400 LIFE OCTOBER 2019
It’s a woman’s world All-female practice strives to form bonds with patients, parents
ALSO
Northside’s NICU nurses armed for any situation Meet the woman behind Leadership Forsyth Looking for a book this fall? Check out these reviews
Plus: Meet the Cole Team Real Estate duo | Take a peek inside Universal Nails & Spa | Village Italian a place for family, friends, authentic fare | Better Health by Design Chiropractic strives to build a healthier community
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NEWS | FORSY NTY TH OU
BEST OF FORSYTH R
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Thank you for voting us BEST PEDIATRICS in Forsyth 770-888-8888 Monday - Friday | 8am - 5pm 1800 Northside Forsyth Drive | Suite 460 Cumming, GA 30041
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from the editor There are amazing women doing amazing things all over the world. For this issue of 400 Life, we caught up with a few that have made a huge impact on the community in Forsyth County. Anyone who has ever been expecting a baby, knows that anything can go wrong. Most of the time it doesn’t, but when it does, Northside Hospital Forsyth NICU nurses step up to the plate in their superhero capes (they don’t really wear capes, but they should) to guide and comfort families and take care of their precious new family member. Then there’s Dr. Panyavee Khan and her all-woman staff at Cumming Pediatric Group who make your child’s visit to the doctor — well — almost a fun experience. For starters, there’s the life-sized tree sculpture at the front desk (I kind of want to climb it), but more importantly, the staff forms bonds with children and leaves parents feeling like their “kids were given the absolute best care.” We also caught up with a pair of quirky real estate agents who are also mother and daughter to find out a little more about them besides their incredible ability to sell a house. They are leaders in the real estate industry and five-time winners of the Best of Forsyth. Ladies, read this magazine. Read it while getting your nails done at the luxurious Universal Nails & Spa, or when you’re enjoying that glass of wine at Village Italian, or in the waiting area at Better Health by Design Chiropractic. I’m proud to work in a community with so many incredible women and glad 400 Life could feature a few of them in this month’s issue. — Tracie Pike, production manager
inside
contributors Publisher Stephanie Woody Editor BRIAN PAGLIA Production Manager TRACIE PIKE Staff Writers KELLY WHITMIRE Advertising director nathan schutter Advertising deborah darnell STEPHANIE MCCABE Photographer BEN HENDREN
Cumming Pediatric Group
A doctor’s office your child will beg to visit. PAGE 4
NICU Nurse’s that give it their all for the tiniest of patients. Page 10 LET’S READ A few books you may want to try this fall. Page 22 IN CHARGE Bramblett leads other leaders in community. Page 27 400 FACES After 17 years, Cole Team Real Estate not slowing down. Page 16 400 SPACES Take time to relax in luxury at Universal Nails & Spa. Page 18 400 EATS Village Italian focuses on family, community, authentic fare. Page 24 400 HEALTH Better Health by Design Chiropractic reinvests in patient care. Page 28
Special contributors JENNIFER COLOSIMO DIYA MOHAN ERIN COLLINS REBECCA CAHILL
This magazine is a product of the www.ForsythNews.com
Advertising rates available upon request. Call (770) 887-3126 or email marketing@forsythnews.com
October 2019 | 400 LIFE | 3
“It’s intrinsic in the people we hire — this ability to treat people like family. It takes a special person to work with children, but you also have to be good at working with parents. Parents recognize kindness, compassion, authenticity and sincerity in our staff.”
Dr. Panyavee Khan, MD, Cumming Pediatric Group
A treehouse day makes the doctor OK! How Cumming Pediatric Group cheers up the idea of check-ups
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Story by Jennifer Colosimo | Photos by Ben Hendren
he doctor’s office isn’t usually a kid’s first pick for a fun place to visit. Shots. Pricks. Strangers. Tongue depressors. But if your doctor’s office looks like a tree house, maybe those important visits can be a breeze. And feeling safe at the doctor’s office is one good habit to last a lifetime. For Cumming residents, walking into Cumming Pediatric Group feels like that. A life-sized tree sculpture envelops the front desk, filling the lobby with pleasant sounds of birds chirping, friendly furry animal faces and colorful, vibrant murals on the walls; and the best part is that feeling comfortable at CPG goes beyond imaginative artwork. Panyavee Khan, MD, and her team are made of fun-loving, kind and compassionate physicians, nurses and administration who operate like a family — and treat their patients as an extension.
Continued on Page 6
A life-sized tree sculpture envelops the front desk at Cumming Pediatrics, filling the lobby with pleasant sounds of birds chirping, friendly furry animal faces and colorful, vibrant murals on the walls.
October 2019 | 400 LIFE | 5
“It’s always intimidating to find a new doctor for your kids, so when you start to form those bonds with the people that work at the office, that gives any parent a lot of security. When you find somebody that your kids like and will open up to, it’s a no-brainer.” — Amanda Walburg, billing, public relations and marketing for Cumming Pediatrics, below
“It’s intrinsic in the people we hire — this ability to treat people like family,” said Khan, who has been with CPG for more than a decade. “It takes a special person to work with children, but you also have to be good at working with parents. Parents recognize kindness, compassion, authenticity and sincerity in our staff. That comes from being patient, level-headed, knowing how to diffuse certain situations, and being open and easy going.” Just ask one of their current 8,000 patients. “There has never been a time that I have left this office that I didn’t feel like my kids were given the absolute best care,” said Kevia Elkins, mom of three patients at CPG. “As a whole, the staff here is loving and caring and genuinely wants what is best for my children. Trusting people with your children’s health is a big, sometimes scary thing. I have never been uneasy or unsure of the care we have received at Cumming Pediatrics.” “I felt that when I first started here,” said Amanda Walburg, who does billing, public relations and marketing for the practice, and is also a mom of three young patients. “It’s always intimidating to find a new doctor for your kids, so when you start to form those bonds with the people that work at the office, that gives any parent a lot of security. When you find somebody that your kids like and will open up to, it’s a no brainer.” “It is a comfort that when we are here we are surrounded by an office full of other moms,” added Elkins of the staff made up of 6 | 400 LIFE
| October 2019
100% women. “The mothering instinct is always running in the background of everything that occurs in caring for my children. Even on days when they know a shot or finger prick is coming, [my kids] know that the staff/doctors/nurses here love them and are only doing what is best for them. They look forward to hugs and high fives and stickers and suckers. Everyone knows their names and encourages their bravery. As a parent, it’s a huge deal to see others cheer for and encourage your children. It’s an even bigger deal to know that your kids can feel it too.” “I feel like despite our size, we know our parents and we truly know our patients,” said Walburg. “We see them in the good times and the bad times, and that creates a bond.” Making what could be scary just a little bit fun, patients also look forward to this time of year, when Khan spearheads a massively detailed transformation of the office into Hogwarts. (And Halloween isn’t the only time of year that the office plays up Potter — taking the Sorting Hat Quiz is part of the interview process. Hint: they’re looking for Hufflepuffs). Informative, meaningful aspects exist for parents, too, such as new parent orientation nights, canned food drives and community service opportunities. The staff knows a family’s situation and can make check in and check out efficient.
Continued on Page 8
“All of us have different personalities, but we practice from the same viewpoint — treating people like humans, and family,” said Khan about her current team of practitioners. “We grow with our patients, and we know them and what’s going on in their lives. It’s part of the intrinsic personality of being able to know our patients as more than a chart. We tailor our advice and management based on that relationship. “We’re all on the same page,” added Khan, who opened this location five years ago. “We’re all moms, we’ve encountered the same issues with work and home and weaving the two together, and we all work together from that standpoint. I think that shows how we support each other, not just here, but in life in general. “I hope that it comes across in the same way to our patients’ families,” she continued. “It’s deeper than the Hippocratic oath — it’s compassion, it’s treating everybody like family, empathizing with what’s going on in each family’s life. It’s from the heart.” With heart comes loyalty. Max Elkins, age 5, said, “I love [Dr. Khan] and I know she loves me.” His older sister, Avery, age 7, added, “[Dr. Khan] is gentle, kind, super smart, helpful and caring.” Max’s twin brother Hudson says the treehouse makes him feel like he’s playing outside, instead of visiting the doctor. But it’s not just the patients who are loyal. The staff at CPG have been together for a long time — they’ve moved away, and moved back, helped get each other through continued education, celebrated achievements and come together through tragedies. “Doing this is just a part of me,” Khan said. “I love making a difference in people’s lives — especially younger people. I love witnessing the kids grow up, the ages and stages that you have to go through. To be able to help along the way is important to me.” 8 | 400 LIFE
| October 2019
Making what could be scary just a little bit fun, patients also look forward to this time of year, when Dr. Khan spearheads a detailed transformation of the office into Hogwarts. Photos by Brian Paglia
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The life of a nurse in Northside Hospital Forsyth’s NICU
Story by Brian Paglia | Photos by Ben Hendren
The dedication of the nurses charged with taking care of premature babies doesn’t go unnoticed by families
J
aime Scott waited in the hospital’s parking lot with the premature baby and his mom for an hour and a half hoping that nothing would happen. Their objective was so basic but also tricky. Elijah had been born premature at 33 weeks, along with his twin sister, Collins, and so he had come to the Northside Hospital Forsyth Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Elijah had progressed well and was close to being able to go home, but there was one more test to pass: sitting in a car seat. For a preemie, even the ordinary can be complicated, but Northside aimed to create a NICU armed for any situation. When it opened in 2008, there were 20 staff members. Today, it has 80, a menagerie of doctors and specialists and technicians and therapists. One wing of the NICU is devoted to preparing milk for babies with individualized “recipes.” It has its own pharmacy, too. But the heartbeat of the operation are the registered nurses standing in the Northside parking lot watching a baby sit in a car seat. If Elijah could go home, he had to be able to
10 | 400 LIFE
| October 2019
Northside Hospital Forsyth opened a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in 2008. The staff has quadrupled since then.
“A lot of people don’t even know about NICU until you’re thrown into it. It can be a rollercoaster ride.” — Nancy West, a 30-year NICU nurse who has spent the last eight at Northside Forsyth
Jaime Scott swaddles a baby in the Northside Hospital Forsyth NICU. Scott has worked at the Forsyth campus the past four years. “I always wanted to [work with] babies,” Scott says.
maintain his airway for an hour and a half. “Sometimes when babies are born prematurely and small, they have a hard time maintaining their airway in a car seat,” Scott said, and so mom buckled Elijah in his seat and they waited. Scott has been at Northside for four years, but she grew up in Michigan. Scott’s uncle is an OBGYN. When Scott got to high school, she shadowed him on deliveries. The more and more she saw, the more she became interested in the babies. During Scott’s last year of nursing school, she chose to do final residency in a NICU. “I wouldn’t do anything else,” Scott says. There were no available full-time positions in the NICU when she
graduated, so she worked in an adult cardiac intensive care unit her first year. “I just had to go somewhere,” Scott says. The next year she moved into the NICU and hasn’t left. “I always wanted to [work with] babies,” Scott says. Elijah passed the car seat test, so his mom took him out and brought him back inside. She changed his diaper. She fed him. Meanwhile, Scott went to the next room over and fed Elijah’s sister, Collins, sticking to her most basic responsibility in the NICU. Scott conducts a little assessment of the three preemies in her
Continued on Page 12 October 2019 | 400 LIFE | 11
Northside Forsyth Hospital NICU nurses Sylvia Stringer, above left and below, watches as Jaime Scott conducts a routine assessment of a premature baby.
care every three hours. She checks vital signs, changes diapers, feeds them with a bottle and repositions them, filling charts and taking mental notes along the way to inform the neonatologists and other specialists during their rounds. “It’s kind of being the eyes and ears of the doctors at the bedside,” said Nancy West, a 30-year NICU nurse who has spent the last eight at Forsyth. Everything else is more complicated. One moment, a NICU nurse might put a catheter into the vein of a 500-gram baby, the next they might have that first conversation with parents who are just discovering the NICU exists, a blend of technical and personal roles needed to guide preemies and their families through a journey that is at first mysterious and almost always overwhelming. “A lot of people don’t even know about NICU until you’re thrown into it,” said Kerri Jascomb, a nurse who joined Forsyth’s
Continued on Page 14 12 | 400 LIFE
| October 2019
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“We take a lot home with us. We think about it. We dream about it. Taking showers the next morning and like, ‘Oh my gosh, did I do everything I could’ve done?’ It’s constantly on your mind.” — Kerri Jascomb, a nurse who joined Forsyth’s NICU just after it opened in 2008
Northside Forsyth Hospital nurse Jaime Scott knew she wanted to work in a NICU unit from an early age. She interned with her uncle, an OBGYN, in Michigan, while in high school and shadowed him on deliveries. The more and more deliveries she attended, the more she became interested in the babies.
NICU just after it opened in 2008. “It can be a rollercoaster ride.” West added, “You don’t go into the desire of being a parent thinking one day you’re going to end up with a 1-pound baby. It’s so out of anything they’ve ever heard or been familiar with.” And so, while the nurses’ technical skills are crucial, their relationships with parents are just as vital. “They’re just looking for some warm voice,” West says. “Somebody that can hold their hand and say, ‘We’re here with you. We’re going to navigate this with you.’” Sandra Grady, clinical manager of the NICU’s Special Care Nursery, added, “They’re the ones who are there at the bedside with mom and dad and family all the time. The doctor or practitioner may come in and speak with them briefly each day, but the 14 | 400 LIFE
| October 2019
nurse is gonna be there 12 hours at a time.” The journey of each baby in the NICU is different. “Unfortunately, they’re not all easy-growers,” Jascomb says, and there is an emotional toll to bear. “We take a lot home with us,” Jascomb says. “We think about it. We dream about it. Taking showers the next morning and like, ‘Oh my gosh, did I do everything I could’ve done?’ It’s constantly on your mind.” Those outcomes are less frequent. Most are like the baby Jascomb planned to see on a recent Saturday. When she was born at 25 weeks, she weighed 1 pound 1 ounce. Eleven months later, Jascomb and a few of the other NICU nurses had been invited to the baby’s baptism. “People don’t forget their NICU nurses,” Grady says.
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October 2019 | 400 LIFE | 15
400 faces
Cole Team Real Estate
Get to know this award-winning duo
Meriellen Cole Arenz and Do you have a favorite Stephanie Cole Patterson made vacation spot? their first appearance as the Cole Team Real Estate in a golf cart. Stephanie: “A cruise. We’re going The mother-daughter duo had to go on one for fall break. We’ve recently moved to Forsyth County done that quite a bit because I have in the summer of 2003 (to the a lot of kids, my brother’s got some same Windermere neighborhood kids, and my mom and her husband. as Chris Cole, Stephanie’s brothIt’s a really fun, neat vacation for all er) and decided to go into real of us to see a lot of places and not estate together, but they didn’t have to make our beds.” know anyone. So they borrowed Meriellen: “We’re going to the Chris’s golf cart and drove around western Caribbean this time. We their new neighborhood, putting sometimes travel in a pack, or like in a flyers in mailboxes. herd. We do a lot of things together.” “We had one lady come out and say, ‘Anybody who works What’s your favorite food? that hard, I want you to list my house,’” Arenz recalls. Meriellen: “I’m not very “And that was our first listing fancy. I kind of like burgers or in [Windermere].” Italian. I’m fine with that.” It was far from their last. The Stephanie: “I’m a vegetarian, so Cole Team has been a fixture in I’m probably the weird one. But I Forsyth County for 17 years love a nice glass of wine.” now, gaining a reputation for their industry knowledge, savvy What’s the last great television marketing and involvement in series you watched? the community. Last year, Patterson and Arenz sold more Meriellen: “We just finished ‘Big than 75 homes and became one of Photo courtesy The Cole Team Little Lies.’ It’s amazing.” the first in Georgia to join Stephanie: “We watch a lot of Meriellen Cole Arenz, left, and Stephanie Cole Compass, a New York-based real the same stuff. What was the other Patterson, the mother-daughter team that is Cole Team estate technology company. series?” Real Estate, have been working together for 17 years. 400 LIFE talked with the duo Meriellen: “Oh, ‘The about mixing work with family, Outlanders.’ That is amazing.” their love of cruises and the Stephanie: “We did watch the one that everybody watched.” state of the Forsyth County real estate market. Meriellen: “Oh, ‘Game of Thrones.’” Stephanie: “Yes, we did watch all of those.”
How have you been able to make this motherdaughter team work for the last 17 years?
How are your personalities similar and different?
Meriellen: “The very first day, before we even started, we decided to try this, try real estate, but if we ever had a conflict, we would stop. We would just stop the business and be mother-daughter all the time. That’s never really happened, where we fight about business or had a disagreement.” Stephanie: “I think we’ve been able to keep [work and family] pretty separate.”
Meriellen: “I think we both have a great sense of humor. I think we’re a lot alike.” Stephanie: “And I don’t think either one of us sleeps until we know something is taken care of and [clients] are happy with their situation. I think our differences right now are probably just our stage of life. I have four kids at home. It’s busy when I walk in the door, where mom has a little more free time.” Meriellen: “That’s true. Kind of been there, done that.”
What’s one of your craziest experiences in 17 years as a team?
What’s it like working in real estate in a growing market like Forsyth County?
Stephanie: “There have been so many weird things over the 17 years. I remember showing a house once, and they had a pool. All of a sudden, all these people came over and started swimming, and none of them lived there or had anything to do with the pool. I’m like, ‘are they pool hopping?’ That was weird. At least they had their clothes on.”
Stephanie: “I think Forsyth County is a great place to be in real estate. I think every quarter the market’s totally different. Overall, I think the market’s very good. It’s always good for people that take care of their home and price smartly.” Meriellen: “Those are the ones that go quickly.” — Brian Paglia
16 | 400 LIFE
| October 2019
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Duc Nguyen recently opened Universal Nails & Spa in Cumming. Said Nguyen: “When they come here, they feel relaxed.”
October 2019 | 400 LIFE | 19
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400 reads with
Becky Cahill Here are a few books you ladies might want to curl up with under a comfy blanket.
I
n support of our Women’s Issue, I have selected three female-centric stories written by women. These novels celebrate female protagonists thriving in the face of societal expectations and family conflict. ‘The Giver of Stars’ by JoJo Moyes is one of the most anticipated books of the fall. The veteran author of ‘Me Before You’ turns her attention to historical fiction with this novel, introducing the reader to the WPA Packhorse Libraries. These mobile libraries were the result of New Deal legislation from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the focus on improving literacy in rural areas was especially meaningful to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Against the backdrop of rural Kentucky in the 1930s, Moyes examines the importance of female friendships and the lack of independence for women of the time period. Moyes’ writing is not heavy-handed or preachy, but as you find yourself rooting for the female librarians, you will recognize the strict social expectations that limit their options and free will. The main female protagonist, Alice Van Cleve, is a British national who felt caged by her parents, so she jumped quickly into a marriage with American Bennett Van Cleve. Upon moving to Kentucky, and not New York City as she had imagined, Alice comes to realize that she is caged yet again. In her stifling new life, she hastily agrees to join the Baileyville WPA Packhorse Library and a chain of events are set in place which will forge lasting female friendships. Margery O’Hare, a local woman who refuses to follow societal expectations and is treated with derision and animosity by much of the male population of Baileyville, will be the leader of the Baileyville Packhorse Library. Margery and Alice come from starkly different backgrounds but soon
realize how similar they are. Five women will come to compose the library staff, and each will be touched by tragedy and hardship, but their strengthening bonds ensure that each woman remains unbroken. The friendships take centerstage throughout the novel, but Moyes crafts the story with an eye toward the interdependent nature of literacy and freedom. The novel repeatedly examines the increased opportunities presented, specifically to women, when they can read and write for themselves. ‘The Giver of Stars’ is likely to become a best-seller for JoJo Moyes and Penguin Random House when it hits shelves on Oct. 8. Forsyth County residents can travel to the Atlanta History Center on Oct. 14 to hear JoJo Moyes speak. It is a ticketed event ($35) but the cost includes an autographed copy of the book. Visit www.atlantahistorycenter.com for more information.
Two more novels you might want to try: ‘The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters’ by Balli Kaur Jaswal. The three daughters of Sita Shergill travel to the Golden Temple in Amritsar in order to honor their late mother. The journey opens old wounds and reveals new struggles, which could either bring the sisters closer or tear them apart. ‘The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding’ by Jennifer Robson. This novel examines the immediate aftermath of World War II from the perspective of commoners in London. The wedding gown of Elizabeth II provides the backdrop for a tale of redemption and survival after profound loss. Becky Cahill is a career educator and an avid reader. She reads extensively in her free time and tracks her favorites (and those that aren’t even close) on her blog at: tobereadlist.home.blog/blog-feed. 22 | 400 LIFE
| October 2019
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400 eats
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Enjoy Italian classics at local eatery in Vickery Village Story by Erin Collins | Photos by Ben Hendren
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estled in quaint Vickery Village, among the charming shops, park benches and ice cream parlor, Village Italian Bar and Grille waits with comforting aromas: freshly baked bread, roasted garlic, basil. Choose to sit under the lights in the outdoor seating area and experience a beautiful north Georgia evening while you munch on bruschetta and gourmet pizzas, or relax in the cushioned bankhead seating inside the restaurant’s intimate dining room and enjoy one of their signature dishes with a glass of wine from their comprehensive wine list. On Saturdays, you can sidle up to the bar for an IPA and cheer on your favorite teams. David Datlof and his wife, Nancy, opened Village Italian Bar and Grille in 2016. Although he is originally from New York, Datlof found himself living in south Florida when he traveled 24 | 400 LIFE
| October 2019
to north Georgia to visit friends and fell in love with the natural beauty of Forsyth County. He and his wife easily decided to move their family north and, with their unique blend of north and south, open a new Italian eatery. With 25 years in the restaurant business, Datlof envisioned creating a dining experience that focused on family, friends and community while providing quality Italian food, and Village Italian was born. The menu is a combination of the classic Italian dishes — spaghetti with meatballs in marinara sauce, lasagna, and baked ziti — and interesting and delicious entrees with a new twist on Italian flavors. Datlof recommends that diners start with the classic cheese pizza and go from there, but a meal should definitely end with one of the eatery’s signature desserts. Datlof’s personal favorite is the
zeppole, lightly-fried dough bites sprinkled with sugar with sides of ice cream and chocolate and caramel sauces. The foundation of Village Italian is the dough. Made fresh daily, the same dough is used in the pizza crust, breads and zeppole. Nothing says “welcome home” quite like freshly-baked bread. Around the dining room, patrons can be witnessed taking that first bite into their pizza. Invariably, their eyes will close, and they will let out a sigh. Despite being a newer presence in Forsyth, Village Italian offers a feeling of familiarity and comfort — like you’re being cared for by an Italian grandmother who spent hours at her stove pouring love and spices into her sauces. The strongly held belief that life is “all about family and community,” Datlof’s commitment to his adopted hometown of Forsyth County is apparent with his regular “Dough Raising” school fundraisers.Typically held on a weeknight, Village Italian opens its doors for families of a local school to gather and enjoy a nice evening out. While offering an opportunity for local families to unwind in a neighborly setting, these “Dough Raisers” support the community by donating a percentage of customers’ bills back to support the school. In addition to hosting fundraisers, patrons can enjoy weekly specials such as the family-friendly $10 pizza night or $5 martini night for a special date night. On weekends, there is often live music. Soon, Village Italian will be set up for delivery, adding yet another dining option to its patrons. Appealing to a wide variety of customers, this unassuming gem is a welcome addition to Forsyth County. For more information, visit villageitalian.com or call (770) 886-8999.
October 2019 | 400 LIFE | 25
Vote for Us “Best of Forsyth 2020”!
Offering classic and contemporary Italian fare and wine, there’s something for everyone at Village Italian! At Village Italian, all of our dishes are prepared to order using fresh, locally farmed produce at every opportunity. Our fresh fish is delivered daily with a selection of steaks and chops also available. Our outdoor patio dining is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy our extensive wine list. With several wine by the glass you’re sure to find your (new) favorite.
MONDAY
$1 OFF Drafts | Large $9.99 (Dine-In or Carry Out)
TUESDAY
$5 Glass of Wine* Wines by the Bottle for just $20 each*
WEDNESDAY $5 Martini’s*
MONDAY - FRIDAY
10 for $10 Lunch 10 items priced at $10 each, including a beverage
(770) 886-8999 | 5772 N. Vickery Street Cumming, GA 30040 | www.VillageItalian.com
THE LEADERMAKER
Leadership Forsyth’s Tammi Bramblett talks about what it means to be a great leader Story and photos by Kelly Whitmire
A
ll around Forsyth County, particularly at schools, libraries or parks, visitors may notice unique trails, gardens or courts, such as the StoryWalk, a trail featuring pages of a children’s’ book on large displays, or a multi-sport court at Bald Ridge Boys Lodge. Those projects are one of the undertakings of Leadership Forsyth, a group that has provided leadership training for local community leaders since 1989. Each year’s Leadership Forsyth class takes on a community project, and their fingerprints can be seen throughout the community. “It has to be something that has a positive impact on our community, individuals can benefit from and it betters our community in some way,” said Executive Director Tammi Bramblett. “It has to fulfill a community need, not an individual need.” Bramblett has led Leadership Forsyth for more than a decade but said the group was started by local judge Phill Bettis, who modeled the program after Leadership Georgia. Bramblett said the group “provides our county with a leadership pool, people they can pull from in times of celebration as well as in times of strife that could step up and lead, outside of our elected officials or appointed officials.” Along with projects, during the nine-month-long program, attendees take part in weekly, day-long meetings, covering a designated topic, like schools or healthcare, each week and receive training from local university officials. “The purpose of the program is to further develop individuals’ leadership skills, and we work with the University of North Georgia to offer master’s level leadership training and to also make individuals more aware of their community and how they can get engaged to make it a better place,” Bramblett said. Bramblett, who was born and raised in Alabama, said she is a graduate of Leadership Forsyth’s 2006 class and thinks it is incredibly valuable to have gone through the program before leading it. Each class, she said, is a mixed bag of who might take part. “We have a broad diverse base of who is going to be in the program, meaning it can be native Forsythians who have lived here their entire lives or it can be someone that’s new to our community or it can be a person from corporate America, a nonprofit, it could be a volunteer, small business owner,” Bramblett said. Bramblett said being a leader isn’t always easy but members in the
Tammi Bramblett stands near the StoryWalk at Haw Creek Park that Leadership Forsyth’s 2019 class built as their annual project.
program could stand to benefit from meeting those with different professions or hobbies or living in a different part of the community. “No matter what we do, we’re all in a bubble. We all have our comfort zone. We all go to work, sporting events with our families or whatnot,” she said. “In this program, our goal is to stretch if not pop that bubble and help you see some many different other areas of your community and different areas you want to expose your family and friends to.” With more than 800 graduates in the program and the 2020 class just getting started ahead of their May graduation, Bramblett said she considers herself lucky to work with “caring, kindhearted people” who want to improve the community. “I have the best job in the world because I truly get to meet and work with the best of the best. The people that go through our program are just exemplary,” Bramblett said. “They really have a passion that we share for Forsyth County and a passion for leadership. I truly believe we’re all leaders. We all lead in different ways, but that doesn’t make one leader a better leader than the other, it’s just letting each other shine.”
October 2019 | 400 LIFE | 27
400 health
Better Health by Design Chiropractic Strives to build a healthier community
Story by Diya Mohan | Photos by Ben Hendren
Chiropractor, his team lauded for contributions to scientific community
F
or many, spinal correction seems arduous and unattainable. But one group of dedicated chiropractors are proving that spinal correction and health are within your reach. “We use systems and protocols that have been proven successful in the highest levels of scientific research,” says Dr. Curtis Fedorchuk, owner of Better Health by Design. Passionate about improving the quality of life for their patients and creating a healthier community, Dr. Fedorchuk and his team work diligently correcting unhealthy spinal alignment and posture, a huge contributor to various health conditions and surgeries. Better Health by Design was founded in 2006 with humble beginnings occupying a much smaller space. After 17 years of patient-centered care and ever-increasing success, the practice has grown by leaps and bounds. “We have always reinvested in the practice for our patients to improve the quality of care we provide for them,” says Dr. Fedorchuk. The practice sees many patients, most of whom reside in Forsyth County. But their success and influence have brought
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those in need of spinal care from around the country and world. Additionally, the Better Health by Design team has published dozens of peer-reviewed research articles in high-quality journals through a non-profit research institute they founded, the Institute for Spinal Health and Performance. The dedication and professionalism of Drs. Fedorchuk, Doug Lightstone and Nikki Hirshowitz establish them as a world-class practice. The interior of the practice has an open floor plan, with walkable room and various equipment. There are exam rooms, a room for massage therapy, and a suite furnished with digital X-ray and digital motion X-ray which takes videos of the spine in motion. “If you notice, our practice is organized as an open space with
Drs. Curtis Fedorchuk, left, and Doug Lightstone have made significant findings through contributions to numerous scientific studies that influence the quality of chiropractic services everywhere.
highly advanced equipence of the quality of chiment. We focus on creating ropractic services everyan uplifting environment where. In addition to while providing the best teaching continuing educachiropractic spinal correction year after year for tive care available,” he said. other chiropractors, even The space is bustling as far as Puerto Rico, he with people of all ages, and his team are scheduled who are eager and happy to to attend meetings with the be getting care. Dr. Fedorchuk and his team scientific community at take pride in the technology various conferences that aids the practice and throughout the year to allows for them to provide present innovations in the high-quality, individualized fields of chiropractic, radicare to their patients. ology and spinal health. “In here, we have all the Dr. Fedorchuk and his equipment we could possibly need to handle even the Dr. Nikki Hirshowitz stands in front of a wall with framed pictures team’s list of published most difficult of cases,” he of her former and current patients. Dr. Hirshowitz specializes in research is extensive earnsaid. pediatric and maternity care. ing them six Researcher of Dr. Fedorchuk and his the Year titles from three team use special software separate awarding entities. to compare patient X-rays to established, ideal normal values in They have conducted clinical studies and research projects with order to determine precisely the best approach to care. All of the chiropractic research foundations and Emory University. Dr. tools used at Better Health by Design are state-of-the-art. Fedorchuk and his team are also responsible for putting together Ever since the clinic opened in 2006, Dr. Fedorchuk and his the first-ever chiropractic epidemiology study of spinal alignment team have worked to reach the corners of the community that need them the most, expanding in the process. in the history of the profession and one of the largest studies on Three months ago, Better Health by Design moved to its the quality of life of people under chiropractic care. current location into the newly built, Better Health Building at For Dr. Fedorchuk, his passion for helping others has been 460 Brannon Road. The practice specializes in spinal correcrooted within him from a young age. tion and rehabilitation, pediatric and maternity care, and well“I’ve wanted to do this ever since I was 10 years old. I’m living ness care helping patients with neck pain, back pain, disc my dream being able to help people for a living,” he said. problems, scoliosis, spinal decompression, whiplash trauma, The mission of Better Health by Design is as clear as it could sports injuries and more. get: “Our No. 1 mission is to help people reach a new, improved And through contributions to numerous scientific studies, Dr. Fedorchuk and his team have made significant findings that influ- level of health and living.” October 2019 | 400 LIFE | 29
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A Family Oriented, Highly-Rated Chiropractor & Wellness Center located in Cumming, GA
Neck Pain | Back Pain | Pain Management Pregnancy | Rehab | Scoliosis Spinal Decompression | Spinal Stenosis
Dr. Curtis Fedorchuk
770-573-2777
Dr. Doug Lightstone
460 Brannon Rd, Suite 101 Cumming, GA 30041 www.BetterHealthByDesign.com
Dr. Nikki Hirshowitz
Monday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM Thursday: 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm Friday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM Saturday & Sunday: Closed