Meet
Dr. Khalid Athar - Founder, CEO
Dr. Khalid Athar is the Founder and CEO of Wellspring Health Services, a multi-specialty group practice serving the Culpeper community. In addition to his leadership role, he is a practicing anesthesiologist at UVA Culpeper Outpatient Surgery Center. Since relocating to Culpeper in 2008, Dr. Athar has combined his passion for patient care with a strong focus on healthcare leadership, practice development, and community impact.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Athar has held numerous leadership positions within the local healthcare system. He previously served as Medical Director and Chairman of the Medical Executive Committee at Culpeper Surgery Center, as well as Medical Director at Culpeper Regional Hospital. He also served as President of the Medical Staff and chaired the Medical Staff Quality Committee, contributing to clinical excellence and operational improvements across multiple organizations.
Dr. Athar’s journey into medicine and leadership is shaped by a diverse international background. He spent his early years in Japan and Nepal before completing his medical education at Dow Medical College, University of Karachi. He later pursued postgraduate training in anesthesiology in Ireland through the Royal College of Anesthetists, and completed further training at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Beyond his clinical and administrative work, Dr. Athar has been actively involved in humanitarian and community initiatives. He participated in earthquake relief efforts in northern Pakistan as part of Operation Heartbeat, a team affiliated with George Washington University Hospital. He has also contributed to public health education through multimedia programs focused on infectious diseases.
Dr. Athar has remained deeply committed to serving his local community. He has served on the Board of the Free Clinic of Culpeper, helping provide anesthesia services for underserved patients, and on the Board of Grymes Memorial School during a period of significant growth.
His contributions have been widely recognized, including being named Physician of the Year by Culpeper Regional Health System and Entrepreneur of the Year by the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce. Under his leadership, Wellspring Health Services has also been honored as Small Business of the Year and consistently recognized among the “Best of the Best in Culpeper.”
Dr. Athar holds an MBA in Healthcare Management from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), and other national societies focused on perioperative care and quality improvement.
In his free time, Dr. Athar enjoys reading, listening to music, and cooking a variety of international cuisines.
