Georgia CommonsSR 9: Steves, Dr. Elma Mera; recognize and commend
Last action June 22, 2026 · Senate Read and Adopted
A Georgia Senate resolution honors Dr. Elma Mera Steves, a longtime Chamblee pediatrician, for more than 53 years of medical practice and community service in Georgia.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
This resolution from the Georgia Senate recognizes and commends Dr. Elma Mera Steves, a pediatrician who was born in Peru, trained at Grady Memorial Hospital, and opened a solo pediatric practice in Chamblee in 1965. She practiced there for more than 53 years until retiring in 2018 at age 91. The resolution highlights her role as a founding member of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, her work helping Piedmont Hospital open a pediatric department, her leadership in the Georgia Branch of the American Medical Women's Association, and her founding of the Peruvian American Medical Society in 1973. It also notes awards she received, including the DeKalb County Medical Society's Julius McCurdy Citizenship Award and the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Leila Denmark Lifetime Achievement Award. The resolution directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide her a copy. It does not create any new law, funding, or requirement.
What the bill does
- Formally recognizes and commends Dr. Elma Mera Steves for her decades of service as a Georgia pediatrician.
- States the Senate's best wishes for her future health and happiness.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Dr. Steves.
- Creates no new law, funding, or ongoing legal obligation; it is a ceremonial statement rather than a change to Georgia statutes.
Who it affects
The resolution directly names Dr. Elma Mera Steves. It also references organizations tied to her career, including Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Piedmont Hospital, the Georgia Branch of the American Medical Women's Association, and the Peruvian American Medical Society, though it imposes no obligations on them.
Why it matters
This is a ceremonial resolution rather than a policy change, so it does not alter any Georgia law, spend money, or affect residents day to day. Its practical effect is limited to formally honoring an individual and providing her with an official copy of the Senate's statement.
Key provisions
- The 'whereas' clauses recount Dr. Steves' biography, career milestones, and honors, providing the factual basis for the resolution.
- The resolving clause states that the Senate recognizes and commends her for her service and extends best wishes.
- A further resolving clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to her.
From the bill
“the members of this body recognize and commend Dr. Elma Mera Steves for her decades of exemplary service on behalf of the citizens of this state and extend best wishes for future health and happiness”
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
Topics
- Georgia Senate resolution
- pediatric medicine
- Chamblee
- honorary recognition