Meet Our Physicians
Our Physicians are Pediatric Specialists who have completed additional training beyond medical school to become experts in the field of Pediatrics. This training allows us to provide the most up-to-date and thorough medical care for your child. Our Physicians stay up-to-date with the latest training. We understand your child is unique and has specific needs."
Dr. Harrington completed her medical degree at St. George University School of Medicine. She served her residency at Winthrop University Hospital in New York. Dr. Harrington has been in practice in Richmond since 1999. Dr. Harrington is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Her specialties include treating children with asthma and allergies and behavioral issues. She also enjoys performing office procedures. Dr. Harrington is a mother of four children, including a set of twins. In her spare time she enjoys skiing, water sports, including sailing, swimming and fishing and likes to travel with her family.
Dr. Little completed her medical degree at George Washington University and served her residency at Thomas Jefferson University/Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children. Dr. Little is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She specializes in newborn education, asthma and allergy and vegetarian education. Outside of work, Dr. Little’s hobbies are cooking, photography, and traveling.
Dr. Ahmed completed her medical degree at Dhaka Medical College in Bangladesh and is board certified in Pediatrics. Dr. Ahmed earned her residency at University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Texas from 1993 to 1996. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Ahmed was employed with the University of Illinois as an Assistant Professor in Pediatrics from 2001 to 2005. She worked at Prompt Care (similar to Patient First) and has worked at Chesterfield Pediatrics since 2005. Dr. Ahmed enjoys working with and educating new parents. In her spare time she enjoys gardening and spending time with her husband and two sons.
Meet our Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistant:
On staff we have Jessica Wester, Dana Kleinschuster, and Debbie Harris, Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (CPNPs). A Nurse Practitioner is a Registered Nurse who has additional training in a specialty area such as Pediatrics or Family Practice. A Physician Assistant is a licensed health care professional who practices medicine with a physician’s supervision.
Jessica Wester, C.P.N.P., completed her nursing education at Virginia Commonwealth University. She has a Masters Degree in Child Health Nursing and is a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She is also a member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. Jessica enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
Brandon Hightower hails from Plano, Texas and moved to Richmond at age 15. In 2005 he attained a Bachelors degree in Athletic Training from East Carolina University. A lover of football and basketball, Brandon enjoyed working for two years as an Athletic trainer for Virginia State University. After hearing of a program at Duke University for becoming a Physician Assistant, Brandon applied and was accepted into the program. Brandon earned his Masters degree in August 2009 from Duke University and joined Chesterfield Pediatrics in September 2009.Becoming a father was a primary reason Mr. Hightower chose Chesterfield Pediatrics.
Dana received her degree from the University of Richmond. She then attended Medical College of Virginia where she earned a Masters in Nursing. She is certified as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and has worked part time at Chesterfield Pediatrics since 1996. In the Richmond community, Dana has taught many classes focused on equipping expecting parents, nurturing healthy children, and ultimately strengthening families. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four kids, being active in her church, and serving on the board of a local adoption agency.
In addition to our Nurse Practitioners, we employ Licensed Nurses who have a complex role in the care of your child. Our Nurses have an in-depth understanding of our physicians and efficiently administer their orders. They often assume the role of educator by helping parents understand medications, symptoms, and methods of proper care.
We also have a Certified Lactation Consultant on site to help with breastfeeding needs.
Diann Aardema, BSN, RN, IBCLC, graduated from MCV School of Nursing and has worked in pediatrics for over 30 years. She has been with Chesterfield Pediatrics from the beginning in 1997. Diann has been a Certified Lactation Consultant for 18 years. Besides helping parents raise healthy children, Diann is an avid reader and active worker in her church.
