Philip Dawson, MD, FAAP

Why a Doctor?

I think I wanted to be a doctor from about the age of ten. I liked science, and as I grew and matured became more and more interested in personal interactions, relationships, and what makes people healthy in all aspects. When I finally got to medical school, I was fascinated by how the human body works and knew I was in the right place.

Why a Pediatrician?

There was that pivotal moment in medical school when I got a hug from Juliette, a sweet three-year-old French Canadian girl recovering from pneumonia, but it is more than that. Pediatricians are fun.

Kids are fun. You get to smile every day. And it's really true, kids do say the "darndest" things and it's usually hilarious.

Doing what fascinates you, doing what you're good at, laughing while you do it....doesn't get much better than that!

Tiffany Powers, CPNP

Tiffany Powers is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner who grew up in Harrisonburg, VA and has lived in Richmond, VA for more than 20 years. She received her Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Randolph-MaconCollege and worked in human resources and recruiting before deciding on a career in nursing. She received her Diploma in Nursing from the Bon Secours School of Nursing and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Bon Secours College of Nursing.

In May, 2017, Tiffany received her Masters of Nursing from the University of Virginia and became certified in Lactation Counseling in February, 2018. She has over seven years of experience as a Registered Nurse in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and most recently spent the last one and a half years as a Nurse Practitioner and Certified Lactation Counselor with Bon Secours Pediatrics of Mechanicsville and Hanover Pediatrics.

Tiffany loves to educate her young patients and their families while showing compassion, empathy and a sincere dedication to helping others.

Tiffany has been married for 20 years and has 3 sons. She has twin boys who were born at 27 weeks and NICU graduates. In her spare time, Tiffany enjoys exercising, reading, going to concerts, volunteering for local community organizations and long walks with her golden retriever.

Lucy Karn, PA-C

Lucy Karn is a Pediatric Physician Assistant and a native Richmonder. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, Lucy worked in Healthcare Public Relations in New York City before returning to Virginia to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant. She received her Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies from Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS), then completed a Pediatric Urgent Care Fellowship through EVMS and the Children’s Hospital of King’s Daughters. She returned to Richmond in January of 2018 and has been working in Pediatric Urgent Care and Pediatric Emergency Medicine.

She is driven by her desire to educate and empower young people regarding their overall health and to be a helpful, comforting resource for families and children. She is excited to join the West End Pediatrics team and is looking forward to building lifelong patient relationships.

In her spare time, Lucy enjoys running, discovering new music and, most of all, spending time with her friends and family. Lucy joins West End Pediatrics in January 2019.

Jessica Simmelink, MD

Dr. Jessica Szelc joined West End Pediatrics in January 2021. She earned her medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia after receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Virginia. Dr. Szelc returned to Charlottesville to complete her pediatric residency at the University of Virginia where she was involved in the Home Visiting Program and Pediatric Curriculum Committee. There she was awarded the Resident Teaching Award by her colleagues for excellence in mentoring junior residents. Dr. Szelc’s interests include developmental and behavioral pediatrics such as ADHD and autism as well as preventive care and promoting healthy habits for life.

After growing up in Northern Virginia and living in Hampton Roads and Charlottesville, Dr. Szelc and her fiancé are excited to explore Richmond. They enjoy cooking and exploring local restaurants as well as spending time outdoors gardening, hiking and kayaking.

Why a Doctor

I was inspired to pursue medicine from watching the example of my aunt and uncle who are both physicians. I admired their dedication to their patients and it was easy to see the satisfaction that came from helping others. Over time I appreciated how being a doctor is the perfect blend of humanities and science - acquiring knowledge and then applying it to benefit others while forming lasting relationships within a community. The fact that I loved watching emergency medicine shows on television and, to the horror of my family, could stomach the more squeamish aspects of medicine didn’t hurt either!

Why a Pediatrician

I knew I wanted to be a pediatrician before entering medical school so making the choice was a no-brainer! I always enjoyed being around children, from babysitting to working as a camp counselor to organizing shows and games with my younger cousins. Kids are bright and funny and just plain entertaining to be around. I am continually amazed by the natural process of child development and privileged to be able to step in to help all children achieve skills to the best of their abilities. Finally, I love the variety in pediatrics that comes from working with kids of all ages and getting to know families over years and even generations.