Board of Advisors

OB/GYN

Dr. Vanessa Biggs joined Atlanta Women’s Obstetrics & Gynecology in 1999. She was board certified in obstetrics & gynecology and a Fellow in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She practices both obstetrics and gynecology.

Dr. Biggs is from Winchester, Massachusetts. She graduated from Princeton University in 1991 and the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1995. She completed her residency at Baylor College of Medicine.

Dr. Biggs is married and has three children.

PT, MPT, OCS, CSCS

Blair Green became a Partner of One on One Physical Therapy in 2008. She is a graduate of Duke University, and The Medical College of Pennsylvania-Hahnemann University, and brings eleven years of clinical experience to One on One Physical Therapy. She holds a Master's Degree of Physical Therapy, is board certified in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, is a Pilates Method Alliance Pilates Certified Teacher, a Polestar trained Pilates Instructor, and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA). She also is certified to perform Intramuscular Manual Therapy through Myopain Seminars.

Blair's practice focuses on Women's Health issues including pelvic pain, incontinence, pregnancy/post partum, breast cancer, and osteoporosis. She also treats male pelvic floor dysfunction. She has spoken as an invited lecturer in many community forums discussing Women's Health issues and performed book reviews and guest articles for local and national publications. In addition, she is an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor for the Physical Therapy Program of Mercer University and she provides guest lectures to the entry-level Doctorate of Physical Therapy programs at Emory University and Georgia State University. Aside from lecturing, Blair has also contributed as a Medical Team Member in the State Farm US Figure Skating Championships, and as a Specialty Crew Member in the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day. Blair is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, Orthopedic and Women's Health Sections, Physical Therapy Association of Georgia, National Strength and Conditioning Association, and the Pilates Method Alliance.

assistant professor & research scientist

Dr. Katherine Ingram is Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at Kennesaw
State University
, just north of Atlanta.  She earned her Ph.D. in exercise
physiology with a specialty in nutrition at Georgia State University. Dr.
Ingram completed post-doctoral fellowships in obesity and diabetes research
at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  Her work has been published in
multiple scientific journals. Upon her arrival at KSU in 2012, Dr. Ingram
incorporated her interest of pregnancy health into her obesity research
program.  She and her research team currently conduct studies on the
influence of exercise and abdominal obesity on complications of pregnancy.
In the classroom, Dr. Ingram teaches topics pertaining to exercise
physiology, nutrition, and the study of these during pregnancy.  Her
students graduate with a full understanding of the physiology behind, as
well as the importance of, fitness, nutrition, and weight management in
maintaining healthy pregnancies.  At home, Dr. Ingram enjoys teaching her
two young daughters the importance of healthy diet and active play.

RN, CCE

Barbara Negelow is a registered nurse with a certification in perinatal nursing. She is also a certified childbirth educator and a mom and a grandma. She has worked with many of the OB/GYN groups at Piedmont and Northside Hospitals. She has 25 years experience offering private, intimate and personal classes regarding childbirth expectations, labor and delivery. She offers private classes and consultations through her company, Readybirth. Barbara is also an AJC Nurse of Excellence for 2009.

Barbara has years of experience with perinatal loss and postpartum issues as well. She is also a Therapeutic Touch Practitioner with the American Holistic Nurses Association; a Mindfulness-based Meditation Facilitator with Jon Kabat-Zinn; a nurse volunteer with Hospice Atlanta, and a volunteer Jewish Family and Career Services facilitator for weekly grief and loss support group.

LPC, President of PSI Georgia

Ms. O'Brien is very passionate about wellness of Mothers. She is the Director of Operations at Elizabeth O'Brien & Associates, LLC, is a licensed professional counselor and has been in private practice since 2004.

In 2011, Elizabeth relocated from Fairbanks, Alaska to Georgia and started her private practice here in Atlanta. She is also a psychotherapist who studied Dance Movement Therapy, an independent contractor, yoga teacher, public speaker, consultant and national trainer who specializes in maternal mental health and is a "therapist's therapist.” Elizabeth is president of the Postpartum Support International Georgia state board as well as a volunteer coordinator with PSI.

When Elizabeth isn’t working she is running around her with husband and three wily children, beekeeping or simply trying to be outside in nature.

PEDIATRICIAN

Dr. Jennifer Shu is a pediatrician in Atlanta, Georgia. She is also a mom and practicing physician at Children's Medical Group. She's passionate about working with families to help them build healthy habits and believes continuing good habits is much easier than breaking bad ones.

Dr. Shu earned her medical degree at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia, and completed her pediatrics residency at the University of California, San Francisco. Her experience includes working in private practice, as well as working in an academic medical center including serving as director of the normal newborn nursery at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire.

Dr. Shu is also an author, medical consultant, parenting expert and frequent media guest. She is co-author of "Food Fights" and "Heading Home with Your Newborn" and is the medical editor for the American Academy of Pediatrics' web site HealthyChildren.org.

MS, RD, LD

Alicia C. Simpson MS, RD, LD is a lactation consultant and registered dietitian specializing in maternal and pediatric nutrition. Alicia is the founder and executive director of Pea Pod Nutrition and Lactation Support, a 501(c)3 non-profit headquartered in Atlanta, GA. The mission of Pea Pod Nutrition and Lactation Support is to empower mothers through evidence-based nutrition and lactation education, counseling and support to help them nourish their child(ren) in the most optimal way from conception through early childhood.

Alicia is also the author of three cookbooks Quick and Easy Vegan Comfort Food, Quick and Easy Vegan Celebrations and Quick and Easy Low-Cal Vegan Comfort Food. She is also the author of Boost Your Breast Milk: An All-In-One Guide for Nursing Mothers to Build a Healthy Milk Supply. She has two popular blogs: Vegan Guinea Pig, where she reviews vegan cookbooks, restaurants, health and beauty products, blogs, websites and food as well as The Lady and Seitan, where Alicia not only veganizes Paula Deen recipes but creates lower-calorie, healthier versions of Paula's buttery, high calorie favorites. Alicia keeps her hands full with writing and non-profit work but her most important role yet is that of mother to her vibrant and energetic little girl.

Healthcare Strategy & Operations Executive

Meredith L. Swartz, MBA, has worked in healthcare strategy, operations, and project implementation since starting her graduate education in 2007.  She spent several years as a consultant leading not-for-profit hospitals and academic medical centers through the strategic planning process, which included market and competitor analysis, priority setting, and implementation planning.  In 2012, she began working in-house at a large academic medical center focused on strategic planning as well as implementing large, transformational initiatives throughout the organization.  She is currently developing the strategic plan for a major university in the southeast to set the institution’s direction for the next several years.

Ms. Swartz received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from The College of William and Mary and her Master of Business Administration degree in Healthcare Strategy and Management from Goizueta Business School at Emory University.

Meredith is active in the healthcare innovation space and volunteers with the humane society in her area.  She is married and has two children.