James A. Elmore, MD
A native of South Carolina, Dr. James Elmore attended the University of South Carolina as an undergraduate, making him a lifelong Gamecocks fan. After receiving his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, Dr. Elmore completed his internship at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Entering the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta for his residency, Dr. Elmore became a Diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners. Dr. Elmore is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and the Medical Association of Georgia. A voracious reader of literary fiction, Dr. Elmore counts Georgia author, Flannery O'Conner, as one of his favorites. Having honed a lifetime appreciation for nature and its beauty, Dr. Elmore enjoys working in his yard and spending time on his land in South Carolina.
Brian Mitchell, MD
Licensed as both a physician and a pharmacist in the state of Georgia, Dr. Brian Mitchell graduated from the University of Georgia's Pharmacy school Summa Cum Laude with a perfect 4.0. Taking that same work ethic to the Medical College of Georgia, he earned his M.D. with another Summa Cum Laude performance after receiving the acclaimed Regents scholarship. Dr. Mitchell found his calling in the field of neurology, and became the Outstanding Student in Neurology in 2002, while also earning the distinguished Merk Manual Award that same year, completing his internship in Internal Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia. His residency was finished at the Medical College of Georgia in Neurology, and he became the Chief Resident in Neurology at the Medical College of Georgia. Dr. Mitchell is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, and a member of the Christian Medical and Dental Society. When it was time to decide where to practice, ANA and Athens were the perfect choice for Dr. Mitchell and his wife. The couple met while undergraduate students at UGA, and share enthusiasm for the Georgia Bulldawgs. Their three young daughters keep them on the go with gymnastics, ballet and school functions.
E. Brannon Morris III, MD
Dr. Morris was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. After graduating high school, Dr. Morris attended Wake Forest University until he saw the light and transferred after his freshman year to the University of Georgia where he graduated in 2 ½ years with a degree in English Literature and Composition. After graduation Dr. Morris moved to Washington, DC. and completed additional pre-medical coursework at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. After acceptance to the Medical College of Georgia, Dr. Morris moved to Augusta.
Dr. Morris graduated medical school in 1998, moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee and completed a general Pediatric Residency in 2001. Dr. Morris moved to Rochester, Minnesota and completed an additional residency in Child Neurology at the Mayo Clinic in 2004. As a pediatric neurologist, Dr. Morris became interested in brain tumors and neurological sequelae of childhood cancer and/or its’ treatment. The Morris's young family moved to Memphis, Tennessee where Dr. Morris completed a one year fellowship in pediatric neuro-oncology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and then remained at St. Jude for the next five years as a pediatric neurologist with an interest in neurological late effects of cancer.
Life was going well, but then got better! In 2010 the opportunity to come home presented itself. Dr. Morris was thrilled to join Athens Neurological Associates as the only pediatric neurologist in the Athens, Georgia area. He values the opportunity to be a part of this great community and help children and adolescents with a variety of neurological issues. Away from the office, Dr. Morris enjoys fishing, rooting for the home team in all sports, and spending time with his wife and family.
Eric Pitts MD
Graduating Magna Cum Laude from Benedictine College in Atchison, KS, Dr. Eric Pitts majored in biology, and minored in chemistry. After going back to his home state of Nebraska to earn his M.D. at the University of Nebraska in Omaha, NE, Dr. Pitts moved to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC to complete his internship in Internal Medicine. Finding his true calling in Neurology, Dr. Pitts served his Residency also at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, and then completed a Fellowship in Neurophysiology with an emphasis on Electromyography at the same location. Dr. Pitts’ main interest lies in working with neuromuscular disease and its treatment. Leading a very active life outside the office, Dr. Pitts and his wife, Dr. Cassie Campbell, an OBGYN with Athens Regional Medical Center's nurse midwifery practice, have three young children and love calling Athens home.
Jon Poling MD, PhD
Dr. Jon Poling is a Board Certified neurologist practicing with Athens Neurology since 2001 after he completed his Residency training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. For his medical and graduate training, he was granted a full medical-scientist scholarship to the Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. His dual MD and PhD degrees were simultaneously granted in 1997 with his doctoral studies involving the electrophysiologic study of ion channels found in living neural membranes. This was completed in partnership between the Georgetown Department of Physiology/Biophysics and the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. In 1995, he was granted an NIH scholarship to attend the 1995 Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory to further his studies in Neurobiology.
Dr. Poling is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN). He has obtained additional subspecialty certifications in both Neuroimaging (Computerized Tomography and Magnetic Resonance based imaging of the nervous system) and Neuromuscular Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM). Dr. Poling has special interest in treating patients with autoimmune neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, neuropathies, and myasthenia gravis. He also has extensive experience in treating dystonia and chronic migraine with botulinum neurolysis therapy (e.g. Botox).
Dr. Poling currently holds privileges at Athens Regional Medical Center (ARMC) which is a certified Stroke Center. He currently is serving as Managing Physician for the Athens Neurology group. He has previously served as the Neurodiagnostic Laboratory director and Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (apheresis) Program director at the hospital.
Denise S. Taylor DO
Originally from Florida, Dr. Taylor specializes in epilepsy and women’s issues in neurology, including the treatment of migraines and seizures associated with menstrual cycles and pregnancy. Dr. Taylor earned her medical degree from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her neurology training at the University of South Florida, Tampa. Following residency in neurology, she completed a two-year fellowship in epilepsy and neurophysiology at Emory University. Dr. Taylor worked with a dynamic team of attending physicians, which sparked her interest in neurology and epilepsy. She has created an epilepsy support group in Athens, allowing patients to connect with people living with the same condition.
Dr. Taylor is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, or DO. DOs practice according to the latest science and technology while also considering options to complement pharmaceuticals and surgery. DOs focus on prevention by gaining a deeper understanding of patients’ lifestyles and environments rather than just treating symptoms. Listening to patients and partnering in their care are at the heart of a DO’s holistic, empathic approach to medicine. Dr. Taylor and her husband both enjoy live music and were thrilled to make the move to Athens with its thriving music scene.
Terry L. Wimpey MD, PhD
Attaining his bachelor's degree in chemistry at Emory University, Dr. Terry Wimpey then received his Ph.D. in pharmacology at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. He returned to Emory University to obtain his M.D. from the school of medicine, where he graduated with honors cum laude and is a member of the esteemed Alpha Omega Alpha. Dr. Wimpey completed his residency at the University of California, San Francisco in the Department of Neurology. Crossing the country once again, Dr. Wimpey became a Fellow in clinical neurophysiology/sleep medicine at Duke University in Durham, NC. Dr. Wimpey is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine. A native of Ellijay, Georgia, Dr. Wimpey is an avid outdoorsman, and enjoys kayaking, hiking and mountain and road biking. He is married to Brenda and has one son, Hunter, as well as two dogs and three cats.
Brandi S. Fleenor MD
Early in her training, Dr. Fleenor was drawn to the study of neurology. She completed her undergraduate degrees in biology and English at the University of Georgia and earned her medical degree from The Medical College of Georgia in 2011. Dr. Fleenor continued her medical training at The Medical College of Georgia where she completed an internship in internal medicine and a residency in neurology. It was during this residency that Dr. Fleenor developed a special interest in neuromuscular disorders while working at the ALS (amyotrophic laterals sclerosis) clinic. Dr. Fleenor completed her medical training with a fellowship in neurophysiology at The Medical College of Georgia in June, 2016. The following month, Dr. Fleenor chose to join Athens Neurological Associates where she benefits from working with the collaborative & dynamic group of physicians. In her free time, Dr. Fleenor loves camping and hiking with her husband and two dogs. She also enjoys reading her favorite authors - Billy Collins and Gabriel García Márquez.