Dr. Stonecipher earned his medical degree from East Tennessee State University in 1986. After completing his residencies and chief residencies in Internal Medicine in 1989 at East Tennessee State University and in Dermatology in 1993 at Wake Forest University, he entered private practice with Dermatology Associates of Georgia, L.L.C. and is a current partner. He is Board Certified in Dermatology and Internal Medicine. Dr. Stonecipher and his wife, Lisa, have six children. They enjoy travel, cooking and music. Dr. Stonecipher is a member of AAD, AMA, ADA and AOA, the medical honor society.
Joanne P. McAlvany, M.D.
Dr. McAlvany earned her medical degree from the University of Florida in 1987. After completing her residencies and chief residencies in Pediatrics in 1991 at Emory University and in Dermatology in 1994 at Wake Forest University, she entered private practice. She joined Dermatology Associates of Georgia, LLC in 1996 and is a current partner. She is Board Certified in Dermatology and Pediatrics. Dr. McAlvany and her husband, William, have four children.
Damon V. Mauldin, M.D.
Dr. Mauldin is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas. After graduating summa cum laude from Hendrix College he moved to Houston, Texas to study medicine. He graduated with high honors from Baylor College of Medicine in 1995 and also completed his internship in internal medicine there in 1996. During his time in Houston, he developed an interest in Dermatology which led him to Emory University. At Emory, he served as chief resident and graduated in 1999. He joined Dermatology Associates of Georgia in July of 1999 and became a partner 2 years later. He now serves as site partner at the Decatur office. His interests include general medical dermatology and skin cancer surgery. Dr. Mauldin is certified by the American Board of Dermatology. Dr. Mauldin has lived in Decatur for 11 years and enjoys spending time with his wife, Lisa, and daughters, Melissa and Natalie.
Susan R. Spitzler, M.D.
Dr. Susan Spitzler graduated magna cum laude from Brandeis University with a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and Psychology. She subsequently graduated from Emory University School of Medicine. After completing two years of a pediatric residency at the University of Connecticut she went on to complete her dermatology residency at Emory University. Dr. Spitzler joined Dermatology Associates of Georgia, L.L.C. in July 2001 and is a current partner. She is board certified in dermatology and is a member of the AAD. Her comprehensive dermatology practice focuses on adults as well as children. Dr. Spitzler and her husband John, have three children.
Thomas J. Braza, M.D.
Dr. Braza is a long time Atlanta resident. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia in 1993 and received his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine in 1997. He continued his training at Emory University where he completed an internship in Internal Medicine and a residency in dermatology. Following his residency, he completed a fellowship in Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology at the University of Louisville in 2003. He is Board Certified in Dermatology and is a member of American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and the American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology. His practice interests include Mohs Micrographic skin cancer surgery, botox, filler injections, chemical peels, and other cosmetic techniques. He and his wife, Beverly, enjoy traveling, spending time at the beach, and going for walks with their "Westie" named Maddie.
John Thomas Apgar, M.D.
Dr. Apgar attended Cornell University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology. After completion of medical school at Emory University in Atlanta and two years of internal medicine training at Cornell Cooperating Hospitals in New York, he returned for dermatology residency at Emory, and became board certified in 1976. He has been in private practice for 35 years, served on the faculty of Emory Department of Dermatology for five years, and joined Dermatology Associates of Georgia, L.L.C. in January 2001. His interests include contact allergies of the skin, and his current practice is restricted to consultations for allergy patch testing and evaluation of rashes. When not in the office, Dr. Apgar enjoys hiking, mountain biking, travel, reading, and model trains; as well as spending time with his four grandchildren and a daughter in high school.
Holly L. Hanson, M.D., PhD
Dr. Hanson is a native of Missoula, MT. She graduated magna cum laude from Duke University in 1995 and subsequently earned her PhD in immunology from Washington University in 2000. She then studied medicine at Cornell University where she became a member of AOA, the medical honor society. She graduated in 2004 with her MD and honors in research. Dr. Hanson completed her dermatology residency at Emory University in 2008. She will join Dermatology Associates of Georgia in November, 2008. She and her husband, Arash, have one daughter, Amelie, and enjoy travel, fly fishing, music and having fun in the outdoors.
Abdul Hafeez, M.D.
Dr. Hafeez received most of his education in Chicago. He graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1988. He earned his medical degree in 1992, and completed his dermatology residency in 1996, both at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In search of nicer climate and scenic surroundings, he and his family moved to Georgia in 2000 where he practiced dermatology for 6 years with a group in Lawrenceville and Duluth, before joining Dermatology Associates of Georgia in September 2006. The family decided to explore Texas, and after only a few months missed Georgia tremendously. He is back with Dermatology Associates in the Johns Creek office. He is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery. He enjoys medical and surgical dermatology and sees all age groups. Dr. Hafeez lives in Duluth with his wife and 3 children.
Paola Bonaccorsi, M.D, PhD
Dr. Bonaccorsi earned her medical degree at the University of Rome “La Sapienza” in Rome, Italy in 1994, where she also completed a dermatology residency in 1998. She then went on to complete a PhD. in Immunology at University of Rome “La Sapienza” in 2001. She then moved to Atlanta, and after extensive research in the area of melanoma, she completed a second dermatology residency at Emory University in 2009. Dr. Bonaccorsi is certified by the American Board of Dermatology. Her dermatologic interests are in the areas of general dermatology, immunology, and skin cancer. She, her husband Dale, and their daughter, Maria Elena, enjoy spending family time outdoors and traveling as much as possible.
Emma J. Murad, M.D.
Dr. Murad is a long-time Atlanta resident. She graduated from Emory University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Before continuing on to medical school, she worked as a research specialist in the Biochemistry department of Emory University studying the role of reactive oxygen species in a variety of cancers. She then attended Morehouse School of Medicine where she graduated cum laude in 2005. After completing her internship in Internal Medicine from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in 2006, she returned to Atlanta to complete her Dermatology residency at Emory University in 2009. Throughout her medical training, Dr. Murad continued to focus her research on reactive oxygen species and under the guidance of her mentor, Dr. Jack Arbiser, has had numerous publications in a variety of scientific journals. She joined Dermatology Associates of Georgia in October 2009 and is certified by the American Board of Dermatology. Dr. Murad is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology and the Atlanta Dermatological Association.
Helen H. Bennett, M.Ed., M.S.P.H., M.M.Sc., PA-C
A graduate of Vanderbilt University, Helen went on to earn Masters degrees in Counseling at the University of Virginia and in Public Health at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill before finding her niche as a Physician Assistant. She started in Dermatology in 2000 after completing her Physician Assistant Masters program at Emory University. She currently serves as an adjunct professor for the Emory University Physician Assistant program. She joined Dermatology Associates of Georgia, L.L.C. in January 2005. She and her husband, Davis, have two young sons, Grayson and Candler. Ms. Bennett is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants and the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants.
Danna Dennis Calder, M.M.Sc., PA-C
Ms. Calder is a native of Los Angeles; she graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California, then spent five years working for a large dermatology practice in Beverly Hills. She earned her Masters degree in 1999 upon graduating with honors from Emory University's Physician Assistant Program, and has worked for many years in internal medicine and rheumatology. In 2006, she joined Dermatology Associates of Georgia, LLC. She and her husband, Don, live in Decatur with their two young daughters, with whom they enjoy taking long walks and day-trips. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants and the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants.
Rhea Douglas, M.S., M.M.Sc., PA-C
Born and raised in Richmond, VA, Rhea graduated in 2000 from the University of Virginia with her B.A. in Biology. After working in the pharmaceutical industry, she moved to Atlanta and earned her Masters degree in Professional Counseling from Georgia State University. She decided to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant after working as a mental health counselor in order to broaden her medical knowledge and training. In 2008, she graduated with honors from Emory University’s Physician Assistant Program and earned her Masters degree in Medical Science. Upon graduation, she joined Dermatology Associates of Georgia, LLC. Rhea lives in Decatur with her husband, Nathan, and their energetic Labrador retriever. She enjoys playing tennis, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants and the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants.
Sandra G. Hanson, R.N., A.P.R.N., A.N.P., B.C.
Sandra G. "Sandy" Hanson, graduated from Georgia College in Milledgeville with her nursing degree in 1972. After two years of clinical experience as a registered nurse, she was accepted into the pilot masters nurse practitioner program at the University of Georgia and completed that program in 1976, which then required an additional year of clinical experience in her approved specialty of practice, adult health. Sandy was one of the first N.P.s in Georgia to sit for the American Nursing Credentialing Center's National Licensure Exam as an adult nurse practitioner, board certified. She has maintained her national and state board certified status for over thirty years. In addition, in 1986, she returned to UGA to graduate, summa cum laude, with her B.S. Ed. in health education in 1986. Sandy has worked in most all specialties as a nurse practitioner with most of her experience being primary care and internal medicine. She often managed rural clinics or worked in college health and public health. She became interested in dermatology and then in medical aesthetics. After specializing in medical aesthetics over the last two years with intense hands-on training, she has found her true love at this stage of her career. She has found the perfect balance for both her nursing skills and her creative skills. She is married and has three beautiful girls and one fine son-in-law. She loves to travel, visit with friends/family, tailgate at UGA games, walk, boat, read, sew, especially creative projects.
Rebecca Ramsey, Medical Esthetician
Ms. Ramsey has been a skin care professional for twenty years and a Licensed Esthetician for the last twelve years. She is also a Certified Volunteer for the American Cancer Society's "Look Good, Feel Better" program. She has been with Dermatology Associates of Georgia for seven years and currently runs the Aesthetics Center for the practice. In this role, she specializes in acne surgery, medical facials, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, corrective camouflage makeup, and skin care consultations. Rebecca enjoys photography and travel. She and her husband live in Decatur.
Nicole Boyd, Medical Esthetician
Nicole Boyd is a native of Johnson City, Tennessee. She has been a Licensed Esthetician and LPN for the last 4 years. She has a cosmetic dermatology background. She is currently the supervisor at our Johns Creek Aesthetic Center. Her clinical background includes microdermabrasion, chemical peels, various hair removal techniques, lasers, IPL, facial skin care therapies, and consultations. She enjoys makeup artistry for weddings and special events in her spare time.
Dawn Green, Medical Esthetician
Dawn Green has been an Esthetician since 1999. She has worked in many areas of skincare including day spas, plastic surgery, and dermatology. She has a special interest in anti-aging and corrective skincare with years of experience working with a variety of lasers. She completed two years of college prior to entering skincare school. Dawn is a native of Georgia. In her spare time she enjoys music, traveling, cooking, and playing on the water.
Marisa Costigan, Medical Esthetician
Marisa Costigan is a Licensed Esthetician and has worked in the medical field for the last six years. She is certified in chemical peels, LED, microdermabrasion, and laser treatments. Marisa enjoys helping people look and feel their best with a focus on anti-aging skincare. She enjoys dancing, traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family. Marisa and her husband live in Johns Creek.
