Find a Top Pediatrician Near Me in Towson, MD – Book an Appointment Instantly

Laurel Pediatric and Teen Medical Center is proud to announce that Dr. Ugonma (Ugo) Harriet Okparaocha has joined our practice. She is now available to see patients from newborn to age 20. 
 
Dr. Ugo is a graduate of University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria. She completed her residency training in Pediatrics at Brookdale University Hospital in Brooklyn New York. She has been in medical practice for more than 20 years. She is Board certified by the American Academy of Pediatrics. 
 
She has worked in several clinical settings, including primary Pediatric care at the Appalachian Clinic located in Hazard, Kentucky, and various primary pediatric clinics in Maryland. She affiliated with University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center. She is also currently one of the hospitalists rendering inpatient Pediatric care at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air, Maryland.

Nadeem Hashmi, MD, is board-certified in pediatrics and neonatal-perinatal medicine. He sees and treats patients at EC Primary Care Physicians, PA, located in Columbia, Maryland. His mission is to provide compassionate and comprehensive care to mothers, infants, and children living in and around Howard County.

After earning his Doctor of Medicine in India, Dr. Hashmi completed his residency and fellowship at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland. He has accumulated over 32 years of pediatrics and neonatology experience, caring for sick and premature newborns.

Dr. Hashmi is affiliated with Howard County General Hospital in Columbia, Maryland, and several other local hospitals. He is also an active member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which helps him stay up to date with the latest advances in his field.

To better serve Maryland's diverse communities, Dr. Hashmi speaks Hindi, Spanish, and Urdu, in addition to English.

To learn more about the services offered by Dr. Hashmi, or schedule an appointment with the team at EC Primary Care Physicians, PA, call the office or book online today.

Dr. Yolandra Hancock is a mom, physician, and public health shero who combines her hands-on clinical experience and public health expertise with her passion for building vibrant communities to provide patient-empowered “best in class” care. Her educational background includes a bachelor’s degree from UCLA, her medical doctorate from the UCLA School of Medicine, and her Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In all the work that she does as a physician, as a professor, and public health champion, Dr. Hancock is fully committed to helping to raise up the next generation to reach their full health potential.

Kirra L. Brandon, MD is board certified in both dermatology and pediatric dermatology, and provides care to patients of all ages at Easton Dermatology Associates, a leading dermatology practice in Easton, Maryland, that serves residents on the Delmarva Peninsula. Although Dr. Brandon offers medical skin care services to patients of any age, she specializes in pediatric dermatology. Her specific interests include vascular birthmarks, genetic skin disorders, and pediatric skin and laser surgery.

Dr. Brandon obtained her undergraduate degree in biology from Harvard University, where she graduated with honors. She earned her medical degree at the University of Maryland Medical School, which is where she developed her interest in pediatric dermatology. She completed her internship in internal medicine at Tulane Hospital in New Orleans, followed by her residency in dermatology at Louisiana State University, also in New Orleans.

After finishing her residency, Dr. Brandon completed a year-long fellowship in pediatric dermatology at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. When her fellowship concluded, Dr. Brandon stayed on at the hospital as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Dermatology.

Dr. Brandon is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. She’s an active member of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology, and has spoken at their national meeting, as well as several other regional conferences designed to educate pediatricians about pediatric skin conditions. Dr. Brandon has also authored multiple publications in dermatology and pediatrics journals.

As a native of Annapolis, Maryland, Dr. Brandon was excited to return to the area with her husband, Gus, an ophthalmologist and fellow Maryland native, and their two young daughters. In her spare time, Dr. Brandon enjoys hiking, swimming, and spending time with her family.

Kailey is a speech-language pathologist at Express Yourself Therapy’s Kensington, MD branch. She earned her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from George Washington University and her Bachelor of Science in Education degree from the University of Virginia.
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Kailey was driven to speech-language pathology as she went to speech therapy for many years growing up. Her SLP always made therapy exciting and motivating, so Kailey strives to have the same effect on all of the kids she works with. She loves bringing out her inner child during sessions and being silly with kids while simultaneously targeting their goals in a meaningful and engaging way. 

In her free time, she loves working out, vacationing in Bethany Beach, and spending time with her family and friends.

Danielle is a pediatric speech-language pathologist and clinical manager at Express Yourself Therapy’s Kensington, MD branch. She earned her Master’s degree at Northwestern University in Chicago and her Bachelor of Science degree at Loyola University Maryland. 

Danielle has been a practicing speech therapist since 2018 and has been at Express Yourself Therapy for over four years. In 2023, Danielle earned a certificate as a clinical specialist in the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) community, where she effectively promotes strengths-based interventions, strategies, and approaches to support her clients regardless of age or developmental stage. Additionally, she has earned her DIR Floortime certificate and is now a DIR Expert and Training Leader. Danielle specializes in the areas of phonological/articulation skills, receptive/expressive language skills, and social pragmatic communication. 

 

 

 

 

McKenna is a dedicated pediatric occupational therapist passionate about helping children reach their fullest potential. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and her Master’s in Occupational Therapy from North Central College.

With fieldwork experience in schools, neurorehabilitation, and vision therapy, McKenna brings a well-rounded perspective to her practice. Her love for working with children stems from her desire to nurture growth and support each child’s unique journey toward independence and confidence.

Amita DeSouza, MD, of Abdow Friendship Pediatrics in Rockville, Maryland, is a caring and compassionate board-certified pediatrician and pediatric endocrinologist. Patients appreciate her warm and personable nature and the time she takes to truly get to know those in her care. 

Education is a central part of Dr. DeSouza’s life. She began her studies at the University of Rochester in New York, where she studied neuroscience. She went on to complete medical school at the University of Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in New York before completing her internship and residency at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. 

Dr. DeSouza also completed fellowship training in pediatric endocrinology through New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. She continues to seek opportunities to expand her skills and knowledge through continuing education and seminars. 

Working with children is a calling. Dr. DeSouza finds it incredibly rewarding to assist children and their families in building a strong foundation for a lifetime of great health and wellness. Many families wouldn’t consider entrusting their child’s care to anyone else. 

Azra Jagani, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and an integral part of the team at Abdow Friendship Pediatrics in Rockville, Maryland. She finds her work deeply rewarding and enjoys getting to know the families in her care. 

A lifelong learner, Dr. Jagani attended St. Lawrence’s Convent School in Karachi, Pakistan, for her undergraduate studies. She completed medical school at Sindh Medical College, also in Karachi. Upon arriving in the United States, Dr. Jagani completed a residency at Texas Tech University Hospital in El Paso. 

Working with children allows Dr. Jagani to watch her patients grow and develop. Assisting them as they move closer to adulthood is a joy and honor. 

Preventive health is an area of focus for Dr. Jagani. She tracks each child's development through newborn care exams and well-child visits and provides the vaccines and other support needed for a healthy and happy childhood. She looks forward to caring for her new and returning patients.  

Victor Abdow Jr., MD, is a highly skilled and board-certified pediatric specialist passionate about working with kids. Through his work at Abdow Friendship Pediatrics in Rockville, Maryland, Dr. Abdow is honored to play a role in helping children and families thrive. 

Education has always shaped Dr. Abdow’s professional life. He completed his undergraduate studies at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in animal studies. He completed medical school at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC, where he remained for his internship and residency training. 

He continues to give back to the medical community as a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at Georgetown University School of Medicine and George Washington University School of Medicine. 

A proud member of The American Academy of Pediatrics, Georgetown Clinical Society, and the Montgomery County Medical Society, Dr. Abdow enjoys opportunities to learn from his peers and network with other medical professionals. 

Office Location(s): Great Falls and Herndon

 

Melody Heiskell, M.D., F.A.A.P., is a compassionate pediatrician serving the families of Virginia Pediatric Group. She takes time to listen to her patients and their parents and prioritizes unrushed care. She greatly appreciates the privilege to partner with parents in helping their children thrive.

Dr. Heiskell graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Louisiana Scholars’ College in 2002. She then attained her medical degree from Louisiana Health Sciences Center in New Orleans in 2006. In 2009 she completed pediatric residency training at Emory University School of Medicine.

Upon residency completion, Dr. Heiskell joined the team at Virginia Pediatric Group in 2009. She is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and attends medical conferences every year to remain up to date on advances in medicine. She served as Chair of Pediatrics at Reston Hospital from 2018 until 2022. While she provides a full scope of pediatric care, Dr. Heiskell has special interests in preventative medicine, families of multiples, and family-centered health care.

Dr. Heiskell resides in Northern Virginia. In her spare time, she enjoys live music, local arts, hiking, cultural events, faith-based activities, farmers markets, and anything outdoors with her three very energetic children and dog.

 

Patient Reviews

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“Dr. Unikel is amazing ! She is very nice and caring ,and takes her job seriously! She is my son's favorite doctor!”
- Narges A.

 

“Dr Unikel has been seeing my children for 14 years. She is always knowledgeable about any topics I bring up and has helped our family navigate numerous pediatric situations. She is patient and kind but also extremely thorough.”
- Maria H.

 

“Our experience with Virginia Pediatrics has been nothing but wonderful!! Dr. Heiskell has been my daughter's pediatrician for many years and she is the main reason we continue to return!! Her understanding and medical advice is spot on. We are thankful for all that she and the practice have done for us throughout the years.”
- Heather A.

 

“Dr. Unikel is so sweet with my kids. She takes the tims to listen to any concerns. Highly recommend her and the VAPG group!”
- Maureen B.

Office Location(s): Fairfax, Herndon, and Aldie

Other languages spoken: Teochew Chinese (basic conversational)

 

Sandy Huynh, M.D., F.A.A.P., is a board-certified pediatrician who provides comprehensive care to children in Fairfax, Great Falls, Herndon, and Aldie, Virginia. Dr. Huynh brings over a decade of experience to the team at Virginia Pediatric Group. 

Dr. Huynh was raised in Kansas. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in biology at the University of Kansas, graduating with distinction, and completed her medical degree at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 2010. While in medical school, she was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society, which recognizes students, residents, and faculty who are exemplars of compassionate patient care and who serve as role models, mentors, and leaders in medicine. In 2013, she completed her pediatrics residency training at Inova Children's Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia, where she was selected to be Chief Resident for the following year. 

Dr. Huynh joined the team at Virginia Pediatric Group in 2013. She is passionate about providing high-quality, unrushed pediatric care and is proud to partner with families throughout the area. Dr. Huynh is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is an Instructor of Pediatrics for the VCU School of Medicine. She is also an Assistant Professor of Medical Education at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

Dr. Huynh is an avid sports fan who can be found cheering on the Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas City Chiefs, and Kansas City Royals. She lives in Fairfax, Virginia, with her husband and daughters.

 

 

Office Location(s): Herndon and Great Falls

Other languages spoken: Farsi (fluent), Dari (fluent), Urdu/Hindi (fluent), Arabic (basic fluency), French (basic fluency)

Other services offered: Habib Complementary and Integrative Medicine

Farangis Habib, M.D., MHSc, F.A.A.P., is an accomplished pediatrician on the team at Virginia Pediatric Group. Dr. Habib provides care to children from the practice's office locations in Great Falls, and Herndon, Virginia.   

Dr. Habib was born in Tehran, Iran, and earned her medical degree in 1981 from Dow Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan. In 1988, she completed her pediatric training in hospitals in Karachi, London, and Dublin, graduating with the highest honors. 

For several years, Dr. Habib worked as a pediatrician as well as a researcher and medical director for two international pharmaceutical companies. During this time, she became interested in public health and began her training at Harvard school of public health. Later, she completed a Tropical Medicine Certificate at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2000. She then earned a Master of Health Science in molecular microbiology and immunology from Johns Hopkins in 2001. 

For over a decade, Dr. Habib worked in various allied health fields. She completed her pediatrics residency at Toledo Children's Hospital and became board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. Subsequently, she worked as a pediatrician in Ohio, Fredericksburg, and Reston until she joined the Virginia Pediatric Group in 2017.

Dr. Habib is a Graduate Fellow of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, Arizona University, 2023. She is trained in Reach institute and treats children/adolescents with mental illness.

She is a member of several organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, HANDS (Health and Nutrition Development Society), Spouse member of YPO (Young Presidents' Organization) DC-Baltimore chapter, Alumnus of Harvard School of Public Health, Alumnus of Johns Hopkins University, and Alumnae-I-Network for Harvard Women.

Dr. Habib lives in northern Virginia with her husband and has four grown children. She is fluent in English, Farsi, Hindi, Dari, basic French, and Arabic. In her free time, she enjoys playing chess, cooking, reading Persian poetry, doing calligraphy, and listening to traditional music.

Patient Reviews

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“We drive 30 minutes out of the district to see Dr. Habib because she’s attentive and patient; she listens to the concerns of the parents but also fosters security in the babies. We’ve been with VAPG since our twins were newborns and after meeting with Dr. Habib, I have made it a point to schedule my daughters’ appointments on days she is in the office. Highly recommend it!”
- Ashley F.

 

“My daughter Alicia just recently had meningitis and she's only 6 months. With babies this age, it's hard to notice them, and COVID is making it even harder. Thanks for Dr Habib, she wasted no time in demanding that I go to the Inova ER and have my daughter checked out and examined. I deeply thank her for discovering the meningitis and asking me to go to the ER, she truly saved my baby's life!”
- Alicia Z.

 

“Wonderful Experience !! Dr Habib went above and beyond. Help my little one and answer my concerns.”
- Lilian C.

 

“Very patient and kind. She is an out of the box thinker when it comes to treatment. Wonderful doctor!”
- September O.