Atlanta Allergy & Asthma News

Eight Atlanta Allergy & Asthma Physicians Receive Top Doctors Honors in Atlanta

Updated on Friday, June 18, 2021

Physicians/nurse practitioners mentioned in this post: David D. Tanner, MD Kathleen A. Sheerin, MD Kevin L. Schaffer, MD Keith I. Lenchner, MD Lily G. Hwang, MD Erinn T. Gardner, MD Stanley M. Fineman, MD

Eight physicians from Atlanta Allergy & Asthma — the largest allergy practice in Georgia — rank among metro Atlanta’s Top Doctors in Atlanta magazine’s July issue.

Those physicians are: Drs. Stanley M. Fineman, Erinn T. Gardner, Linda D. Guydon, Lily G. Hwang, Keith I. Lenchner, Kevin L. Schaffer, Kathleen A. Sheerin, and David D. Tanner. Atlanta Allergy & Asthma is no stranger to the accolade, having had multiple physicians on the Top Doctors list since its inception. Nearly half of the recipients in the allergy/immunology category come from this one practice.

In addition to Atlanta magazine’s Top Doctors honors, Castle Connolly recognizes Dr. David Carlton of Atlanta Allergy & Asthma’s Rome office as a 2021 Regional Top Doctor.

Atlanta magazine uses a database of top doctors compiled by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., an established healthcare research company based in New York, to assist in its annual effort. Doctors are nominated for consideration through both a nationwide survey and a peer nomination process. Castle Connolly’s physician-led team of researchers then select the Top Doctors through a rigorous screening process that includes an evaluation of educational and professional experience. This year the publication honors physicians representing the following counties: DeKalb, Fulton, Cobb, Clayton, Gwinnett, Carroll, Cherokee, Coweta, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Hall, Henry, and Rockdale.

Dr. Tanner, who serves as Medical Director for the practice, says he remains grateful to see many of Atlanta Allergy & Asthma board-certified allergy specialists annually recognized as Top Doctors.

“In the changing landscape of healthcare today, our focus remains on providing the best quality of care to our patients along with our caring and competent staff. Fulfilling that mission takes intense dedication. Receiving an acknowledgement such as this gives us the opportunity to pause for a moment and realize our efforts have been recognized.”
David D. Tanner, MD

Top Doctor Honors of 2021

Stanley M. Fineman, MD

Dr. Stanley M. Fineman practices at Atlanta Allergy & Asthma’s East Cobb and Kennestone offices. Dr. Fineman has been in private allergy practice for more than 40 years. After earning his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine, Dr. Fineman completed his internship and residency in pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati. Additionally, Dr. Fineman completed his fellowship in allergy and immunology at Harvard University School of Medicine. Dr. Fineman is board certified by the American Board of Allergy & Immunology. He is a fellow in the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. He has held leadership positions with several national and international allergy organizations. Dr. Fineman also earned an MBA from Kennesaw State University and is a frequent lecturer at regional, national, and international medical meetings. Dr. Fineman is a multi-year recipient of Top Doctor honors, appearing on the list since 2010.

Erinn T. Gardner, MD

Dr. Erinn T. Gardner practices at Atlanta Allergy & Asthma’s Canton and Douglasville offices. After earning her bachelor's degree from Spelman College, Dr. Gardner received her medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. She completed her residency in internal medicine at Northwestern University and her fellowship in allergy and immunology at Northwestern University and Northwestern University Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Dr. Gardner is board certified by the American Board of Allergy & Immunology and is a member of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, and the Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Society of Georgia. Her special interests include the management of chronic cough, asthma, and allergic rhinitis. Dr. Gardner is a multi-year recipient of Top Doctor honors.

Linda D. Guydon, MD

Dr. Linda D. Guydon practices at Atlanta Allergy & Asthma’s Johns Creek and Northlake offices. After earning her bachelor’s degree from Mercer University, Dr. Guydon earned her medical degree from Harvard Medical School. Additionally, Dr. Guydon completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at Boston City Hospital. Dr. Guydon is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Allergy & Immunology. She is a member of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology, and her specialty areas include the management of asthma and sinus diseases. Dr. Guydon is a multi-year recipient of Top Doctor honors, appearing on the list since 2010.

Lily G. Hwang, MD

Dr. Lily G. Hwang practices at Atlanta Allergy & Asthma’s Alpharetta and Lawrenceville offices. She received her medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine. Dr. Hwang completed her internal medicine/pediatrics residency and women’s health certification at the Michigan State University/Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies. Additionally, she completed her internal medicine and pediatric chief residency also at the Michigan State University/Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies. Dr. Hwang did her allergy and immunology fellowship at Rush University Medical Center/John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital. She is board certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, American Board of Internal Medicine, and American Board of Pediatrics. She recently received board certification in Lifestyle Medicine by the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. Dr. Hwang’s professional affiliations include the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology; American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology; Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology; Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Society of Georgia; American College of Physicians; and American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Hwang has received Top Doctor honors for multiple years.

Keith I. Lenchner, MD

Dr. Keith I. Lenchner practices at Atlanta Allergy & Asthma’s Buckhead and Stockbridge offices. He received his undergraduate degree in biology from Harvard University and completed his medical degree at the University of Chicago. Dr. Lenchner completed his internal medicine residency and his allergy fellowship at Northwestern University. As a fellow and practicing allergist, Dr. Lenchner has published multiple papers and is a member of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, and the Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Society of Georgia. He has been a Top Doctor recipient for multiple years.

Kevin L. Schaffer, MD

Dr. Kevin L. Schaffer practices at Atlanta Allergy & Asthma’s Sandy Springs and Snellville offices. Dr. Schaffer received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Memphis and earned his medical degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency in pediatrics at Stanford University, where he also received his specialty training in allergy and immunology. Dr. Schaffer is board certified by the American Board of Allergy & Immunology and participates in their Maintenance of Certification program, most recently receiving recertification in 2013. He also is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. Dr. Schaffer is a fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. He is a past president of the Georgia Society of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Dr. Schaffer has been actively involved in clinical research, serving as principal investigator of numerous trials and has published articles in medical journals. Dr. Schaffer is a multi-year recipient of Top Doctor honors.

Kathleen A. Sheerin, MD

Dr. Kathleen A. Sheerin practices at Atlanta Allergy & Asthma’s Lawrenceville and Sandy Springs offices. Dr. Sheerin received her bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts and her medical degree from Duke University. She completed her residency at Texas Children’s Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine, where she also spent a year completing a fellowship program in pediatric rheumatology. Dr. Sheerin also completed a three-year fellowship in allergy and immunology at Duke University. She is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Allergy & Immunology. She is a fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Sheerin specializes in food allergy and anaphylaxis. Dr. Sheerin is a multi-year recipient of Top Doctor honors, remarkably appearing on the list 15 times and consecutively since 2009.

David D. Tanner, MD

Dr. David D. Tanner practices at Atlanta Allergy & Asthma’s Buckhead and Johns Creek offices. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Georgia, Dr. Tanner received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University. He completed his internship and residency at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, an affiliate of Washington University. Dr. Tanner became the chief resident of St. Louis Children’s Hospital while completing a fellowship in ambulatory pediatrics. He completed another fellowship in allergy, asthma, and immunology at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Tanner is certified by the American Board of Allergy & Immunology and the American Board of Pediatrics. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Dr. Tanner serves as Chief Medical Officer for Atlanta Allergy & Asthma and has received this honor every year since 2010.


2021 Castle Connolly Regional Top Doctor

David W. Carlton, MD

Dr. David W. Carlton, who practices at Atlanta Allergy & Asthma’s Rome office, earned his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia. He then practiced as a staff internist at the Naval Hospital in Pensacola, Florida for three years before completing his fellowship in allergy and immunology at the Wilford Hall Medical Center on Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He returned to the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia, where he served as chief of allergy and immunology for two years. He left the U.S. Navy after 10 years of service, including a deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Dr. Carlton is board certified by the American Board of Allergy & Immunology and the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is a member of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and the American College of Physicians. Dr. Carlton has a special interest in the medical management of sinusitis and treatment of venom hypersensitivity. Dr. Carlton has been recognized each year since 2013.


Atlanta Allergy & Asthma, the largest allergy practice in Georgia, has been the premier provider of quality care and research in the field of allergies, asthma, and immunology for 50 years. The practice’s board-certified allergists and specially trained advanced practitioners are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of allergic, asthmatic, and immunologic diseases. Atlanta Allergy & Asthma is the only National Allergy Bureau-certified pollen counting station in the Atlanta area. Go to AtlantaAllergy.com for daily updates.

Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., was acquired by Everyday Health Group (EHG), one of the world’s most prominent digital healthcare companies, in late 2018. EHG, a recognized leader in patient and provider education, attracts an engaged audience of more than 53 million health consumers and more than 780,000 U.S. practicing physicians and clinicians to its premier health and wellness websites. EHG combines social listening data and analytics expertise to deliver highly personalized healthcare consumer content and effective patient engagement solutions. EHG’s vision is to drive better clinical and health outcomes through decision-making informed by highly relevant data and analytics. Healthcare professionals and consumers are empowered with trusted content and services through the Everyday Health Group’s flagship brands including Everyday Health®, What to Expect®, MedPage Today®, Health eCareers®, PRIME® Education and its exclusive partnership with MayoClinic.org® and The Mayo Clinic Diet.® Everyday Health Group is a division of J2 Global Inc. (NASDAQ: JCOM), and is headquartered in New York City.