Meet Our Team

Cheryl Johnson
RN, BSN, Executive Director
Cheryl comes to Weinstein Hospice with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the hospice industry. She has worked as an RN in diverse markets including for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

Dr. Irshad Syed
MD Medical Director
Dr. Irshad Syed is a Board Certified Family Physician and Geriatrician with over two decades of valuable experience now offering primary care services to this Community. In Atlanta, he served as a physician in the Grady Health System for 9 very satisfying years of award-winning service in clinical, academic, and leadership roles. He is passionate about preventive health care management and improving the health of the community. Dr. Syed has a research and academic background with several national-level awards, publications, and presentations. He completed his Residency and Fellowship at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas where he also served as the Chief resident. With a wide range in scope of services to all age groups with extra training in care for the elderly, the clinic is equipped with all that you would need at your primary care physicians’ office. We welcome you to the practice and thank you for choosing Marietta Family Medicine of Buckhead.

Joy Minor
Clinical Manager

Emily Fain
Director of Palliative Care

Emily’s career began in the Navy as an FMF Corpsman serving with the Marines. During that time she obtained her EMT training, surgical technician certification, field trauma training, and nursing certification. With 15 years of experience in oncology and 2 in hospice and palliative care, Emily obtained a bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration from Kaplan University and a Masters in Public Health from Purdue University. She has volunteered for the American Cancer Society and Cancer Action Network for 12 years.

Carla Polikov
LMSW

joined our team in March of 2017. She has 16 years of hospice and other medical social work experience. She received her Master’s degree in social work from Tulane, but is originally from Mississippi. Carla is married and is mom to two adorable children.

Jenifer Firestone
LMSW, Volunteer Coordinator

has been a part of our team since 2012. Jenifer manages a corps of nearly 40 volunteers who serve our patients and their families with quality care, understanding and compassion.

Susan Sandler
LMSW

has been with Weinstein Hospice since 2006. She was the Executive Director of JF&CS in Des Moines, Iowa for 8 years and has run Senior Outreach programming in Dallas, Texas.

Deanna Lawrence
Bereavement Coordinator

joined the team way back in 2004! She has spent most of that time as a certified hospice and palliative care nursing assistant. In late 2015, she transitioned to the office as our referrals and intake coordinator and now is currently our Bereavement Coordinator.

Julie Hamilton
RN, CHPN

has been a dedicated member of the Weinstein Hospice staff since 2008. Prior to that, she ran the AIDS program for Visiting Nurse Health System in Atlanta.

Irina Dubin
RN

has been a Registered Nurse since 1998 after attending New York University. She joined our staff in early 2015. Irina speaks fluent Russian enabling her to have a special rapport with our Russian-speaking patients.

Amanda Robinson
RN

is our week night on-call nurse and has been with Weinstein Hospice since May of 2015. She graduated from Kennesaw State University in 2005 and is a native of Georgia. She enjoys weekend travels with her papillon Pumpkin, gardening and bird watching.

Amanda Robinson
RN

is our week night on-call nurse and has been with Weinstein Hospice since May of 2015. She graduated from Kennesaw State University in 2005 and is a native of Georgia. She enjoys weekend travels with her papillons, gardening and bird watching.

Dana Blackert,
RN, BSN, OCN

Dana has been part of Weinstein Hospice since 2017 as a weekend Triage nurse. She has been a nurse for 12 years, the majority working in Oncology. Dana graduated from Mercer University in 2007. She enjoys traveling and staying busy with her 3 small children.

Dana Blackert,
RN, BSN, OCN

Dana has been part of Weinstein Hospice since 2017 as a weekend Triage nurse. She has been a nurse for 12 years, the majority working in Oncology. Dana graduated from Mercer University in 2007. She enjoys traveling and staying busy with her 3 small children.

Dana Blackert,
RN, BSN, OCN

Dana has been part of Weinstein Hospice since 2017 as a weekend Triage nurse. She has been a nurse for 12 years, the majority working in Oncology. Dana graduated from Mercer University in 2007. She enjoys traveling and staying busy with her 3 small children.

Nicole Graham,
RN, BSN, OCN

Graduating from Indiana University, Nicole has been a nurse since 2012. Her background is in Emergency Departments and Oncology. She enjoys hiking and finding waterfalls with her daughter.

Chiquitia Pickett
CNA

has been a CNA for 19 years. She joined the Weinstein Hospice team in September 2017.

Cindy Hopkins
LCSW

joined our team in April of 2018. She is a long term Atlantan and received her Master’s degree in Social Work from UGA. Cindy has experience in medical social work and has also spent time as a clinician, working with children and families.

Kristin Pass
Intake Coordinator

Bio Coming Soon!

Kristin Pass
Intake Coordinator

Bio Coming Soon!

Coming Soon

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