Following the trail to Richmond Hill
Pediatrician Goes Beyond Traditional Care

𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐮𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞
𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐱𝐢 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥

After completing his medical residency, Keith Seibert hiked the Appalachian Trail for six months. The trip offered him a chance to relax and decompress following a long matriculation, taking him from Maine to Georgia.

Seibert has remained in Georgia, but he’s getting his steps in a much smaller area—a medical office in Richmond Hill.

Dr. Seibert heads up the Pediatrics Department at SouthCoast Health. His special interests are allergies and school difficulties. Seibert’s patients range in age from 0 to 22. Seibert’s wife, Heather, is a pharmacist who works at the office three days a week. The couple has four children.

Seibert has worked for SouthCoast Health in Richmond Hill for 21 years. He’s had more than 100,000 patient visits and has watched many individuals grow from infants to adults.

“It’s a lot of fun watching my surrogate children grow up,” Seibert said. “I’ve established priceless relationships. We’re all going through a similar journey. There are lots of ups and downs. I’ve learned so much from my patients.”

𝐀 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡

Seibert has watched as technology has impacted the lives of children, carrying a number of negative effects. This includes poor sleeping and eating habits as the result of too much time in front of a screen —TV, computer and phone.

In response, Seibert and his wife have taken a more holistic treatment approach that goes beyond just dispensing prescription medications and they’ve applied to their own children as well.

“Heather and I are very passionate about moving some of the broken parts of healthcare and really focusing on preventative and nutritional ways of staying healthy,” Seibert said. “We’re also focusing on behavioral elements of health and how we sleep. Life balance is critical to people’s health.”

Seibert said a lot of families are struggling with the effects of too much screen time. Children as young as 2 years old fall into this category, he noted, and subsequently develop poor eating and sleeping habits, are often overweight, and have behavioral problems. A lot of it goes back to screen time.

“I talk to parents every day about limiting screen time,” Seibert said. “They’re receptive. I’m booked months in advance.”

Not everything can be cured by reducing screen time. Seibert recognizes that medications still play a role in treating his patients.

“We’re in support of complementary medicine,” Seibert said. “There are a lot of puzzle pieces that work together. We focus on personal nutrition and sleep evaluation with labs and dietary sleep plans.”

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥

Seibert’s road to Richmond Hill started in Turkey. His father was in the Air Force and stationed in Turkey. Seibert was a teenager when the family moved to Winder, Ga. He attended the University of Georgia and earned a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1995.

Seibert remained in Georgia, attending Emory University School of Medicine. His area of specialization was pediatrics.  “I could more effectively help and change the course of a life,” said Seibert, explaining
his choice.

After graduating from medical school in 1999, Seibert did his residency at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He completed it in 2002 and headed for the Appalachian Trail. “I hiked the Appalachian Trail for personal growth and developing skills of observation and appreciation,” Seibert explained.

Following the hike, Seibert joined the practice in Richmond Hill. He remained active and played in a Savannah softball league, where he met Heather. They’ve been married 13 years. She’s worked with him for seven years.

“It’s enriching working together,” said Seibert, noting his wife, despite being a pharmacist, shares his focus on complimentary medicine and the importance of nutrition. “We share a whole lot of common ground.”

Seibert said his children, ages 6, 8, 10 and 12, are not on antibiotics and he applies many of the same principles/treatments in raising them as he does with his patients. His approach has evolved out of both his professional and personal lives, he added.

𝐀𝐧 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞

Seibert’s resume’ is an impressive one that points to a wide range of experience and interests that has helped establish him as a preeminent pediatrician in Richmond Hill and the surrounding area.

Seibert's board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and was named Young Physician of the Year in 2014 by the Georgia Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics. Seibert belongs to a number of societies including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, Medical Association of Georgia, and the Georgia Medical Society. He also co-authored a book on baby care, served as physician-in-chief at the Dwayne & Cynthia Willet Children’s Hospital of Savannah and chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Memorial Health University Medical Center and St. Joseph’s-Candler Health Care System and is the founder/CEO of a company holding pending patents on two medical devices.

𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬

As much as Seibert enjoys being in Richmond Hill and providing quality healthcare, the families of his patients are likewise appreciative of the care he provides and how it’s positively impacted the lives of their children.

He’s received a 4.8 out of 5 rating from 1,470 patients. Comments go back some 10 years, reflecting Seibert’s longevity, compassion and quality care over an extended period.

In an online review posted in November, a parent said they loved Dr. Seibert. “He helped my firstborn get back on track after a terrible experience with a previous pediatrician and now both my kids see him. We drive one hour to see him. He’s very thoughtful and knowledgeable and will answer all questions and concerns. He won’t just prescribe your kids medicine for every little thing but does it only if it is really needed. Most importantly, both my kids love him and feel comfortable around him.”

Another parent, posting in August 2017, described Seibert as an amazing doctor for their children, adding he’s very kind, gentle and understanding. “His wife just joined the same practice and I was lucky enough to have a dual meeting with them regarding my son and his ADHD. I finally feel like we have a plan I understand and feel very confident in helping my son reach his full potential.”

A third parent was equally effusive of the care received at Seibert’s office in a September posting.

“Dr. Seibert was very professional, polite and hip with my boys. He talked to them as an adult friend, making them feel super comfortable. He made suggestions and advisement to ensure they continue to make smart decisions.”

Seibert traveled much during the early part of his life, starting out on the other side of the world and walking down the East Coast before settling in Richmond Hill. He’s found his niche and plans on helping more children get off to a good start in life.

“Watching children become healthy, grown adults is really a pleasure,” Seibert said.”It’s been a joy and I’m looking forward to do this for many years. I will continue to innovate. I want people to lead happy lives without a lot of medications.”