The Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics has named Dr. Sylvia Washington, a pediatrician with Floyd Primary Care, as its Young Physician of the Year for 2019.

This annual award is given to a chapter member under the age of 40 who has made an outstanding contribution in pediatrics, including research, improving access to care, developing model programs for care, service to the Chapter or child advocacy.

“Dr. Washington is a very caring and compassionate physician who has brought innovative ideas into her practice. She works diligently to take care of her patients while also caring for her own family by maintaining a balanced approach to her calling of medicine," said Al Davis, Administrator of the Floyd Primary Care Network. 

Dr. Washington graduated from Howard University in Washington, D.C., with a Bachelor of Science in biology. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Medical School, now Rutgers University Medical School, in Newark, New Jersey. She completed an internship and her pediatrics residency at Mercer University's Medical Center of Central Georgia, now Beverly Knight Olson Children's Hospital, in Macon.

Dr. Washington has served as the local site director for the Reach Out and Read Program since completing her residency. She gives all her patients a book at each health checkup from age 6 months to 5 years. She has also served as a missionary physician in Nalerigu, Ghana, and is a board member of the George Faile Foundation, which supports the hospital there. For the past two years, Dr. Washington has served the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics as the Chair of the Section on Early Career Physicians. She has written articles for The Georgia Pediatrician and gave a lecture at the Pediatrics by the Sea Conference on “Work-Life Balance."

She was named Physician of the Year for Floyd in 2018, and in May 2019, she was named one of Rome Life's Twenty Under Forty.

​Dr. Washington cares for patients from newborn through age 18 in her office at 1501 Shorter Ave. in Rome. To make an appointment, call 706.295.5103.