Dr. Ritu Chandra

Dr. Chandra is the founder of Preferred Medical Group. In 2007 she started Phenix City Children’s in Phenix City, AL.

Dr. Chandra grew up in India, her father being a senior officer in the Indian Army and her mother a homemaker and national level swimmer. She went to medical school at one of the top five medical schools in India and graduated as a medical doctor at the age of 21 years. She was simultaneously commissioned as a medical officer in the Indian army. In 1993, she was awarded the Chief of Army Staff Commendation, which goes to only a handful of men and women in uniform.

Dr. Chandra completed her residency in pediatrics at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and at Nassau University Medical Center in Long Island, New York. She is board-certified in pediatrics, and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

In addition to her pediatric practice, Dr. Chandra is an assistant clinical professor at Mercer University School of Medicine and Georgia Health Sciences University. She is also faculty for training Physician Assistant students from University of Alabama in Birmingham and from University of South Alabama in Mobile. She has hospital privileges at the The Midtown Medical Center in Columbus and at the Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital in Phenix City.

Her special areas of interest are in newborn care, asthma, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, anxiety and school related problems. Besides her role as a pediatrician, she is an advocate for the children in our community and she stays actively involved with the Phenix City schools, Russell county schools and Smith Station schools. Dr. Chandra is also involved in advocacy for children’s health issues at the state level. She is an active clinical researcher and has been a principal investigator for pediatric research studies.

Awards and Recognitions: In 2012, the Phenix City Education Foundation presented Dr. Chandra with a “Special Recognition Award” for her contributions towards the children in the Phenix City Schools. In 2012 and 2013, she received the Reader’s Choice Award by the Columbus Ledger Enquirer. The Chamber of Commerce recognized her with the ‘Small Business of the Year Award” in 2009. She has also been recognized for her contribution by the Phenix City Headstart. In 2012, Fort Mitchell Clinic was recognized as a bronze sponsor by MWR for providing outstanding support to soldiers and their families. She has been formally recognized as a Partner in Education with Lakewood Primary School, Lakewood Elementary School, Mount Olive Primary School and Mount Olive Intermediate School for 2013-2014.

Dr. Chandra is very committed to community pediatrics; in 2012 she was awarded the prestigious CATCH grant by the American Academy of Pediatrics to research barriers that keep children from having a pediatric medical home. She is also the recipient of several scholarships from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

For the last 6 years Dr. Chandra has served on the Health Advisory Committee of the Phenix City Headstart and she serves on the Board of Care Network of East Alabama. She is also the chair of the Nominating Committee of the Alabama Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics.

Dr. Chandra’s personal interests include traveling, cooking, ballroom dancing, roller skating, sailing, white-water rafting and hiking. She was part of a Round-the-World Sailing expedition, sailing on a 32-foot yacht. She lives in Phenix City with her husband and children.