Meet the Team

Laura Bleekrode, MD

Owner

Roswell & Cumming Office

Dr. Bleekrode grew up in Chicago and Atlanta. She graduated Cum Laude from Providence College in Rhode Island in 1982 and received her MD from Emory University School of Medicine in 1986. She completed her residency in Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Hospital in 1989 and was in practice there until moving back to Atlanta in 1991. She practiced in Atlanta for 5 years before acquiring Alpharetta Pediatrics. Dr. Bleekrode is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She and her husband, Kim, have eight children: Katie, Joey, Kevin, Mary Beth, John, Timmy, Brendan, and Clare and 2 grandchildren: Nate & Emma.

Tashawna Stokes, MD

Roswell Office

Friday

Dr. Stokes, originally from Alabama, achieved a BS in Biomedical Sciences from Auburn University. She received her MD from the University of South Alabama. She completed her internship and residency at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. After completing a chief residency, she has worked in urgent care and private practice in Madison, Alabama. She has been practicing in the Atlanta area for about 8 years and is happy to be a part of the Alpha Peds family. Her hobbies and interests include reading, shopping, traveling, spending time with family and friends, watching Auburn football, and working with her Public Service sorority. She is married and has 2 daughters.

Niccole Edwins, CPNP

Roswell Office

Monday - Thursday

Niccole joined our practice in January of 2015. She obtained her BS in Nursing from Florida State University in 2008. She started her nursing career at Winnie Palmer Hospital in Orlando, FL and worked as a NICU nurse for 4 years. In 2012, she earned her Masters in Nursing degree at University of South Florida and became a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. After graduating with her MSN, she worked at a primary care pediatric office in Orlando for 3 years. She relocated to the Atlanta area with her husband in 2014. Niccole and her husband have 2 children with one on the way!

Emily Roper, CPNP

Cumming Office

Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Emily joined the practice in December 2021. She received her BSN at Medical College of Georgia in 2011. She worked as a NICU nurse for 5 years at CHOA Scottish Rite. In 2016, she received her Masters in Nursing at University of Alabama Birmingham. She is now a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner specializing in Primary Care. She previously worked with another pediatric group for 5 years. In her free time, she loves spending time with her husband, Reese, and 1 year old son, Corbin!