Meet the Doctors

Maren Bear, M.D., F.A.A.P.
Dr. Bear grew up in the Orlando, FL area. She received her BA from Luther College, and her Master's degree in Public Health from the University of Iowa. She received her MD from Saint Louis University in 2006. Dr. Bear completed internship and residency training at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in Saint Louis, MO. She worked in Saint Louis as a pediatric hospitalist and emergency department physician prior to joining Johns Creek Pediatrics. She moved to the area to live closer to her family in January of 2011. She is married, and has two young children. She enjoys reading, being active, and playing with her kids.

Jennifer R. Looby, MD, F.A.A.P
Dr. Looby grew up in the Columbus, Ohio area. She received her BS from the University of Notre Dame in 1993 and her MD from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio in 1997. She completed her residency at The Children’s Medical Center, now Dayton Childrens in 2000. Dr. Looby was in private practice with a large pediatric group in Ohio for nearly seven years before relocating to the north Atlanta area in March of 2007. She is married with three children. She enjoys gardening, cooking, decorating, and spending time with her family.


Harriette S. Perlstein, M.D., F.A.A.P.
Dr. Perlstein grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. She received her A.B. from Harvard University in 1978 and her M.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in 1982. Her pediatric residency training was completed at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio in 1985. Dr. Perlstein moved to Atlanta in 1988 and has been in pediatric practice in the north Atlanta area since then. In 1998, Dr. Perlstein joined Dr. Dewling in practice at The Emory Clinic and as Instructor in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University. She and Dr. Dewling founded Johns Creek Pediatrics in 2001. Dr. Perlstein has had the privilege of seeing many of her patients from birth through high school graduation. Dr. Perlstein serves on the board for The Childrens Health Network. She is married and has two sons, one in college and one in high school. She enjoys tennis, swimming and music.

Karen B. Dewling, M.D., F.A.A.P.
Dr. Dewling grew up in the Baltimore, MD area. She received her M.D. from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1990. Dr. Dewling completed internship and residency training at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1993. After four years in practice in Maryland, she relocated to Georgia in 1997 to serve as Chief of the Section of Pediatrics, The Emory Clinic and as Instructor in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University. In 2001, she and Dr. Perlstein started Johns Creek Pediatrics, P.C. Dr. Dewling was named one of Atlanta's Top Doctors in the July 2007 issue of Atlanta Magazine. Dr. Dewling has appeared on numerous health information spots on news programs nationwide. She also appears on CNN’s Accent Health, a health news program shown in physicians’ offices. Dr. Dewling is married and has two teenage children. She enjoys reading, yoga, horseback riding and spending time with her family.



Michelle Goldklang, Nurse Practitioner
Johns Creek Pediatrics welcomes Nurse Practitioner Michelle Goldklang to our practice.  Michelle grew up in the Chicago area where she received her degree in nursing from Harper College.  After working as a critical care nurse for five years, she completed her Masters of Science/ Family Nurse Practitioner degree at Georgia State University in 2007. Michelle has two young children and enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends. Michelle will be available this winter for same-day sick appointments, working under the supervision of the Johns Creek Pediatrics doctors, to ensure prompt care in your pediatrician’s office.