14 minute read
Health & Wellness
FAVORITE KIDS’ MEAL Chick-fil-A This repeat Family Favorite has run away with the top spot for many years. Families love the delicious food with several healthy options, fast, friendly service and more. Kids’ meals come with an educational toy. www.chick-fil-a-com
FAVORITE TV STATION WBRC Fox 6 A repeat Family Favorite, WBRC Fox 6 is the station families trust for reliable news and weather. www.wbrc.com
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FAVORITE RADIO STATION WDJC A repeat Family Favorite, WDJC-FM was one of the first commercial FM radio stations in the U.S. to exclusively feature Christian programming. www.wdjconline.com
FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPHER Christy Pierce Photography Families love Pierce, a professional photographer who has earned many accolades for her work from The Knot, Birmingham Parent and more. She’s a wife and mom of three who treats each photography session as if it is her own. https://christypiercephotographyllc.com
FAVORITE BABY GIFTS/FURNITURE Buy Buy Baby This repeat winner offers everything you need for baby – from strollers to furniture to diapers. Parents love the convenience. The store also has a great website to make it easy to get all you need, too. www.buybuybaby.com
FAVORITE BOARDING FOR PETS Altadena Valley Animal Clinic This year’s Family Favorite has themed, ceramic tiled boarding suites with a TV and webcam! It’s just one of the many services Altadena Valley Animal Clinic offers families’ furry friends. www.altadenavalleyanimalclinic.com
FAVORITE VETERINARIAN Dr. Melissa Miller, Altadena Valley Animal Clinic Miller graduated first in her veterinary class at Auburn University and practiced veterinary medicine in Montgomery and Auburn before moving home to Birmingham. www.altadenavalleyanimalclinic.com many clinics and services, it has earned the trust of many families. https://www.uabmedicine.org
FAVORITE OB/GYN PRACTICE Henderson & Walton Women’s Center This Family Favorite has been providing care for more than 30 years. It specializes in women’s health care, and its physicians are board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. https://www.hwwc.net
FAVORITE CHIROPRACTOR Dr. Troy Lofton Lofton is a chiropractic physician whose special interests include degenerative conditions of the spine, but also enjoys working with and educating pregnant moms to alleviate common symptoms during pregnancy; and neurological function for babies/toddlers. https://www.albackcare.com
FAVORITE ORTHODONTIST PT Ortho This repeat Family Favorite for the last nine years has 11 conveniently located offices in the Birmingham metro area, offering affordable, personalized, individualized treatment plans for children and adults. https://ptortho.com
FAVORITE FAMILY DENTIST Dr. Norman C. Guillen Guillen has practiced dentistry in Homewood for more than 20 years. He was in the honors program at UAB and received his doctorate of dental medicine from UAB. His practice offers several services, and considers patients family. www.drgdmd.com
FAVORITE PEDIATRIC DENTIST Dr. Lauten Johnson Johnson has led Pediatric and Adolescent Dentistry in Hoover since its beginning in 2010. He completed his doctor of dental medicine at UAB and is board certified in pediatric dentistry. https://www.brocksgapdentalgroup.com
FAVORITE COUNSELING United Counseling This year’s Family Favorite is a ministry of the United Methodist Church, providing faith-based professional counseling for more than 45 years. https://unitedcounseling.org
FAVORITE ALL-AROUND HOSPITAL UAB Medicine UAB Medicine is one of the top academic medical centers in the U.S., providing health care services for more than 1.6 million patients annually. With FAVORITE WALK-IN/URGENT CARE American Family Care Families trust American Family Care for non-emergency patients who still need immediate attention. Founded in 1982, it has several locations and offers convenience and care. https://www.afcurgentcare.com
FAVORITE CHILDREN’S WALK IN/ URGENT CARE Urgent Care for Children Children don’t pick the best times to be sick or injured. With multiple area locations, Urgent Care for Children is open late and on weekends to provide the care and service that will help your little one feel better in no time! www.childrensurgent.com
FAVORITE CHILDREN’S HEALTH FACILITY Children’s of Alabama Children’s of Alabama provides specialized medical care for ill and injured children, and ranks among the best pediatric medical centers in the nation. It also is one of the largest, offering inpatient and outpatient services of all kinds. https://childrensal.org
FAVORITE WOMEN’S HEALTH FACILITY Grandview Medical Center Grandview cares for women at every stage of life, with doctors and services tailored to each need, from childbirth to imaging. https://www.grandviewhealth.com
FAVORITE GYNECOLOGIST & OBSTETRICIAN Dr. Bill Hudson, Women’s Health Specialists at Grandview Hudson is a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Medicine with a residency at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. He is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology. https://www.grandviewhealth.com
FAVORITE FERTILITY SPECIALIST Henderson & Walton Women’s Center Families trust Henderson & Walton, which has been providing care for more than 30 years. It specializes in women’s health care, and its physicians are board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. https://www.hwwc.net
FAVORITE PLACE TO HAVE A BABY Grandview Medical Center Moms love Grandview Medical Center when it comes time to have their little ones. Their labor and delivery staff offers the comforts of home in an advanced hospital setting. https://www.grandviewhealth.com
FAVORITE BIRTHING SUITES Ascension St. Vincent’s Hospital Birthing Center, Birmingham This repeat Family Favorite offers experienced, personalized maternal care before, during and after pregnancy to meet women’s needs at every stage of life. https://healthcare.ascension.org
FAVORITE NICU Brookwood Baptist Medical Center This world-class NICU is a Family Favorite for its exceptional care and medical professionals who offer many services. https://www.brookwoodbaptistmedicalcenter.com
FAVORITE FAMILY DOCTOR Dr. Tammy Leong, Hoover Leong, this year’s Family Favorite, practices at Birmingham Internal Medicine Associates (BIMA) in Hoover. She is a graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Medicine and completed her residency/internship in the Department of Internal Medicine at UAB. https://completehealth.com
FAVORITE OPTOMETRIST/ OPTHALMOLOGIST Dr. Tracey Mercer Mercer, who practices at Tracey L. Mercer, OD in Hoover, opened her own office in 2015 but has been practicing optometry since 1999. She is a graduate of UAB Optometry School. She and her staff are committed to putting patient care first. https://drtraceymercer.com
FAVORITE PHARMACY Publix With convenient hours, knowledgeable pharmacists and other services for the whole family, it’s no surprise that Publix Pharmacy is a favorite. https://www.publix.com FAVORITE ALLERGISTS Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center This year’s repeat Family Favorite has been committed to providing quality patient care since 1966. All of its allergists are certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. With several locations in the Birmingham area, it’s also very convenient. https://www.alabamaallergy.com
FAVORITE ENT Dr. Guy Handley, Brookwood ENT Associates PC Handley, a board-certified otolaryngologist, treats a wide variety of conditions in adults and children, such as hearing loss, allergy, sinus disease and pediatric ENT care. He is a repeat Family Favorite. https://brookwoodent.com
FAVORITE PEDIATRICIAN Dr. John Cortopassi, Greenvale Pediatrics Cortopassi, a pediatrician at Greenvale Pediatrics in Hoover, part of Children’s of Alabama, is a favorite with families. He has been associated with Greenvale since 1980, and is board certified in pediatrics and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.childrensal.org
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Your Frozen Dessert Destination in Birmingham!
Trussville Promenade Hoover/Riverchase Alabaster Books-A-Million Gardendale
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At PT Orthodontics we know that a smile can change a life! We have been providing affordable, state-of-the-art orthodontic care since 1990. We have eleven convenient locations in Hoover, Homewood/Mountain Brook, Cahaba Heights, Greystone, Leeds, Pell City, Oxford, Hueytown, Gardendale, Jasper and Tuscaloosa.
Because we want to make braces easy and affordable, we offer: Free Initial Consultations, Choose Your Own Payment Plan, Same Day Braces, Before & After School Appointments, Friends Referral Program, Lifetime Smile Guarantee, Smile Savings Program, We File Your Insurance, No Hidden Fees – all records & first set of retainers are INCLUDED! Free retainer check up appointments for one year. For more details check us out at PTortho.com or give us a call at 205.979.9480. We offer a full range of braces to meet your individual needs and desires, including metal braces and clear ceramic braces. We also offer Invisalign® clear aligners and are an Invisalign® Platinum Provider! We would love to help you achieve a beautiful PT Ortho Smile! Call us today at 205979-9480 to schedule a free consultation or visit www. PTortho.com to learn more.
www.PTortho.com 205-979-9480
FAVORITE CHILDREN’S WALK IN/ URGENT CARE WINNER
URGENT CARE FOR CHILDREN
When your child is sick, you don’t want to spend hours in a waiting room. At Urgent Care for Children, we understand this and constantly strive to serve every patient with compassionate, quality care that is affordable and accessible.
Urgent Care for Children (UC4C) was founded by a group of physicians who saw a need to provide a continuum of care for local pediatricians and offered an affordable alternative to the emergency room. As parents themselves, they understood that children’s illnesses or injuries don’t follow normal business hours.
UC4C operates ten clinics across the Southeast in addition to a telemedicine portal that brings our clinic to you. Our licensed, on-site pediatricians and pediatric nurse practitioners offer acute diagnostic and treatment care for children ages 0-21 with non-life-threatening needs during the day, after-hours and on weekends, 365 days a year. • Fever, allergies, sore throat/ coughs/colds, asthma, flu • Sprains/strains, earaches, bruises & lacerations • Insect bites/stings, minor burns, rashes • Vomiting, upset stomach, diarrhea
Urgent Care for Children is also equipped with on-site laboratory and x-ray services, as well as an in-house pharmacy. We offer COVID, strep, and flu tests for adults and children.
Birmingham | Vestavia | Trussville 10 locations across the Southeast 205-848-2273
Check website for location hours. www.childrensurgent.com
WINNER
THE POINTE DANCE ARTS
The Pointe Dance Arts in Hoover offers a wide variety of dance classes for all ages and skill levels. Having recently relocated to our brand new state-of-the-art facility in Trace Crossings, we are proud to bring our students an experience that is unmatched. From our cutting edge technology used to enhance students’ training, to our nationally recognized preschool dance curriculum that has moms and kids raving, young people are sure to find their place at The Pointe. We believe in a family-friendly, positive studio culture where learning is fun. Our staff works daily to maintain a safe, creative, exciting classroom environment while offering each child the highest quality dance education. Registration is open yearround to help parents and students be a part of this amazing program! Call (205)518-5389 or email thepointedancearts@gmail. com. You can also visit www. thepointedancearts.com to learn more about our studio.
www.thepointedancearts.com
WINNER
AMERICA’S FIRST FEDERAL CREDIT UNION (AMFIRST)
America’s First Federal Credit Union (AmFirst) was founded in 1936 by nineteen railway company employees who pooled their money in a cigar box so they could provide loans to each other. Their mission: provide financial services to the under-represented who were not getting the service they needed from traditional banks. The credit union has grown a lot over the past 85 years. Our dedication to service and focus on improving the financial lives of our members has connected with the people of Alabama. Today, AmFirst has over 180,000 members and 21 branch locations. We are a full service financial institution offering a range of loans, mortgages, credit cards, savings accounts and spending accounts. What makes us different is that our primary obligation is to serve our members, not to maximize profits. This allows us to offer higher rates of return and lower interest rates than many banks are capable of offering. At AmFirst, we put you first. You can learn more and apply for membership at amfirst.org or at any AmFirst branch.
www.amfirst.org
The mission of The Altamont School is to improve the fabric of society by graduating compassionate, well-educated individuals capable of independent thinking and innovative ideas. To this end, the school attracts, nurtures, and challenges students whose commitment to truth, knowledge, and honor will prepare them not only for the most rigorous college programs, but also for productive lives. Altamont is a small family of approximately 360 students in grades 5-12 with socio-economic, ethnic, and religious diversity. Altamont is a good choice for students excelling in their present schools who want greater breadth and challenge in all areas of school life. We combine an intensive, college preparatory academic program with a personalized college search program. There are many opportunities for students to develop multiple talents by participating in arts, world languages, community service, clubs, class projects, and athletics. Students also benefit from a 1-to-1 laptop program, an advanced computer science curriculum, and unparalleled service leadership opportunities through Altamont’s C. Kyser Miree Ethical Leadership Center. Altamont is located five minutes from downtown Birmingham on the crest of Red Mountain. Our campus features CabanissKaul Center for the Arts, Pharo Art Studio, Lacey-Day Photography Studio, newly renovated athletics spaces, two science wings, a study garden, a 14,000-volume library, and much more. Experience all that Altamont offers by attending an Open House or scheduling a campus tour.
4801 Altamont Road South Birmingham, AL 35222
Visit www.altamontschool.org
205-879-2006
FAVORITE PRESCHOOL/CHILDCARE FAVORITE DAY CAMP FAVORITE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM WINNER ODYSSEY EARLY SCHOOLS
Odyssey was created by educators who dreamed of opening an early learning center where children could be nurtured and taught by a highly trained and loving staff. That dream was realized when our Inverness school opened in 1995, and then again in 2001, with the opening of our second school in Trace Crossings.
Odyssey’s goal is to create a life-long love of learning. We have developed our own age-appropriate curriculum, specifically designed to introduce each age grouping to language, reading, math, science and more, so that your child will possess a strong foundation for Kindergarten and beyond. Additionally, we guarantee teachers with four-year education degrees in all preschool classrooms and offer exceptional child-to-teacher ratios.
At our schools, you can watch your child’s entire day in live, streaming, HD video over the Internet, through an individual, secure connection linked directly to your child’s classroom. We want our parents to know what happens during their child’s day, and Odyssey is the only Overthe-Mountain daycare to offer this service.
Our team works tirelessly to earn its reputation as the best childcare option for Birmingham parents, and we invite you to visit today to witness for yourself what so many other families have known since 1995!
Visit www.odysseyearlyschool. com for more info.
www.odysseyearlyschool.com INVERNESS CAMPUS 205-991-0039 TRACE CROSSINGS CAMPUS 205-988-8829
WINNER
ASCENSION ST. VINCENT’S BIRMINGHAM
Choose maternity care that’s right for you
Whether you’re having your first baby or you’re an experienced mom, choosing the right care team and the location for the delivery of your child is important.
“Our goal is to support each mom-to-be within a safe and compassionate environment,” says Madonna Nichols, Director of Women’s Services, Ascension St. Vincent’s. “We’re here to help answer questions, connect the dots and provide the support and personalized maternity care you need, including options that match your preferences.”
From prenatal, pregnancy and birthing care to childbirth classes and breastfeeding support, we provide care close to home for those living in Central Alabama. And if mom and baby need more care, care teams that specialize in maternal-fetal medicine and high-risk neonatal care are ready to support you.
When you choose Ascension St. Vincent’s, you’ll have access to spacious suites for labor, delivery and postpartum care, reserved exclusively for you. Your maternity nurse navigator will help you determine your birthing preferences, answer your questions and offer trusted support throughout your pregnancy. And you can now choose from convenient online classes and appointments. Call 205-212-MOMS (6667) for more information or visit us at ascension.org/StVincentsALBaby.
205-212-MOMS (6667)
www.ascension.org/StVincentsALBaby
WINNER
EDGAR'S BAKERY
Inspired by quality ingredients & excellent service, Edgar’s Bakery has been a staple at Alabamians’ celebrations since 1998.
Founder Terry Smith has said, “If you are asking if I had some great vision of this huge bakery…I would have to say no. All that I knew was that God was calling me to move into my own business and I obeyed. I didn’t have big plans but, obviously, God did.” Terry, with the encouragement and support of his wife, Dottie, followed his heart and was met by a series of blessings confirming his decision to open his own bakery. Together they established what is now repeatedly noted as Alabama’s best bakery in publications throughout the South.
From a single location, Edgar’s reputation for delicious sweet treats, superior service & quality ingredients has quickly spread throughout the state. In April 2013, Edgar’s Bakery opened in Tuscaloosa, their first location outside of the Birmingham area & 2018 marked the year that the bakery expanded north to Huntsville, Alabama.
With a new location coming to Homewood and frequent customer requests for more, we view our growth as validation of our foundational commitment to high quality and genuine service.
