Dr. Samira Brown knew she wanted to help children since she was one herself. Growing up, she often joined her mother, an early childhood educator, on visits to the schools where she worked. “It was very impactful to see her work with children and their families to help them excel in school,” Dr. Brown says.
Dr. Brown now brings this philosophy into her practice as a pediatrician, advocating for all children to receive the highest-quality medical care. She embodies excellence and empathy, ensuring that each child under her care receives not only medical attention but also genuine kindness and understanding. She treats newborns to adolescents and has special expertise in breastfeeding, obesity, health disparities, and early childhood literacy.
Dr. Brown had an early love for science and chose to study biology at Xavier University of Louisiana, a historically Black college that has consistently been a national leader in placing Black students into medical school. Dr. Brown was among them, earning her medical degree from Harvard Medical School before completing her internship and residency in pediatrics through a combined program at Boston Children’s Hospital and Boston Medical Center.
After Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, Dr. Brown felt a calling to return to the city where she’d earned her undergraduate degree to help with the relief efforts and begin her medical career. During her 10 years there, she served as an outpatient pediatrician at Ochsner Children’s Hospital before becoming Medical Director of the hospital’s Newborn Nursery and Section Head of General Academic Pediatrics. At Ochsner, she also led Baby-Friendly efforts to promote breastfeeding and prepare parents before a baby’s arrival.
In 2018, Dr. Brown moved to Atlanta to establish a new pediatric clinic for Piedmont Healthcare in a community with few primary care options for children. She believes her experience treating children with varied resources has helped her tailor her approach to each family’s background and perspective.
“As physicians, we are students for life. It is important to listen and ask questions,” she says. “I strive to meet families where they are and provide knowledge and tools to promote both physical and mental wellness.”
Dr. Brown has spent significant time mentoring and teaching medical students, residents, nurse practitioners, and other providers. She also regularly speaks at national and international conferences about vaccination, pediatric mental health, allergies, precision medicine, and more.
Dr. Brown relishes exploring new ideas in all areas of medicine. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she co-founded a company called Little Lives PPE to provide high-quality masks for young children and families that were not widely available early on in the pandemic.
When seeing patients at Atria, she incorporates the latest treatments and science to provide comprehensive, personalized care. She believes that fostering healthy development in children is not just about treating illnesses but also about using a holistic approach to nurture them into thriving individuals. Her approach extends beyond clinic visits. “So much of what we do in pediatrics is about prevention and ensuring children develop healthy habits from the very beginning. My goal is not only to lengthen the life of children but also to maximize the quality of life they live,” she says.
Beyond her medical practice, Dr. Brown enjoys traveling and spending time with her family as an “auntie extraordinaire” to her two nephews and two nieces. In addition, Dr. Brown is an exercise enthusiast and is a certified Lagree trainer. With her infectious warmth and unwavering dedication to her patients, Dr. Brown continues to inspire and uplift those around her, leaving an indelible mark on the lives she touches.
Credentials
- Former Primary Care Pediatrician and Clinic LeadPiedmont Healthcare
- Former Section Head, General Academic PediatricsOchsner Children’s Hospital
- Former Newborn Nursery Medical DirectorOchsner Children’s Hospital
- Former Primary Care PediatricianOchsner Children’s Hospital
- Former Senior Lecturer in PediatricsUniversity of Queensland
- Former Instructor in PediatricsTulane Medical School
- Former Teaching Fellow in PediatricsBoston University School of Medicine
- Former Clinical Fellow in PediatricsBoston Children’s Hospital
Awards
- Healthcare Hero AwardU.S. Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 Public Education Campaign
- Best Doctors in America 2017-2018
Affiliations
- FellowAmerican Academy of Pediatrics
- MemberNational Medical Association
- Former Board MemberRaintree Children and Family Services
- Co-Founder and TreasurerLittle Lives PPE
- Medical ConsultantRobert Fields School