CHAPEL HILL - Key Persons
Dr. Andrea Dunk lives in Durham with her husband. They have two grown children. She is a native of Detroit, MI and lived for several years in Wilton, CT before coming to Duke University as an undergraduate and member of the swim team in 1987. She completed medical school training at Duke University Medical School. Following residency training at UNC she joined Chapel Hill Pediatrics and Adolescents in 1999.
Her clinical interests include post-discharge care of preterm infants, nutrition counseling, and care of adolescents.
In her spare time, Dr. Dunk enjoys spending time with her family, running, hiking, cooking, and cheering on the Blue Devils!
Dr. Charlie Johnson lives in Chapel Hill with his wife and two children. He grew up in New Milford, Connecticut and received his B.S. in Biology from Villanova University. Dr. Johnson completed his medical school training and pediatric residency at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. Following residency, he served five years of active duty as a pediatrician with the United States Air Force at Andrews Air Force Base. Upon honorable discharge from the Air Force, Dr. Johnson had the good fortune to spend two years at home with his young children just prior to joining Chapel Hill Pediatrics and Adolescents, PA in 2008.
Dr. Christiana Akwari was born and raised in Durham, North Carolina. She attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA as a double major in French and Communication graduating with honors. Her work as a legislative assistant in the New York State Assembly together with her interest in languages took her next to The George Washington University Elliot School of International Affairs where she concentrated her masters on US Foreign Policy and security. After spending two years as business manager in the Curriculum in International Affairs, now the Curriculum in Global Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her interest in medicine arose at that time due to the absence of direct and personal impact and relationships.
Dr. Akwari attended the University of Virginia's Post Baccalaureate pre-medical program to fulfill medical school prerequisites, then, attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. She completed her pediatric residency at University of Washington/Seattle Children's Hospital in Seattle, Washington.
Following residency, Dr. Akwari worked for a private pediatric practice in Clayton, NC. She joined Chapel Hill Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine in May 2023.
Her clinical interests include: newborn care, nutritional counseling and teen counseling. In her spare time, Dr. Akwari enjoys, running, weightlifting, indoor cycling, reading, hiking national parks, finding the perfect cinnamon roll (in moderation, of course), and cheering for Duke (even if she did go to UNC for medical school).
Chris Morton lives in Durham, NC. He is a native of Springfield, Illinois, and attended Illinois Wesleyan University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He completed his medical school training at Southern Illinois University and his residency training at Vanderbilt University. Following residency, he joined Chapel Hill Pediatrics and Adolescents in 2001.
Dr. Morton is interested in all aspects of general pediatric medicine from the newborn period through adolescence. He particularly enjoys adolescent and sports medicine.
In his spare time, he enjoys time with his family, outdoor activities, swimming, running and reading.
Dr. George Stablein was born and raised in Southwestern Pennsylvania. He attended Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience and Psychology. He moved on to medical school in Central Pennsylvania, earning his MD in 2007 from Penn State University College of Medicine where he met his wife, in their medical student a capella singing group.
Upon graduation from medical school, Dr. Stablein moved to Boston, MA, completing a pediatrics residency at The Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center in 2010. Following the birth of their first child in Boston, Dr. Stablein and his wife moved with their new daughter to the Greater Charleston, WV area, where he worked as a pediatrician and the Clinical Coordinator of School-Based Health at a Federally Qualified Health Center in the area. It was there where Dr. Stablein believes his love of primary care pediatrics grew tremendously.
Following these five years and the birth of their second child, Dr. Stablein and his wife (and kids) joined Maryknoll Lay Missioners, serving as medical missionaries for 3.5 years in Mwanza, Tanzania. Dr. Stablein rounded in the Children's Ward and Maternity/Newborn Ward of a small mission hospital, and he served as a consultant for children with special needs, such as hydrocephalus, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, autism, etc. Dr. Stablein looks at this time as one of tremendous personal and professional growth for which he is very grateful.
Dr. Stablein loves general pediatrics as a whole, and he particularly enjoys working with children and adolescents regarding their development and mental health, and increasing access to medical and mental health care.
He enjoys running, hiking, singing, and amateur digital photography and exploring the area with his wife and kids.
Dr. Jennifer Singleton lives in Chapel Hill with her husband and two sons. She grew up in Pasadena, CA and earned her undergraduate degree from Amherst College. She graduated from medical school at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, which is also where she completed a pediatric residency. She worked at Duke in the neonatology department for 18 months before joining Chapel Hill Pediatrics in 2005.
Her medical interests include asthma and allergies, care of the newborn, and care of adolescents.
Dr. Mary Cooley lives in Durham with her husband, son, daughter and two Australian Shepherds. She grew up in Durham and then earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Brown Univeristy in 2000. She returned to Durham for medical school at Duke Univeristy Medical Center and then ventured north to the frozen tundra of the University of Wisconsin in Madison where she completed her pediatrics residency and served as the chief resident.
She enjoys caring for children of all ages and is particularly interested in sports medicine, newborn care (including breastfeeding), and sleep issues in children.
When she's not at Chapel Hill Pediatrics, you will find Dr. Cooley running, swimming, playing with her kids, and cheering for the Blue Devils.
Dr. Shruti Nagaraj grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with undergraduate degrees in Biology and Spanish, a Masters in Public Health as well as her Doctor of Medicine. During her medical training, she conducted research and worked with patients in both Nicaragua and Honduras, solidifying her fluency in Spanish. She completed her pediatric residency at the University of California Los Angeles, splitting her time between several places including Mattel Children's Hospital, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and a community-based clinic in Santa Monica.
Her clinical interests include preventive care, sports medicine, newborn care, and nutritional counseling.
In her free time, she enjoys indoor cycling and circuit training, traveling, new music and food (preferably together), and spending time with her family and friends.
She is originally from Western New York, but I have lived in North Carolina for the past several years. Julie has been a medical biller and coder since the 1990's for different specialties.
Kathy Merritt lives in Durham with her husband, rescue pup Coalbear, hens and bees. She is a native of Orlando, Florida, and moved to NC to attend college. Following graduation, Dr. Merritt worked as a play therapist in the Pediatric Departments of Duke Medical Center and Bowman Gray Medical Center and attended graduate school prior to completing her medical degree at Duke University Medical Center. Following residency training at Duke and University of Utah and fellowship training at Duke and UNC, she worked in the Division of General Pediatrics at Duke prior to joining Chapel Hill Pediatrics and Adolescents in 1995.
Her clinical interests include all aspects involving the interface of general pediatrics and behavioral pediatrics. She is particularly fond of helping families dealing with adoption, asthma, eating/nutritional challenges, elimination challenges, sleep disruptions, loss/grief, attention, and learning differences.
In her spare time, Dr. Merritt enjoys watching her family enjoy their passions and spending time playing with Coalbear, beekeeping, cooking, running, traveling, and cheering for the Blue Devils.
Latrecia joined Chapel Hill Pediatrics and Adolescence in March 2023. She brings 21 years of management experience. When not working, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and baking.
Dr. Silkstone lives in Chapel Hill with her family. She was born in Durham, NC and raised in Raleigh, NC, and Williamsburg, VA. She attended UNC-Chapel Hill for undergraduate studies and Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC.
She completed her pediatric residency at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and joined a private practice in Winston Salem, NC where she practiced for 12 years. She has a special interest in newborn and infant care, early childhood education and literacy as well as behavioral health.
Dr. Silkstone is married and has two children, two dogs, and one pony. She enjoys running, reading, spending time with family and traveling.
Dr. Mary Braithwaite grew up in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. She graduated high school from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham and received a bachelor's degree, master's degree, and medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Braithwaite completed her Pediatric Residency at Duke in 2010. She worked with adolescents in Raleigh before joining Chapel Hill Pediatrics and Adolescents, PA in 2011.
Her clinical interests include developmental pediatrics, management of anxiety and depression, care of adolescents, care of the newborn, and care of children with special health care needs.
Dr. Braithwaite lives in Durham with her husband and their three children. In her free time, Dr. Braithwaite enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, music and cheering on the Tar heels!
Job Titles:
- Member of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Dr. Robinson grew up and spent much of his life in central North Carolina. He attended Duke University in Durham, NC where he was a history major with a minor in music. After completing a Masters of Arts in Teaching degree from Duke, he taught history for several years in boarding schools around the Philadelphia, PA area. He is a 2009 graduate of the Duke University School of Medicine and completed his pediatrics residency at Duke University Hospital in 2012. While in medical school, Dr. Robinson also completed a Masters of Public Health degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In residency, he won the prestigious Stockman award given by the Duke Pediatrics faculty for excellence in teaching by a pediatrics resident. He completed a fellowship in Pediatric Sports Medicine at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio during the 2012-13 year.
Dr. Robinson is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine. Professionally, he is interested in providing well-rounded pediatric care to his local community, particularly emphasizing the teenage athlete and his or her growth and development. In his free time, he enjoys basketball (Go Duke!), playing pickleball, reading, and singing with local choirs.