Our Clinicians & Staff

	Dr. Charles O. Harris Undergraduate Degree: AB, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Medical School Attended: MD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Medicine Residency: Duke University Medical Center Board Certification Date: Board Certified Dr. Harris has been practicing locally since 1983. He has served as chief of staff and chairman of the Ob/Gyn Department at Durham Regional Hospital. He and his wife, Dr. Diane Scott, have two sons. Charles O. Harris, MD,FACOG is a member of the following medical societies: Fellow, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists North Carolina Medical Society Durham Orange Medical Society Old North State Medical Society Durham Academy of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy Carter Society NMA
	Dr. Ira Q. Smith Undergraduate Degree: BS, magna cum laude, North Carolina Central University Medical School Attended: MD, Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University Board Certification Date: Board Certified Dr. Smith has been practicing locally since 1983. He is married and has three children. Ira Q. Smith, MD, FACOG is a member of the following medical societies: Fellow, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists North Carolina Obstetrics and Gynecology Society
	Dr. Avis Artis Undergraduate Degree: BS, summa cum laude, North Carolina Central University Medical School Attended: MD, Duke University School of Medicine Residency: West Virginia University Medical Center Board Certification Date: Board Certified Dr. Artis has been practicing locally since 1989. During her residency at West Virginia University Medical Center, she was awarded the prestigious Dean's Prize in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Avis A. Artis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association American Fertility Society North Carolina Medical Society Fellow, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology North Carolina Obstetrics and Gynecology Society American Reproductive Society
	Dr. Katrina Avery Undergraduate Degree: BS, Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Medical School Attended: MD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Public Health Residency: Medical College of Georgia Board Certification Date: Board Certified Dr. Avery joined Harris and Smith Ob/Gyn in August of 1996. She and her husband, Elbert, have a son, Jonathan. Katrina Howard Avery, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Fellow, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists American Medical Association North Carolina Medical Society
	Dr. Mina Choi Undergraduate Degree: BS, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Medical School Attended: MD, School of Medicine, Duke University Residency: University of Texas, San Antonio, Texas Board Certification Date: Board Certified Dr. Choi has been practicing locally since 1995. She joined the practice in 2000. She served as Department Chief of the Ob/Gyn Durham area for the Carolina Premier Medical Group prior to joining our practice. Dr. Choi was born and raised in Chapel Hill, NC. Mina N. Choi has been a member of the following medical societies: Junior Fellow, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists Fellow, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) American Medical Student Association Texas Medical Association Southern Medical Association
	Dr. Stacey Heath Undergraduate Degree: BS, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC Medical School Attended: MD, School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC Residency: Sinai Hospital, Baltimore, MD Board Certification Date: Board Certified Dr. Heath has been practicing since 1992. He joins our practice after serving as an Assistant Professor in the OB-GYN department at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia since 1996. Dr. Heath was selected Teacher of the Year in 1998-1999. He has been a member of the following professional associations: Junior Fellow, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists Fellow, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists North Carolina Medical Society Georgia Medical Society
	Georgina Keene, PA-C Undergraduate Degree: B.A. Human Biology with Concentration in Preventive Medicine and Health Care Administration, Stanford University B.S. Health Sciences, Duke University, Summa Cum Laude Graduate Degree: Master of Health Sciences, Duke University Physician Assistant Program, Duke University School of Medicine Originally raised in the bordertowns of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas, Georgina Fierro Keene has settled in North Carolina with her family. Georgina has practiced at Harris & Smith Ob/Gyn since 1991 and has enjoyed establishing long-term patient relationships, as well as participating in the growth of the practice. She has particular interests in women’s health promotion, contraception and preconception counseling, sexually transmitted infections, cervical cancer prevention, and colposcopy. Fluent in Spanish, Georgina enjoys caring for Spanish-speaking women. She is married to Michael Keene who is also a practicing PA. They have a beautiful daughter, Alexandra. Horseback riding, jewelry design, and reading are some of her other passions. She is a member of the following societies: Board Certified Physician Assistant, NCCPA Educational Affiliate, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology Member, American Academy of Physician Assistants Medical Clinic Director, Pregnancy Support Services of Durham and Chapel Hill
	Heather Vawter, PA-C Heather is a 1997 graduate of the St. Francis College (Pennsylvania) Physician Assistant program. Before joining Harris and Smith in 2001 she practiced in a maternity clinic in rural North Carolina. Following that experience Heather moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts and worked for Harvard Vanguard Medical Group in the Greater Boston area. In 2001, she returned home to North Carolina and settled in Chapel Hill. In addition to her clinical work she also teaches Prepared Childbirth classes and has training and experience as a Doula. Heather has a special interest in helping women achieve natural childbirth. She is married to Chad Vawter and has three children. Board Certified Physician Assistant, NCCPA Fellow, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology member, North Carolina Medical Society member, North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants member, American Academy of Physician Assistants
	Lena Kruth, RN, MS, WHNP-BC Undergraduate Degree: BA, University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA Graduate Degree: BS, MS, Nursing Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA Lena is a Women's Health Nurse practitioner. She joined Harris and Smith in 2007 after working in non-profit and private practices in Richmond, VA. Lena is passionate about providing comprehensive women's healthcare across the reproductive lifespan. She is enjoying living in Durham with her husband and exploring all of the wonderful activities the Triangle has to offer. Certification: WHNP, National Certification Corporation National Honor Societies: Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Theta Tau International Scholarships: Nurses' Educational Funds Scholarship Member: North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants, North Carolina Nurses Association
	Amanda O’Briant, WHNP Undergraduate Degree(s): 1997 B.A. Women’s Studies, UNC-CH, With Highest Honors and Highest Distinction; 2002 Bachelor of Science, Nursing, VCU Graduate Degree: 2004 Master of Science, Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University Amanda O'Briant has been a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner since 2004 and joined Harris and Smith in 2008. After graduating with her Masters’, Amanda worked in ob/gyn practice in Richmond VA, and then returned to her native NC to work at the Women’s Birth and Wellness Center, in Chapel Hill, a not-for-profit freestanding birth center. Amanda has an interest in helping all women enjoy good health throughout their lifespan and during pregnancy. Some areas of her special interest are weight reduction and motivation, breastfeeding success, childbirth preparation, chronic vaginitis/vulvitis, fertility promotion, and tailored contraceptive consultation. Amanda lives in Durham with her spouse and has two children. When she is not at work, you can find her out running, or in her backyard with her children, tending (and eating ) tomatoes. National Honor societies: 2002 Sigma Theta Tau, 1997 Phi Beta Kappa Member: National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health National Certification: Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, National Certification Corporation
Our Staff
	Sue Powell, Practice Manager
	Linda Peacock, RN, Nurse Manager
	Valerie Kelly, CPC, Business Office/Billing Supervisor
	Carolyn Taylor, Lab/Health Information Supervisor

Harris & Smith OBGYN is proud to serve Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, Apex, Morrisville, Clayton, Wake Forest, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Greensboro, Hillsborough, Mebane, Roxboro and surrounding areas.

"The physicians and staff at Harris & Smith Ob-Gyn have provided me with routine care for years, but they have also taken care of me through some difficult health issues. It is such a comfort to have people that I know care about me provding me with the care I need. I'm very thankful for my doctor and for the staff."

Dr. Charles O. Harris

Dr. Ira Q. Smith

Dr. Avis Artis

Dr. Katrina Avery

Dr. Mina Choi

Dr. Stacey Heath

Georgina Keene, PA-C

Heather Vawter, PA-C

Lena Kruth, RN, MS, WHNP-BC

Amanda O’Briant, WHNP

Our Staff

Sue Powell, Practice Manager

Linda Peacock, RN, Nurse Manager

Valerie Kelly, CPC, Business Office/Billing Supervisor

Carolyn Taylor, Lab/Health Information Supervisor