At King George Pediatrics, our team consists of an experienced, compassionate pediatrician and friendly, nurturing staff members who take pride in giving our young patients the personalized pediatric care that they deserve.
We understand that you have a choice of a pediatrician in the King George area, and we appreciate your consideration. We can assure you that you'll feel confident in our ability to meet all of your expectations.
Dr. Ilya Zavelsky is a highly educated professional who has undergone rigorous academic and clinical training in pediatrics. He maintains a high level of expertise through continuing education in order to provide the most up-to-date care for the young patients we are privileged to serve.
Dr. Zavelsky (he does not mind being called Dr. Z by his patients) is a native of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, one of the republics of the former Soviet Union. Since his youth he dreamt of becoming a children’s doctor. In pursuing this dream he graduated from Azerbaijan State Medical Institute, majoring in Pediatrics, in 1984. Upon graduation he completed an internship at a children’s hospital in Baku and later served as a pediatrician in a remote village in Azerbaijan. The only pediatrician in the village, he provided the best care possible despite very limited resources. It was around this time Dr. Zavelsky was drafted into the Soviet Army, where he spent two years serving as a military physician. After his discharge from the army, Dr. Zavelsky returned to Baku and started to work at one of the city’s children’s hospitals. He worked in both in-patient and out-patient departments and earned recognition and respect from colleagues and patients alike. Unfortunately, the political situation in Azerbaijan had become very dangerous at that time and the country was on the brink of civil war. Pursuing political and personal freedom, Dr. Zavelsky emigrated from the Soviet Union to the U.S. at the end of 1990.
In his new home he worked even harder towards his goal of becoming a children’s doctor, completing all the necessary requirements to become a fully licensed, certified pediatrician in the United States. Although initially settling in Michigan, he moved to Richmond with his family in 1993 to begin his Pediatric Residency at the Medical College of Virginia. During his residency, Dr. Zavelsky and his family fell in love with our beautiful state and decided to settle here for the long term. Upon successful completion of the residency, Dr. Zavelsky worked for many years as a pediatric hospitalist and pediatric emergency physician at Henrico Doctors Hospital in Richmond. That work provided him with invaluable experience for future practice. Later he worked as a pediatrician at several primary care offices in Richmond, Northern Virginia, and the Hampton Roads area. For three years prior to moving to King George he worked at a private pediatric practice in Virginia Beach. In the summer of 2011, Dr. Zavelsky was offered the pediatrician position at King George Pediatrics and since he began practicing, has developed close relationships with many of his patients. He has enjoyed watching some of them grow from newborns to toddlers and others graduate school and start adult life.
King George Pediatrics received some unfortunate news in October 2013 when its owner declared bankruptcy and announced plans to shut down the active practice. This created significant turmoil and difficulties for the area’s residents, who could be left without pediatric care. It was very difficult for Dr. Zavelsky to watch his patients experience uncertainty while an exceptional practice collapsed. After consideration and urging from many patients, he made the decision to operate King George Pediatrics as an entity independent from its previous owner, focused on providing the best care possible to children in the King George area.
Today, King George Pediatrics proudly and happily serves the local community. Dr. Zavelsky welcomes new families and their children and is delighted to continue caring for his existing patients.