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Staff Bios
Mary
Registered Nurse
Education:
- Undergraduate: University of Georgia, Dean’s List
- Nursing School: New York University
Family and Interests: Married with three dogs, two cats and a horse. Mary enjoys riding horses, motorcycle racing and travel.
In addition to being a registered nurse, Mary Blalock is talented in dermatology laser services.
After getting her degree in nursing from New York University, Mary returned to Georgia and worked as a charge nurse and clinical coordinator at Piedmont Hospital. She then entered the dermatology field where she quickly began specializing in laser services.
Today Mary is experienced in Candela Gentlase and Vbeam aesthetic lasers, photofacial procedures, the Fraxel Laser, Photodynamic Therapy for actinic keratoses and the CoolSculpting laser procedure.
Mary enjoys being able to help patients achieve beautiful, healthy skin. She especially loves getting to know the people she helps.
Karen
Aesthetician and Registered Dietician
Education:
- Undergraduate: Georgia State University, Summa Cum Laude, BA in Nutrition
- Dietetic Internship: Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School
- Aesthetician Education: Atlanta Institute of Aesthetics
Other: Certificate in adolescent weight management and childhood obesity
Family and Interests: With her partner, Karen has a stepson and son. She enjoys nutrition, yoga and helping people make healthy lifestyle changes.
As an aesthetician at Dermatology Affiliates, Karen Johnson works on medical grade procedures to help patients have beautiful skin. Her specialties include skin care, facials, peels, microdermabrasion, acne treatments, Isolaze and Coolsculpting.
Karen found her way to aesthetics after becoming a registered dietitian.
Karen even worked as a clinical dietitian at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, before moving back home to Atlanta in 2004.
With her certificate in adolescent weight management and childhood obesity, she specialized in neonatal nutrition and worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Northside Hospital.
But Karen always had a passion for skin care and realized the important link between skin and nutrition. So she returned to school to become an aesthetician, graduating from Atlanta Institute of Aesthetics in 2008.
Karen loves her work and especially the ability to help patients improve their skin. She also keeps up-to-date on current nutrition research and continues nutrition counseling part time.
Linda
Practice Administrator
As practice administrator, Linda is responsible for day-to-day operations.
She has a BBA in Finance and has been working at Dermatology Affiliates for seven years. Linda is married with a son. She is also an Atlanta native, whose family has lived here for generations.
Linda enjoys her work. “I really like, admire and respect all of the staff and doctors I work with,” she says. When she isn’t working, Linda enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, biking and gardening.
Sally Ann
Front Office Patient Coordinator
Sally Ann has been helping patients check in and check out at Dermatology Affiliates since 2009. She loves that her job helps her learn about skincare products and raise awareness of skincare issues. Prior to joining Dermatology Affiliates, Sally Ann founded a theatre and is still very involved with local theatre groups. Her love of learning extends into her off-work hours as well. Sally Ann is studying to be a high school theatre teacher.
Michelle
Medical Assistant and Laser Technician
In addition to nursing duties, Michelle is also responsible for scheduling Mohs surgeries and laser hair removal. She has worked at Dermatology Affiliates for more than seven years and thinks that meeting new people and interacting with patients is her favorite part of her job.
Michelle says she’s a “huge family person.” She is married with two children and enjoying kickboxing and spending time with her family.
Daisy
Medical Assistant
Daisy has worked with Dr. Forney since the founding of Dermatology Affiliates. Prior to joining Dermatology Affiliates, she spent almost 20 years in dermatology, oral medicine, and emergency medicine. She has experience with laser hair removal and psoriasis laser treatment. What she enjoys most is interacting with the patients. She is proud of her two children, one in the Army Reserves and the other who is overseas on active duty for the Army. She also has two grandchildren. Daisy is studying to become a registered nurse.
Niki
Medical Assistant
Niki works primarily with Dr. Taliaferro, helping to provide patient care and assist with procedures. She is a mother of four with one son in college, a daughter in high school, and a son and daughter in elementary school. During her free time, she enjoys reading and playing video games with her children.
Brittany
Front Office Patient Coordinator
Brittany covers all areas of the front desk. And she loves it, mostly because she gets to meet new folks and work “with amazing people” she says. She has three younger sisters and when she isn’t working, she enjoys theatre and music.
Pride
Administration
Pride brings 20+ years of customer service and real estate expertise to Dermatology Affiliates. She is enjoying learning about medical administration at Dermatology Affiliates. She is happy to be a part of an office that loves to provide great care and service to its patients. Pride has two children and three lovable dogs. In her time off, she enjoys reading, traveling (“even day trips!”), gardening and arranging flowers.
Kristina
Medical Assistant and EMT
Kristina has been with Dermatology Affiliates for more than five years working with doctors and helping take care of patients. She has two sons. In her free time, Kristina enjoys working out, drawing, watching Alabama football and spending time with her children.
McCalla
Marketing
McCalla manages the Facebook page, website content and promotions, plus plans and photographs the events at Dermatology Affiliates. McCalla has been involved with Dermatology Affiliates since 2004. What she most enjoys is photographing the staff events and seeing the results of team building. McCalla is married with a new baby girl. “I have a large extended family that helps complete my little ‘village.’, ” she says. When she isn’t working, she loves painting and reading.
Casey
Front Office Patient Coordinator
Casey makes up part of our customer service team. Casey is our third employee from Versailles, Kentucky, and brings that southern charm to the front desk in greeting patients. Casey loves learning about dermatology. She is very close to her sister who is her best friend. Casey also enjoys spending time outside, traveling and learning to sew.
Cheryl
Administration
Cheryl wears many administrative hats for Dermatology Affiliates including bookkeeping, collecting payments, and working with insurance. She has worked in the office for more than three years and is married with one son. In her free time, Cheryl enjoys traveling, swimming, boating, cooking, theatre and art.
Sally
Administration
Sally coordinates billing and charitable donations for Dermatology Affiliates. She has worked here for more than six years. The best parts of her day are interacting with people and helping the doctors and fellow staff members. Sally is married with two sons and two dogs. She enjoys making her own skincare products from organic ingredients.
Narva
Insurance Specialist
Narva is responsible for working closely with insurance companies and making sure claims are processed correctly. Her greatest pleasure is helping patients and Dermatology Affiliates, by ensuring that insurance companies pay their fair share of patients’ charges. She’s been working at Dermatology Affiliates since 2005. When she’s not working, Narva enjoys reading, singing and helping children.
Christa
Medical Assistant
Working primarily with Dr. Burger, Christa loves that the practice encompasses everything from surgery, to general dermatology to aesthetic techniques. Christa has been working at Dermatology Affiliates for over four years. She has three “fur” children: Jose, Luna, and Finn. When Christa is not working, she enjoys horseback riding, running and hiking with her dogs.
Caroline
Administrative Assistant
In addition to pre-verifying insurance, Caroline feels that she adds sunshine and fun shoes to the office. She’s been working at Dermatology Affiliates for more than two years and loves interacting with patients and helping to make the doctors’ days a little easier. When she’s not in the office, Caroline enjoys being an environmental artist and a fire hula-hooper.
Sabrina
Front Office Patient Coordinator
Sabrina’s work in administration allows her to do what she most loves about working at Dermatology Affiliates: spending time each day interacting with the patients and her co-workers. In her free time, Sabrina enjoys art, acting, sculpting, being outside, tennis and surfing.
Shelly
Front Office Patient Coordinator
Shelly works at the Front Desk and enjoys helping patients get the most out of their time in our office. When she’s not working, she loves spending time with her two nephews and two nieces. Everyone in her family loves animals, soccer and other sports. Shelly also volunteers for Bert’s Big Adventure and other non-profit organizations.
Nicole
Financial Operations Manager
Nicole has been working at Dermatology Affiliates for more than five years. She really enjoys spending time with the people she works with. She is married and has a brother and sister. In her free time, she enjoys reading, yoga and spending time with friends and her husband.
Rebecca
Assistant Practice Manager
Rebecca has worked with Dermatology Affiliates for more than four years. Her favorite aspects of her job are the variety and working behind the scenes to make sure the office runs smoothly. She does that by working on insurance, billing and contracts. When she’s not working, Rebecca enjoys soccer, stamping, reading and spending time with her family.
Beth
Registered Nurse
As a nurse at Dermatology Affiliates, Beth enjoys educating patients and promoting a healthy lifestyle. And when she’s not working, she loves to shop.
