI Care for Kids inpatient team since graduation. Her recent efforts have focused on quality improvement for our inflammatory bowel disease population. She is also a team leader for our ImproveCareNow Family Advisory Council.
Ancillary Services Providers: Dietitians
Bailey Koch, RD, CSP, LD
Bailey is a registered dietitian who is board-certified as a specialist in pediatric nutrition. She started her career at Northside Hospital and then at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite with pediatric nutrition as her main focus. While at Northside, she provided support in all areas of the hospital, including the high risk perinatal unit and 100-bed NICU. At Scottish Rite, she was involved in the care of children in the AFLAC Cancer Center, Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units, neonatal follow-up clinic, and the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit. In 2006, Bailey joined the GI Care for Kids team and founded Atlanta Pediatric Nutrition in 2008. While at GI Care for Kids, she has developed an interest in helping children with celiac disease, food allergies, eosinophilic esophagitis, food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES), failure to thrive, and feeding difficulties, among other diagnoses. Bailey graduated from the University of Mississippi and completed her dietetic internship at Emory University. She is one of just 30 board-certified specialists in pediatric nutrition in the state of Georgia. Bailey is a food allergy specialist and holds a certificate of training in childhood and adolescent weight management. She has also held the specialty credential of certified nutrition support dietitian. Bailey is a founding member and has served on various committees of the Council for Pediatric Nutrition Professionals, which is part of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN). She is a member of the medical advisory board for both The FPIES Foundation and Nutrition4Kids.com. Bailey is an expert witness in pediatric nutrition for the state of Georgia and the U.S. Department of Justice. She has served on the board of the Greater Atlanta Dietetic Association as a state professional recruitment coordinator. Bailey has been involved with research on the specific carbohydrate diet and Crohn’s disease and served as one of the primary consultants for the book, What to Feed Your Baby. She has authored numerous articles and blog posts for Nutrition4Kids.com and co-authored the book, 500 Baby and Toddler Dishes: Nutritious Make-Ahead Meals for Baby’s First Foods and Beyond. A sought-after speaker on pediatric nutrition, Bailey has presented to multiple groups of medical professionals, including physicians, therapists, nurses, and other dietitians. She helps to educate future dietitians by serving as a preceptor to dietetic interns throughout the country who are interested in the specialized area of pediatric nutrition. She has been a guest on CNN Newsroom in addition to being interviewed for many magazine and news articles on the topic of pediatric nutrition. Outside of work, Bailey enjoys spending time with her husband, son, daughter, boxer, and 2 bunnies, as well as spending time with friends, working out, shopping, and traveling.
Natalie Hill RD, LD
Natalie is a registered dietitian who grew up in Atlanta and who has been at GI Care For Kids and Children’s Health Care of Atlanta since the beginning of her career. While Natalie typically covers the GI floor while working at Scottish Rite, Natalie has also gained experience in all areas of the hospital including the AFLAC Cancer Center, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit.
Natalie became interested in Nutrition as a patient of GI Care for Kids after she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in early high school. After trialing many medications, Natalie turned to diet to help her manage her disease. Natalie has since managed her disease through use of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. Because of her own experience, Natalie developed an interest in nutrition and helping children with GI disorders and diseases including IBD, Celiac disease, food allergies, and feeding difficulties among other diagnoses.
Natalie graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Nutrition Dietetics and went on to complete her dietetic internship at The Ohio State University.
Outside of work, Natalie enjoys cooking, yoga, traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Ancillary Services Providers: Psychologists
Dr. Jessica Buzenski, PhD
Dr. Buzenski received her undergraduate degree in psychology at Ohio Dominican University in her hometown of Columbus, Ohio. She earned her masters and PhD in pediatric health psychology from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through the University of Tennessee Health Science Center consortium. Her post-doctoral fellowship through University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences was completed at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in the Department of Pediatrics.
Dr. Buzenski’s clinical interests include supporting behavior change to improve both physical and mental health, developing pain management skills, and promoting adjustment to pediatric chronic illness. She is developing her research focus by applying psychological science within GI patient populations.
Talk to your child’s GI doctor or nurse if you are interested in an appointment with Dr. Buzenski.
Dr. Bonney Reed, PhD
Dr. Reed, a Georgia native, received her undergraduate, master’s degree, and PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Georgia. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Alpert Medical School at Brown University and returned to Georgia for a postdoctoral fellowship through Emory University School of Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Throughout her training, she focused on treating children diagnosed with chronic illnesses, particularly gastrointestinal conditions.
Dr. Reed is an assistant professor of pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine, and her research focuses on applying psychological science to improve disease outcomes and quality of life in youth with GI disorders. Her clinical interests include patient and family adjustment to pediatric chronic illnesses, and behavior change to promote health. She has experience working with patients diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, functional GI disorders, celiac disease, and encopresis. In addition, she is highly trained in using cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to address symptoms of anxiety, depression, poor adjustment, school refusal, and chronic pain.
Dr. Valerie M. Volkert, PhD, BCBA-D
Dr. Volkert was born in the suburbs of Dayton, Ohio, and moved to central Florida at the age of 12. She graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor of science in psychology. She then earned her doctoral degree in school psychology from Louisiana State University and completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Marcus Autism Center. Dr. Volkert completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Nebraska’s Munroe-Meyer Institute. She has had numerous research papers published in various psychology journals.
Dr. Volkert is an assistant professor of pediatrics and is a psychologist program manager in the pediatric feeding program at the Marcus Autism Center. She previously served as faculty at the Munroe-Meyer Institute, and as adjunct faculty at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In 2015, Dr. Volkert joined the Marcus Autism Center and began her collaboration with GI Care for Kids in 2016. She sees patients in the outpatient clinics of the feeding program, supervises interns and residents, and pursues lines of clinical research.
Dr. Volkert’s hobbies include traveling and spending time with her husband and two girls.
At GI Care for Kids in the Greater Atlanta area, it is our goal to give you all the information and tools you need to have the most success with your child, no matter their GI condition. For more information or to arrange a consultation with one of our doctors, please call GI Care for Kids at (404) 257-0799 or request your appointment now.