The practice, originally known as Drs. Palay, Frank, Brown, Gottlieb, Leaderman, and Shulman, P.C. was founded and incorporated in 1991, and was re-named Laureate Medical Group in 2000.
The practice’s beginnings can be traced to the mid-1930s, when Dr. Clarence Laws hung his shingle in the Strickler Building on Peachtree Street near the Woodruff Arts Center. During his career, Dr. Laws was extremely active in Atlanta’s medical, cultural and community activities and became known as the “dean of southern allergists,” drawing patients from five states.
In 1962, Dr. Bernard Palay joined Dr. Laws and as the practice grew, it was relocated to the then-ultramodern Colony Square Building. After Dr. Laws died in 1970, Dr. Palay took over the practice. During the early 1970s, Dr. Palay was joined by Dr. Milton Frank III, who brought additional diagnostic internal medicine and cardiology services to the practice. In the late 1970s, Dr. Morris E. Brown joined the group, adding full endocrinology services. The 1980s saw a rapid growth of the practice with the addition of Dr. Alan J. Gottlieb’s rheumatology and immunology skills. In 1988, Dr. Adam J. Leaderman joined the group with skills in infectious diseases and medical diseases of pregnancy. Dr. Scott J. Shulman joined the practice in 1991, bringing additional expertise in diagnostic internal medicine, and was followed by Dr. Scott B. Kleber, who joined the practice in 1993, specializing in internal medicine.
Over the next two decades, Laureate Medical Group continued to expand, and several outstanding physicians joined the practice, including Dr. Valerie A. Wender, the first female practitioner in the group. She was followed by Dr. Mark G. Friedman, Dr. Arnold B. Mellits, Dr. Walton H. Reeves, Dr. C. Sekhar Ghosh, Dr. Mary Anne L. Valdecanas, Dr. Ibrez R. Bandukwala, Dr. Kate S. Wheeler, Dr. Alan B. Fishman, Dr. Frieda Millhouse-Jones, Dr. Rachel M. DelFavero, Dr. Rachna A. Relwani, Dr. Kara J. Pepper, Dr. Lisa W. Lefkovits, Dr. Suma Dronavalli, Dr. Scott M. Leibowitz, Dr, Monica N. Giles, Dr. Jochebed A. Pink, Dr. Laura A. Gandy, and most recently, Dr. R. Allen Mills, Dr. Gavin F. Brown, Dr. Jeffrey K. Marlow, Dr. Jason Silverston and Dr. David P. Williams. In 2012, Laureate Medical Group became an affiliate of Northside Hospital.
Today, we are proud to continue to care for some of our original patients, and we consistently add new patients in Atlanta and the surrounding areas by distinguishing ourselves as a leader in medical excellence - a legacy that has lasted more than 50 years.
Laureate is taken from the Latin ‘laureatus’ - which means crowned with laurel. Ancient Greeks used a wreath of laurel to crown victors in the Pythian games, subsequently the laurel wreath came to symbolize excellence, achievement and honor.