Meet the Board Chairman

A Brief Bio of Chairman Kathryn K Cheek, MD :

Dr. Kathryn K. Cheek is a board-certified pediatrician with nearly four decades of dedicated service to children and families in Georgia. A graduate of the Medical College of Georgia, Dr. Cheek completed her pediatric residency at Emory University Affiliated Hospitals, where she also served as Chief Resident. She has held leadership positions in pediatric healthcare at both state and national levels, shaping policies that continue to benefit children today.

For 37 years, Dr. Cheek was a partner at Rivertown Pediatrics in Columbus, GA, while simultaneously serving as pediatric faculty for The Medical Center’s Family Practice Residency Program. She has held academic appointments with Augusta University’s Medical College of Georgia and Mercer University School of Medicine. 

Dr. Cheek’s contributions extend far beyond clinical care. She has chaired the Georgia Department of Public Health Board, led the Pediatric Healthcare Improvement Coalition of Georgia, and currently serves as Chair of the Georgia Composite Medical Board. A Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, she has been an active voice on pediatric healthcare innovation and technology, serving on the executive committee for the Academy’s Council on Clinical Information Technology.

Her achievements have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society, the Big Voice for Children Award, and the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Georgia Chapter of the AAP. In 2014, she was honored by the Paul Amos family’s lead gift establishing a new pediatric emergency department at Columbus Regional Health System.

Though retired from clinical practice, Dr. Cheek continues to shape the future of medicine through teaching, consulting, and advocacy for health and well-being of Georgia’s citizens. 

Here is the Chairman's Message to visitors:

Welcome to the Georgia Composite Medical Board website!

It is an honor to serve as Chair of the Georgia Composite Medical Board. Our Board’s mission remains clear and steadfast—to protect the health and safety of Georgians by licensing qualified physicians and other professionals in the healing arts, and by ensuring the highest standards of medical practice throughout our state.

The Georgia Composite Medical Board consists of fifteen dedicated volunteer members appointed by the Governor, along with an ex-officio Physician Assistant member appointed by the Board. With thirteen practicing physicians, two consumer appointees, and a highly skilled executive director and staff, we work collaboratively to serve both the public and the medical community with integrity, transparency, and accountability.

For Georgia’s citizens, we are committed to thoroughly investigating complaints and malpractice settlements and providing access to accurate, up-to-date profiles of licensed medical providers. For the more than 55,000 healthcare professionals we license, our website offers essential tools to apply, renew, and maintain licensure, as well as resources to stay informed about the Medical Practice Act, Board rules, and regulations.

As Chair, I am committed to building upon the strong foundation laid by previous Board leaders. Together with my fellow Board members and staff, we will continue to strengthen public trust, support medical excellence, and ensure that every action we take upholds our ultimate responsibility—to protect and promote the health of every Georgian.

We welcome your feedback, thoughts, and suggestions as we continue this vital work in partnership with the citizens and healthcare providers of our state.