940 SE Cary Parkway,Suite 200
Cary, North Carolina 27518
Phone: (919) 859-9991
Fax: -(919) 859-6595

Where Have We Been?

The History of Western Wake Pediatrics

Drs. Michael Smith and Mary Ann Rozakis opened the practice in 1988 as the third pediatric practice in Cary.  Meg our phone nurse and Betsy in appointments joined us soon after the opening. Cary had 40,000 people and Apex had about 5,000.  In 1992, nurse Patti started on the weekends.  We improved access from Apex and Holly Springs by moving to the south side of Cary and grew to a four doctor practice.  The Family Birth Center at Rex Hospital was delivering 5,000 babies that year when Dr. Smith served as chairman of the Newborn Committee and Dr. Rozakis joined the Pediatric Executive Committee.  When Wake Med Raleigh opened its pediatric ICU and pediatric emergency room,   Dr. Smith was involved as Chairman of Quality Assurance and then Department Chairman from 1992-1995.

Drs. Robert Ferrall and Monica Shelton were two of the four new doctors hired in 1995.   Dr. Ferrall joined us from the Navy.  Dr. Shelton had been working with Chapel Hill Pediatrics.  The practice partnered with Raleigh Pediatrics and North Raleigh Pediatrics in the Integrated Provider Network to better negotiate with managed care.  Four of our physicians opened Cornerstone Pediatrics near Prestonwood.   Dr. Wilson left to lead that office.   Barb Matthews came on board as our pediatric nurse practitioner in 1997.   Deliveries started up at WakeMed in Cary and we were there at all hours until the delivery team was started.  Dr. Smith in 2000 and Dr. Ferrall in 2005-06 served as chairman of the Department of Pediatrics. 

In 2001, Western Wake Pediatrics moved to a bigger office at 222 Ashville Avenue where Kaiser Permanente had been.  Many managed care networks were failing in the Triangle but the Integrated Provider Network obtained more financing and changed its name to Scott Medical Group.  Dr. Marchi Lopez-Linus joined the practice in 2002 from UNC.  He brought many talents including the ability to teach.  Currently, medical students from UNC and ECU are here every other week.  The mission of teaching fits with the philosophy of care at the practice.  We see every encounter as an opportunity to explain the medical basis for diagnosis and treatment and to share our knowledge and experience of child and adolescent development.  We invite questions and discussion as this is the best way for all of us to learn from the children that receive our care. 

Dr. Rozakis retired in 2004 and has not returned to practice.  The families that met her during the 15 years she provided care still miss her and ask about her.  She brings her children to the practice and stays interested and involved in its mission.  Bankruptcy eventually befell the management company we had contracted with from 1995 – 2004 and we were able to buy back our assets.  We discovered as had many physicians in similar situations that a medical practice needs to be run by medical people. Now we have moved just down Tryon Road a bit to our new location off Cary Parkway.  We welcome new patients.  Make us your medical home.