Pediatrician Staff

Meet our friendly, experienced pediatricians and staff at Pediatric Associates of Auburn! Our entire team is dedicated to helping you and your child feel at home from the moment your walk through the door. We're proud to be members of the Auburn community and serve the needs of their children.

We pride ourselves in being an exceptional clinic where children come first. Our child-focused practice works hard to meet the needs of children from infancy through adolescence. Compassionate, knowledgeable and supportive staff is the cornerstone of Name of Pediatric Associates of Auburn's quality care. All of our pediatricians and medical staff are highly trained professionals, and maintain the highest level of accreditation in pediatrics to address the special needs of infants, children, and teens.

We strive to treat each and every patient as we would want our own children to be treated. Our doctors and staff look forward to building a relationship with you and your family.
 

Dr. Richard Freeman

Dr. Freeman grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, and graduated from North Carolina State University where he received a B.S. in Physics and Mathematics. Subsequently, he was employed as an Aerospace Environmental Engineer in Tullahoma, Tennessee by ARO, Inc. Later, he began medical school at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC. Dr. Freeman then completed his post-graduate medical education at Children’s Hospital, University of Alabama Hospitals and Clinics in Birmingham. After completion of training in Birmingham, he served as a medical officer at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, Department of Pediatrics. He then came to Auburn after leaving the Navy and established the current practice, which has been here for over 30 years. Dr. Freeman has served as Vice-President and Secretary- Treasurer of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama. Additionally, he completed nine years on the Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners. Dr. Freeman has served on the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Board of Directors.

Dr. Freeman is also a designated medical examiner for the Federal Aviation Administration. He holds a commercial pilot certificate and was also a part-time flight instructor for Auburn University.

Dr. Freeman and his wife, Sherry Spann Freeman, live in Opelika, Alabama and have six grandchildren to enjoy. When not working, he and Sherry enjoy visiting grandchildren and traveling. Additionally, he enjoys photography and brewing coffee.

He is board certified and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. 
 

Dr. Ellen Royal

Dr. Ellen Royal is a native of Alabama.  She grew up in Birmingham, received her undergraduate degree in English and Chemistry from Emory University, then returned to Alabama to attend the University of South Alabama for her medical degree. After graduating from medical school, she attended the Medical University of South Carolina pediatric residency program. She stayed in Charleston four years, then returned once again to Alabama the summer of 1998 to join the pediatric practice of Dr. Richard Freeman. She is a board certified Pediatrician.

Dr. Ellen Royal is married to Dr. Kevin Royal who practices internal medicine in Opelika. They have three children: Emma, Patrick and Ben. They live in Opelika and are active members of First United Methodist Church or Opelika.

In her free time, Dr. Royal enjoys spending time with her family.  She also enjoys running, reading  and traveling. She is a member of Lee County Medical Society, MASA, and the AAP. She is on active staff at East Alabama Medical Center.
 
 

Dr. Rian Anglin

Dr. Rian Anglin, a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, was born and raised in nearby Valley, AL. She attended Auburn University were she graduated summa cum laude with a BS in Molecular Biology.  Despite her strong allegiance to Auburn, Dr. Anglin graduated from the University Of Alabama School Of Medicine in 2007 with her MD.  She then journeyed halfway across the US to complete residency at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO in 2010.  Since that time, she has been in private practice.  Dr. Anglin’s passions in practice include promoting early childhood literacy, reducing toxic stress in childhood, and improving the practice of pediatric medicine through office-based research.   She currently serves as the young physician liaison to the Pediatric Research in the Office Setting (PROS) steering committee.  She is also the medical director for WE CARE Alabama, a screening and intervention program for unmet social needs.

Dr. Anglin is married to her high school sweetheart, Paul Anglin.   She is delighted to reside in Auburn with her husband and their two sons, Ethan and Emmett.  Dr. Anglin enjoys playing superheroes and transformers with her boys, tap dancing, and curling up with a good book.  
 

Dr. Katie Wolter

Dr. Katie Wolter grew up in Titusville, FL. She obtained an undergraduate degree in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Florida in 2005. She then went on to complete medical school at Florida State University in 2010. She completed her intern year in Pediatrics at the University of Florida Shands in Gainesville, FL in 2011. She then completed her residency in Pediatrics at Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital in Orlando, FL in 2013. She was also associate chief resident in 2013. Dr. Wolter was the AAP delegate for her residency program in her first and third years of residency. She is board certified in Pediatrics and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Lee County Medical Society, Medical Association of the State of Alabama, and the American Medical Association.

She is married to her husband, Jeremy, and has six sons, Jude, Liam, Miles, Oliver, Pax, and Clive.  Dr. Wolter and her family moved to Auburn, AL when her husband became a marketing professor at Auburn University. She is passionate about breastfeeding medicine and is currently working on becoming an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant). She is a member of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. Dr. Wolter and her husband are active members at Embrace Church. She loves to spend her free time outdoors with her family and friends. 

Dr. Heidi VanderVelde                                                                               

Dr. Heidi VanderVelde grew up in St. Petersburg, FL. She attended the University of South Florida where she studied both biomedical sciences and literature, ultimately receiving her B.A. in English Literature and Writing.  She was an editor, writer, and English tutor for several years before she attended medical school at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Carolinas Campus.  Dr. VanderVelde was in the first VCOM class that rotated through EAMC, and her pediatrics rotation was with Dr. Freeman, where she fell in love with pediatrics and the clinic.  She completed her residency at University of Florida at Jacksonville where she also served as chief resident in her senior year.  She has many interests in pediatrics, but is particularly passionate about narrative medicine and has presented on the stories of children with chronic medical conditions. She is also passionate about medical education.  She is a member of the AAP.  

 

Dr. VanderVelde is married to Dr. Grant Nelson, who is a hospitalist at EAMC and an Auburn graduate.   They have one son.  She loves to hike, especially in the Blue Ridge Mountains, loves to read and write poetry and fiction, practice yoga, and play the violin.  She also enjoys spending time with her three rescue dogs, Lady, Gent, and Jack.