Staff
Dr. Eehab Kenawy, M.D., F.A.A.P.
Board Certified Pediatrician
Dr. Kenawy has practiced pediatrics in Panama City at his office at Emerald Coast Pediatrics since 2003. He is a doctor that works closely with his patients and staff to ensure that the well being of each child is taken care of to their best ability.
Dr. Kenawy was trained in Pediatrics at Columbia University as well as extensive Asthma & Lung disease training and RSV research at the University of Miami. Dr. Kenawy was chosen as the Best Junior as well as the Best Senior Resident in his class during his training. He has served as the Chief of Pediatrics as well as the Chief of Quality Assurance (Pediatrics Division) at Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center.
Dr. Kenawy served as Chief of Medical Staff and was on the Board of Directors for Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center from 2017-2019.
Board Certified in General Pediatrics, he is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as the American Medical Association.
Dr. Kenawy was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and is a long time resident of Panama City, FL, graduating from Rutherford High School. He is fluent in Spanish and Arabic, enjoys soccer, racquetball, table tennis, and travel in his spare time. Dr. Kenawy and his wife are proud parents of 4 children.
Dr. Yaslam Balfaqih, M.D. F.A.A.P. (Dr. Bell)
Board Certified Pediatrician
Dr. Balfaqih has moved to Panama City and started practicing in 2019. He enjoys providing the best care to all pediatric age groups, newborns through adolescence.
Dr. Balfaqih completed his college and medical school education at Jordan University of Science and Technology. He subsequently did his Pediatric training in Jordan and Qatar prior to moving to the United States and joining Marshall University- Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine – GME/Pediatrics. Throughout these years, he received several recognitions for his exceptional clinical performance, in addition to his active participation in research and quality improvement with several publications.
While enjoying it all, Dr. Balfaqih is interested more in ambulatory pediatrics. He always says “Pediatric rotation was the one that harmonized the most with my views about medicine. There has always been the urge to help, educate and nurture. Moreover, the pediatrician tends to follow the child through all phases of development over a significant time interval; each milestone developed is an achievement for both parties concerned.”
Dr. Balfaqih serves as the Vice-Chair, Department of Pediatrics at Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center. He’s also a Clinical Faculty for the medical students of Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Dr. Balfaqih is Board-Certified in General Pediatrics, he is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the American Medical Association.
From Dr. Balfaqih – “My wife and I are the proud parents of two boys; whom I enjoy spending time with during my leisure. We love this part of the country for several reasons, including the nice people, beaches, food, and much more. I like to travel, be on or near the water, and enjoy all sorts of outdoor activities.”
Allison davis, M.D., F.A.A.P
Board Certified Pediatrician
Dr. Allison Davis is a native of the Florida Panhandle. She received her Associate in Arts Degree from Chipola College. She then graduated Summa Cum Laude from Florida State University with a Bachelors of Science degree. She received her medical Doctorate degree from the Florida State University College of Medicine.
While in medical school, Dr. Davis was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and the Alpha Omega Alpha Society. She completed her training at the University of Alabama Pediatric Residency Program in Birmingham, AL before returning to the panhandle to serve her home community and join the Emerald Coast Pediatrics team.
Board certified in general pediatrics, she is an active member of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. Davis met her husband in medical school at FSU and introduced him to the charm of the Florida Panhandle. Her husband in now a practicing dermatologist in the area. They live in Panama City with their son and dog. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Her hobbies include going to the beach, hiking, cooking and gardening.
Beverly Crawford Chandler, MSN, ARNP
Pediatric Nurse Practitoner
Beverly is a native of the Florida Panhandle. She received her Associates Degree in Nursing from Geroge Wallace College in Dothan, Alabama and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Troy State University in 1996. She has worked as a Registered Pediatric Nurse with the Dothan Pediatrics and with Southeast Alabama Medical Center.
While pursuing her Masters of Science in Nursing with the University of South Alabama, Beverly was employed with Chipola College as a Pediatric Nursing Instructor.
Prior to joining Emerald Coast Pediatrics in 2008, Beverly worked as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with Marianna Pediatrics in Marianna, Florida.
Beverly is an active member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurses and Nurse Practitioners.
Beverly is a mother of three sons. She and her husband enjoy spending time with friends and family at the “worlds most beautiful beaches”. They enjoy traveling and Florida Sate “Seminole” football.
Kara B. Turner, MSN, APRN-C
Kara, a native of New Orleans, received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa in 2000. Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, she moved to Birmingham, AL. Kara was employed as a Registered Nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at UAB Hospital for 5 years while pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
She is board certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PCNB) and an active member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurses and Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP).
Prior to joining Emerald Coast Pediatrics in 2011, she worked as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Alexander City, AL for 6 years.
Kara lives in Panama City Beach with her husband, daughter, and 2 dogs. They enjoy the beach, travels, music, the arts, and Alabama football.
Kayla Harless, APRN-C
Kayla is a native of Panama City, FL who received both her Associate and Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing at Gulf Coast State College. Kayla pursued her Master’s of Science in Nursing at Chamberlain University, graduating in October 2019. While completing her undergraduate and graduate programs, Kayla worked as a Registered Nurse at Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center on Women and Children’s services specializing in Newborn Nursery on Labor & Delivery and Mother/Baby units for 5 years until March 2021.
Kayla is board certified through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Certification Board.
In her free time, Kayla enjoys beach days, exploring new places through travel, experimenting with unique foods, all amusement parks, and lazy days spent with her chihuahua, Laney.
Joining the Emerald Coast Pediatrics family in December of 2019, Kayla was able to begin her practice as a nurse practitioner in her chosen field of choice, Pediatrics. Having worked alongside children for most of her life, Kayla is eager to be a contributing part of your child’s health, wellness, and developmental growth over the upcoming years!
Karlie Martin, APRN-C
Karlie, a native of the Florida Panhandle, started her nursing career in 2013 after earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Troy University. She worked as a Registered Nurse at Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center, caring for both adult and pediatric patients in the hospital’s differing intensive care units. In 2015 she started her pursuit of her Master of Science in Nursing, returning to Troy University.
Upon completion of her graduate degree in 2017, Karlie became board certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She is an active member of AANP and is licensed by the state of Florida. Prior to joining the Emerald Coast Pediatrics team in 2021, she was employed at a local family clinic for three years.
Outside of medicine, Karlie loves to spend time with her family, her husband and two children. She enjoys exploring the beaches of the Emerald Coast, stand up paddle boarding, being outdoors, and shopping trips to Target.
Amber scruggs, aprn, Pnp-c
Amber, a native of Panama City Florida, discovered her passion for pediatrics as a teenager working with medically fragile and special
needs children. She received both her Associates and Bachelors in nursing from Gulf Coast State College. In 2016, she began
working as a nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit with additional training in pediatric sedation and neonatal nursing. In 2021 she
completed her Masters degree in Pediatric Primary care with Sigma Theta Tau honors at the University of South Alabama.
Amber is board certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PCNB) and a member of the National Association of Pediatric
Nurses and Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP).
In addition to her admiration for pediatric medicine, community outreach and abuse prevention, she is passionate about spending time
with her husband and two children.