About The Hospitalists
Atlanta Women’s Health Group (AWHG) is the parent organization for a consortium of Obstetrics & Gynecology practices that serve the Atlanta Metropolitan and Athens Metropolitan areas.
AWHG has assembled a team of experienced and dedicated Obstetrician/Gynecologists to staff the OB/GYN hospitalist program at 3 Northside Hospital campuses: Atlanta, Cherokee, and Forsyth. With a mixture of Physicians and Certified Nurse Midwives, our hospitalists are all board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and proficient in managing women in labor, complex obstetric cases and gynecologic emergencies. One of the cornerstone benefits of Hospitalist/Laborist programs is consistent high-quality outcomes.
Our Doctors
Dr. Smith graduated Magna Cum Laude from Rice University in Houston, Texas in 1987 and then attended Baylor College of Medicine and graduated in 1991. She stayed at Baylor College of Medicine for her Residency and completed it in 1995. While practicing, Dr. Smith included teaching to her list of skills and was a Lecturer for Medical Student Tropical Medical Course at the University of Texas from 2009-2020. Dr. Smith is board certified and a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Smith’s husband is an infectious disease physician, turned CDC deputy director, turned pastor. They have been involved in missionaries for Kenya for the last 7 years and are now on the board of 2 ministries that work in Africa. Dr. Smith believes that each of us is created with body, soul, and spirit, and healing involves all three. When not in the hospital or on mission trips, Dr. Smith enjoys spending time with her family- her husband, 4 adult children, and their dog Frodo. You can also find her cooking, crocheting and knitting for fun!
Dr. Larece graduated from Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in NJ. She then did an Osteopathic rotating internship prior to her OB/Gyn residency which was at Rutgers Medical School University Hospital. Dr. Larece’s career as an OB/Gyn started in Brockton, MA with a hospital group. She then moved to Georgia in 2015 and discovered OB Hospitalist opportunities. She worked at Athen’s Regional initially, then joined AWHG in 2021. Dr. Larece is board certified by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and is honored to be able to serve women at a vulnerable but exciting milestone. “I truly believe when women in society are taken care of, everyone benefits.” In her free time, Dr. Larece enjoys sports -basketball, baseball, football. She loves to dance, chill out by the ocean, play with her kids and travel anywhere with warm weather.
Dr. Linda Kuzhippala (“Dr. K”) was born in New Jersey but raised in Jefferson, Georgia. In 2008, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Georgia. Dr. K received her medical doctorate in 2013 from Ross University School of Medicine. She completed her residency training at Beaumont Hospital in Dearborn Michigan in 2018. Dr. K is board certified by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Dr. K enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 little children. With her free time, she enjoys scrapbooking and gardening. Dr. K is an avid New York Yankees fan along with rooting on the Georgia bulldogs!
Dr. Dawson graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Magna Cum Laude. He then went on to attend medical school at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, GA and completed his residency at the University of Florida Health Science Center in Jacksonville, FL in 1999. Dr. Dawson is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a member of the American Society of Gynecologic Laparoscopists. Dr. Dawson is happily married with kids and enjoys spending time with his family.
Dr. Dannemann graduated from Yale University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. In 2005, she went on to attend, graduate, and complete her residency at the Medical College of GA in Augusta, GA. Dr Dannemann is board certified with the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Dannemann enjoys engaging with and helping women during this very special but often stressful time in their lives. Listening to the patient and practicing evidence-based medicine are both very important! Dr. Dannemann enjoys hanging out with her husband, kids, and dogs! They spend a good amount of time outdoors and exploring new things in Atlanta! It has been wonderful to return home to Atlanta after living away for so many years.
Born and raised in New York City, Dr. Weinstein studied at the 7 years combined BS/MD program at the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education. He received his medical degree from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 1990. Following medical school, he completed his four-year residency in Obstetrics/Gynecology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Upon completion, he joined a medical practice in New York where he performed low and high-risk obstetrics in addition to advanced laparoscopy and hysteroscopy. He along with his family moved to Atlanta in 1999 where he joined an established practice working out of Northside Hospital Sandy Springs. His major interest in low and high-risk obstetrics was the main reason for him joining the AWHG Obstetric Hospitalist group in October 2018.
He is currently living in Alpharetta with his wife Cecilia. Dr. Weinstein has a son who is presently a medical student and a daughter who is starting her Undergraduate Studies in the Fall. He and his wife are avid tennis players who spend much of their free time with their Vizsla named Tesla. His interests include tennis, cycling, squash, progressive rock music, and traveling.
Originally from Augusta, GA Dr. Higgins grew up in Georgia and South Carolina. Subsequently, he received a bachelor of engineering science and mechanics degree from Georgia Tech. He attended medical school at the University of South Carolina and returned to Georgia for residency training in gynecology and obstetrics at Emory University. Dr. Higgins strives to take the best care of his patients and is proud to be working with a fine group of physicians and at Northside Hospital. When not at work he enjoys spending time with family, attending his church and watching football.
Dr. Laura Gibbs was born and raised in Douglasville, GA. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Georgia in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry. In 2007, Dr. Gibbs received her Medical Doctorate and in 2012 completed her residency training at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia. She is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a Fellow of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Dr. Gibbs is an avid Georgia Bulldog fan and enjoys traveling and gardening in her free time. She joined Atlanta Women’s Health Group in November, 2017 as an OB/GYN hospitalist.
Dr. Smith graduated Magna Cum Laude from Rice University in Houston, Texas in 1987 and then attended Baylor College of Medicine and graduated in 1991. She stayed at Baylor College of Medicine for her Residency and completed it in 1995. While practicing, Dr. Smith included teaching to her list of skills and was a Lecturer for Medical Student Tropical Medical Course at the University of Texas from 2009-2020. Dr. Smith is board certified and a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Smith’s husband is an infectious disease physician, turned CDC deputy director, turned pastor. They have been involved in missionaries for Kenya for the last 7 years and are now on the board of 2 ministries that work in Africa. Dr. Smith believes that each of us is created with body, soul, and spirit, and healing involves all three. When not in the hospital or on mission trips, Dr. Smith enjoys spending time with her family- her husband, 4 adult children, and their dog Frodo. You can also find her cooking, crocheting and knitting for fun!
Dr. Larece graduated from Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in NJ. She then did an Osteopathic rotating internship prior to her OB/Gyn residency which was at Rutgers Medical School University Hospital. Dr. Larece’s career as an OB/Gyn started in Brockton, MA with a hospital group. She then moved to Georgia in 2015 and discovered OB Hospitalist opportunities. She worked at Athen’s Regional initially, then joined AWHG in 2021. Dr. Larece is board certified by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and is honored to be able to serve women at a vulnerable but exciting milestone. “I truly believe when women in society are taken care of, everyone benefits.” In her free time, Dr. Larece enjoys sports -basketball, baseball, football. She loves to dance, chill out by the ocean, play with her kids and travel anywhere with warm weather.
Dr. Linda Kuzhippala (“Dr. K”) was born in New Jersey but raised in Jefferson, Georgia. In 2008, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Georgia. Dr. K received her medical doctorate in 2013 from Ross University School of Medicine. She completed her residency training at Beaumont Hospital in Dearborn Michigan in 2018. Dr. K is board certified by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Dr. K enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 little children. With her free time, she enjoys scrapbooking and gardening. Dr. K is an avid New York Yankees fan along with rooting on the Georgia bulldogs!
Dr. Dawson graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Magna Cum Laude. He then went on to attend medical school at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, GA and completed his residency at the University of Florida Health Science Center in Jacksonville, FL in 1999. Dr. Dawson is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a member of the American Society of Gynecologic Laparoscopists. Dr. Dawson is happily married with kids and enjoys spending time with his family.
Dr. Dannemann graduated from Yale University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. In 2005, she went on to attend, graduate, and complete her residency at the Medical College of GA in Augusta, GA. Dr Dannemann is board certified with the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Dannemann enjoys engaging with and helping women during this very special but often stressful time in their lives. Listening to the patient and practicing evidence-based medicine are both very important! Dr. Dannemann enjoys hanging out with her husband, kids, and dogs! They spend a good amount of time outdoors and exploring new things in Atlanta! It has been wonderful to return home to Atlanta after living away for so many years.
Born and raised in New York City, Dr. Weinstein studied at the 7 years combined BS/MD program at the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education. He received his medical degree from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 1990. Following medical school, he completed his four-year residency in Obstetrics/Gynecology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Upon completion, he joined a medical practice in New York where he performed low and high-risk obstetrics in addition to advanced laparoscopy and hysteroscopy. He along with his family moved to Atlanta in 1999 where he joined an established practice working out of Northside Hospital Sandy Springs. His major interest in low and high-risk obstetrics was the main reason for him joining the AWHG Obstetric Hospitalist group in October 2018.
He is currently living in Alpharetta with his wife Cecilia. Dr. Weinstein has a son who is presently a medical student and a daughter who is starting her Undergraduate Studies in the Fall. He and his wife are avid tennis players who spend much of their free time with their Vizsla named Tesla. His interests include tennis, cycling, squash, progressive rock music, and traveling.
Originally from Augusta, GA Dr. Higgins grew up in Georgia and South Carolina. Subsequently, he received a bachelor of engineering science and mechanics degree from Georgia Tech. He attended medical school at the University of South Carolina and returned to Georgia for residency training in gynecology and obstetrics at Emory University. Dr. Higgins strives to take the best care of his patients and is proud to be working with a fine group of physicians and at Northside Hospital. When not at work he enjoys spending time with family, attending his church and watching football.
Dr. Laura Gibbs was born and raised in Douglasville, GA. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Georgia in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry. In 2007, Dr. Gibbs received her Medical Doctorate and in 2012 completed her residency training at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia. She is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a Fellow of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Dr. Gibbs is an avid Georgia Bulldog fan and enjoys traveling and gardening in her free time. She joined Atlanta Women’s Health Group in November, 2017 as an OB/GYN hospitalist.