PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Emily Gee, LPC, CPCS

Emily Gee is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Masters and an Education Specialist degree in Professional Counseling from Georgia State University. Prior to attending Georgia State, she earned a Bachelors degree from The University of Georgia in Child and Family Development. Emily’s passion for counseling and empowering others began in college during an internship where Emily would help develop and apply self-esteem building curriculum for young girls and women. Emily’s focus on eating disorders began prior to graduate school after noticing a lack of resources and advocacy for individuals struggling with the disorder.

Prior to coming to Center for Discovery, Emily worked directly with children, adolescents, and families affected by eating disorders in a variety of settings, such as hospitals and private practice over the last 10+ years. Through these experiences, she has learned the importance of having a collaborative and cohesive connection with clients, clients’ support systems, colleagues and other providers in the community. Emily provides evidence-based treatment that focuses on individuals’ inner strengths and abilities to help elicit positive change. Emily encourages individuals to concentrate on the present moment and to challenge themselves to take a candid look at the connection between their thoughts, behaviors, and emotions to move towards acceptance and authenticity of self.

REGISTERED DIETITIAN

Christine Engstrom, MS, RD, LD, CEDRD-S

Christine Engstrom is the Residential, Registered Dietitian, at the Dunwoody Center for Discovery in Dunwoody, Georgia and has been treating clients with eating disorders for over 30 years.  She is respected within the Greater Atlanta Eating Disorder area for her expertise in Medical Nutrition Therapy, Nutrition Counseling and Nutrition Therapy.

She is a member of IAEDP and holds the CEDRD-S credentialing and has served on the Board of Directors.  

Engstrom received her Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University and Graduate Degree from Northern Illinois University.  Prior to joining, Center for Discovery, Christine was the Dietitian at Veritas Collaborative Outpatient Clinic and Senior Dietitian at Emory University Hospital.  

PRIMARY THERAPIST

Nancie Ferdinand

Nancie Ferdinand is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Mercer University. Prior to attending Mercer, she earned a bachelor’s degree from The University of West Georgia in Psychology. Nancie’s interest for counseling and empowering others began in college while taking a Psychology of early childhood and adolescent course. Nancie’s internship at a non-profit that provides clinical services for community members with limited resources would spark her passion for working with eating disorders.

Prior to coming to Center for Discovery, Nancie worked directly with adolescents, adults and families affected by eating disorders and other mental health issues in a variety of settings, such as non-profits, hospitals and private practice over the last 6+ years. Throughout her experience, she has grown to value a collaborative approach and the importance of connecting with clients, clients’ support systems, colleagues and other providers in the community. Nancie uses evidence-based treatment theories that focuses on individuals improving emotional regulation and developing coping skills that support interpersonal growth and development.

Aside from her interest in counseling, Nancie also enjoys traveling and being outdoors.

NURSE ADMINISTRATOR

Agnes Nichols, RN, BSN

Agnes “Sonya” Nichols, RN, BSN is the Nurse Administrator for the Center for
Discovery Adolescent Eating Disorder Residential Treatment Center in Atlanta,
Georgia. Sonya’s clinical experience spans from primary care clinics and Neonatal Intensive
Care Units. Sonya completed her nursing education from Southern Adventist University
in Tennessee. She began her nursing career in 2006 at Loma Linda University Medical
Center in California but called Atlanta her home. She is a member of the Christian
Medical Dental Association and spends a great deal of her time volunteering at a
refugee clinic in Clarkston, Georgia. Sonya is passionate about helping her clients to
live healthier lives, free from the grip of eating disorders. She believes in teamwork and
a collaborative approach in meeting the needs of her clients and their family.

Aside from her passion for excellence in nursing care, Sonya’s interests include outdoor
activities, cooking, and sewing. She is also an animal lover and has one cat and two
dogs.

FACILITY MANAGER

Dr. Saudia George, Ph.D., MHA, NSLS

Dr. Saudia George serves as the Facility Manager for the Center for Discovery Atlanta, Adolescent Eating Disorder Residential Treatment Center. Originally from Orlando FL, Dr. George received her bachelor’s degree in Health Informatics/Information Management from Florida A&M University and her master’s in Health Care Administration from Kaplan University. Dr. George comes with an extensive amount of knowledge in mental health services providing care for adults and adolescents struggling with Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety, Depression, and Substance Abuse, which have a higher comorbidity with eating disorders. With her interest and passion for mental health services for adolescents, she decided to pursue her doctoral degree in Health Services-Health Care Management from Walden University. Her dissertation focused on Guardians’ Perspective of Mental Health Services for Adolescents diagnosed with Pediatric Bipolar Disorder.

Dr. George has worked in mental/behavioral health for five years with a focus in healthcare compliance and educating higher learning professionals. She has a passion to develop, initiate, maintain, and review compliance programs and policies within pediatric mental health services. In addition to her time at the Center for Discovery, Dr. George in an online Adjunct Professor instructing Anatomy & Physiology, Medical Terminology, and Medical Assistance courses and serves her community volunteering with the American Cancer Society and Make a Wish Foundation.

PSYCHIATRIST

Dr. Maloa Chu Affuembey, MD

Dr. Affuembey, MD, is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and was born and raised in Cameroon, West Africa. She obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Texas, with a major in Biology and minor in Psychology, and later studied at The Saba University School of Medicine in Netherlands-Antilles. She completed her residency at Louisiana State University – Our Lady of The Lake Psychiatry Program in Baton Rouge, where she served as Chief Resident.

Dr Affeumbey is passionate to assist those who suffer disruptions in daily relationships with food and body image. Eating disorders are an area of special interest to her as they hold a unique role in which they navigate the mind’s influence on the body. She believes that nourishment cannot only be life sustaining, but also a point of connection within and across cultures.

PEDIATRICIAN

Dr. Neha Bhatt, MD

Neha Bhatt, MD. graduated from Emory University with BS of Biology and Minor in Psychology and medical school in Cambridge University in the UK. She completed pediatric residency in Chicago and ended her years as Chief Resident in her program. She moved back to Atlanta and worked as a general pediatrician before beginning her family. She returns back to focus on pediatric and adolescent medicine, Dr. Bhatt has joined the Center for Discovery to support the challenges of ED medicine.

PROGRAM THERAPIST

John Ward, MS, LAPC, NCC, CCMHC

John has worked with adolescents for the past 4 years addressing issues of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, grief, PTSD, Parent/Child relationships, and eating disorders. John has been with Center For Discover since October 2018 and is currently a Program Therapist.

Psychiatrist

Dr. Maryann Jacob

Dr. Maryann Jacob is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in the areas of child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry. She obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Michigan, with a major in Bio-psychology. She then received a Master of Science at Wright State University in Physiology, and went on to receive her Doctor of Medicine at the American University of the Caribbean. She completed her residency in Psychiatry at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA and her Child and Adolescent Fellowship at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, IL.

Dr. Jacob is a consultation-liaison psychiatrist who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders. She believes in a multidisciplinary treatment approach to address eating disorders and helps with identifying the psychiatric co-morbidities that can impact the disease. She works to de-stigmatize mental health issues, and partners with children and families during their journey to recovery.