Veda Johnson, MD, Executive Director
Veda Johnson, MD, FAAP is a Marcus Professor in General Academics and Pediatrics, and Director of PARTNERS for Equity in Child and Adolescent Health (PARTNERS) for the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to her current position, Dr. Johnson was the Director of Community and School Based Clinics for the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University. In that position, she served as Medical Director of the Whitefoord Community Program (WCP) which consists of two school based health clinics (SBHCs) and the Boatrock and Lindbergh Women and Children’s Health Clinics affiliated with the Grady Health System.
Dr. Johnson has participated in the development of national standards for comprehensive school based health programs has also been active in promoting school health programs in the state of Georgia and in petitioning Congress for increasing federal allocation for school health centers nationwide. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and serves on the executive committee for the Academy’s Council on School Health. In addition, she serves as Chair of the School Health Committee for the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Terri D. McFadden, MD, FAAP
Dr. McFadden is a General Pediatrician and a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics of the Emory University School of Medicine. She serves as Medical Director of Primary Care at the Hughes Spalding campus of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta where she sees patients and teaches medical students, pediatric residents and allied health students. She is also responsible the for primary care initiatives of the Emory Department of Pediatrics PARTNERS for Equity in Child and Adolescent Health (PARTNERS). She is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics where she serves on the Council on Early Childhood. McFadden is the Medical Director of the Injury Free Coalition for Kids (IFCK)-Atlanta childhood injury prevention program. She also serves as Medical Director of the Georgia Coalition of Reach Out and Read. Her academic and professional interests include comprehensive care for the underserved, childhood injury prevention, preschool literacy promotion, and breastfeeding support in underserved communities. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Spelman College and a medical degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She and her husband, Everett Garden, have two daughters.
Carolyn Aidman, PhD, Convener
Dr. Carolyn Aidman is PARTNERS for Equity in Child and Adolescent Health (PARTNERS) “Convener” for school based health care, sharing the vision, drawing interest in and helping bring School Based Health Center planning grants to 34 counties in Georgia.
Carolyn has over 30 years of front line, programmatic and leadership experience working with and for minority populations in public health, social services, and education. She directed the Georgia Division of Public Health’s Office of Adolescent Health and Youth Development, managing an $11 million budget, providing training to public health staff, and youth development and clinical services to children and adolescents throughout Georgia. As Executive Director of the Professional Development Centers of Florida, she led the 180-member university team that developed, delivered, and promoted a nationally recognized competency-based training, testing, and certification program for Florida's child protection professionals.
Dr. Aidman is the Associate Director of Emory’s Urban Health Initiative, developing university and community partnerships for community engaged learning, training future health professionals, and conducting research, especially community-based participatory research. She has developed transportation ministries, providing transportation to needed services, a community teaching garden at a grocery store in a low-resourced area of Atlanta, and helps bring affordable health insurance plans through her Health Insurance Navigators and student Resource Insurance Navigators team.
Katilia R. Harden, MSW, GCPH, Behavioral Health Coordinator
Katilia is the Behavioral Health Coordinator with PARTNERS for Equity in Child and Adolescent Health (PARTNERS) for the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. She has been with Emory since December 2011. As the Behavioral Health Coordinator, she works directly with patients and families in the Primary Care Clinic at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding. In the clinic, she addresses the mental and behavioral health needs and concerns. She works in compliment with an interdisciplinary team to ensure barriers to healthcare are addressed. Thus, she provides brief assessments, counseling, referral and linkage to behavioral health services and other community resources. Additionally, she serves as the coordinator for the monthly Pediatric Primary Care, Access to Healthcare, Comprehensive Family Support, and Education (PACE) staffing meetings. Moreover, Katilia collaborates with other UHP members and CHOA staff to plan and host family-oriented events and programs at Hughes Spalding.
Prior to coming to Emory, Katilia had over 14 years of direct human services experience. Her last position was a newly created position with Grady Health System in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Program and High Risk OB clinic. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from University of Georgia and Masters in Social Work and a Post Graduate Certificate in Public Health from Georgia State University. Outside of her profession, Katilia is an Aerobics Instructor for LA Fitness and CEO and Personal Trainer for Royally Fit Fitness. In addition to her passion to help others professionally, she is a member of several different organizations where she volunteers her time and talents to helping young people and those who are less fortunate. She is a native of Atlanta, GA and a member of Ray of Hope Christian church.