We want visits to our office to be a positive experience for every child and parent. Our waiting rooms were designed to be calming and low-key and we want to carry that through to a pleasant, anxiety-free visit. Before you come to POD, it may help to use the sequence of frames above and the biographical sketches and photographs below to acquaint your child with the office and the people they may meet.
Who will you see on your first visit?
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Doctor Joe Neely
Dr. Joe Neely grew up in Plano, a sixth generation Texan. He completed his pediatric residency at Children's Medical Center of Dallas after receiving his MD from UT Southwestern Medical School. In 1993, he started practice with Woodhill Pediatric Associates and in 1999, he and Dr. Yaeger and Dr. Watkins established Pediatricians of Dallas, P.A. He is a board certified Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. Neely is actively involved with the youth ministry activities at Highland Park Presbyterian Church, is married to Maggie, and has three children: Sarah, Annie, and Robert.
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Doctor Matthew Yaeger
Since Dr. Matthew Yaeger began practicing Pediatrics in 1995, his goal has been to make young patients feel comfortable and parents feel confident.
Dr. Yaeger grew up in Dallas, He is a Jesuit alumnus (and the proud father of a Jesuit Ranger, as well as an Ursuline Bear, and three Christ the King Crusaders). After graduating from Georgetown University, he completed medical school in Houston at the University of Texas Health Science Center. Dr. Yaeger returned to his native Dallas to complete his residency training in Pediatrics at UT Southwestern.
Dr. Neely, Dr. Watkins, and Dr. Yaeger founded Pediatricians of Dallas in 1999.
He enjoys teaching medical students and volunteers at the North Dallas Shared Ministries Clinic.Dr. Yaeger has an active family life with his lovely wife Suzy (his college sweetheart), their three daughters, two sons, and two dogs. He is active in his church, Christ the King, and is involved in his children's schools. He enjoys coaching his children's basketball teams, as well as cheering for the Dallas Mavericks and Georgetown Hoyas. Other interests include cars and bowling. He likes both cake and pie.
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Doctor Karen R. Halsell
Dr. Halsell is a Dallas native who graduated from Highland Park High School, Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, and The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. She completed her pediatric internship and residency at Children's Medical Center of Dallas/ UT Southwestern. She has been in private practice pediatrics since 1999 and, happily, joined Pediatricians of Dallas in 2004.
Dr. Halsell enjoys her many wonderful patients and their parents and takes pride in helping them solve all manner of health and wellness issues, both large and small. She believes that being a mother to daughter, Sarah Kate Ashton, has made her a better, more understanding pediatrician. She tells parents that, "watching children, my patients, as well as my own child, grow and develop is a great gift and responsibility".
As an involved member of the community, Dr. Halsell participates in many charitable organizations including, the Children's Trust, the Women's Auxiliary to Children's Medical Center, the Genesis Women's Shelter Alliance and Baylor Health Care System Foundation's Celebrating Women. She is also very involved with The Hockaday School, where her daughter is a student, her husband, John Ashton, is the Head of Upper School and she serves as the school physician. Reading, exercising and sleeping, when possible, also make her happy.
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Doctor Somer Curtis
Dr. Somer Curtis joined Pediatricians of Dallas in August 2001 after completing her pediatric internship and residency at Children's Medical Center of Dallas and Parkland Memorial Hospital. Prior to that she attended medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, graduating in 1998.
A native of Dallas, Dr. Curtis attended Good Shepherd Episcopal School and Ursuline Academy. Her undergraduate degree in Biology is from Texas A&M University.
Dr. Curtis has traveled extensively throughout the developing world. Her interest and additional training in tropical medicine and international health have allowed her to study, teach, and practice medicine in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and beyond. She has traveled extensively with Buckner Orphan Care International and serves on the board of the Bishop Masereka Christian Foundation in Uganda, both of which address the challenges of orphan care.
Other interests and hobbies that Dr. Curtis enjoys include her farm near Cedar Creek Lake, photography, swimming, reading, and community service.
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Doctor James Watkins
Dr. Watkins, the son of a general practitioner and the grandson of a veterinarian, decided on a career in medicine early in life. He attended public schools in Ranger, Texas, where his father was the local GP, and then Austin College in Sherman, Texas. His MD is from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and he did his pediatric residency there also.
Dr. Watkins first practiced in Sherman but in 1994 moved to Dallas to be nearer his daughters' school.; He is very active in his church and in CISV, an international organization that promotes peace education by coordinating international experiences for children and adults. He fly fishes, plays several musical instruments and enjoys his dogs, children and grandchild. He and his wife, Margaret, have three daughters: Chafen Hart, the oldest, is the newest of the pediatricians in POD, Louisa, who like her mother is a Presbyterian minister, lives in Bryn Mawr, PA, and Meg is a teacher in the Peace Corps in Malawi.
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Nurse Practitioner Amanda Bodwell
Amanda Bodwell, D.N.P., R.N., C.P.N.P., was born and raised in Texas. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Oklahoma in 2002; her Masters in Nursing from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2005, and her Doctorate of Nursing Practice Degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in 2010. She has worked as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in the Dallas area since 2005 and as a pediatric nurse since 2002. Previous experience includes working for Children's Medical Center of Dallas in Cardiac Intensive Care and Pre-Surgical Assessment, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, and the Dallas Independent School District.
Away from work, Amanda enjoys spending time with her husband Michael and their three young children Luke, Kate, and Jack.
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Nurse Practitioner Ashley Smith
Ashley Smith, RN, MSN, PNP, was born and raised in North Dallas. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Clemson University in May 2006 and obtained her Masters in Nursing as a Dual Certified Primary and Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from the University of Alabama – Birmingham in 2015. She has worked in Dallas as a pediatric nurse since 2006 and has been a certified pediatric nurse since 2010.
In her free time, Ashley enjoys spending time with her fiance, Wade and spunky dog Lily. She is actively involved in the Junior League of Dallas and the Dallas Alumnae chapter of Delta Delta Delta. She is excited to join the team at Pediatricians of Dallas!.
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Counselor Lee Ann Hamm
Lee Ann Hamm, M.S., is a Licensed Psychological Associate, Licensed Professional Counselor, and National Certified Counselor. She specializes in assessments for children with developmental delays, autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, learning disabilities, and mood/behavior challenges. Lee Ann earned her Bachelor of Science with from Crichton College with an emphasis in Psychology. Her Master of Science degree is from Texas A & M University–Commerce where she majored in Applied Psychology. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and American Counseling Association. Lee Ann began working with children with learning differences in 1997. She has experience in dyslexia tutoring, executive-skills coaching for ADHD individuals, group therapy, and counseling. However, her primary focus has been in psychological and educational evaluations of children struggling with developmental delays and learning differences. Lee Ann is married and the mother of two elementary aged children. Her hobbies include gardening and tennis. Lee Ann joined the staff of Pediatricians of Dallas in 2005.
Color a page from our coloring book and bring it in so we can put it on our wall!