Board-Certified Pediatricians Caring for Newborns to Adolescents

Sunshine Pediatrics opened in 2002 and began as a small one-physician practice in Rock Hill, SC. We have since grown to a three-provider practice, in part, because of our determination to provide care that we, ourselves, would want when we go to our own doctors. Our goal to integrate the highest quality of pediatric care with a more personal approach has become the foundation of who we are, and we have a legion of loyal patients as proof!

Office visits should be both interactive and informative, and we believe your family should be involved in the decisions relating to the care of your child. This is why we place emphasis on providing you with information that is clear and comprehensive. Our providers know how important it is to answer the questions you ask, but just as important, to answer the questions you have not thought to ask. After all, guidance and reassurance are two of the strongest prescriptions a pediatrician or nurse practitioner can give.

We invite you to come see our office. Our child-friendly decor will encourage your little one to relax and feel safe, and more importantly, it will show our dedication to the excitement that is childhood!

Meet Our Team of Board-Certified Providers

For any parent, the search for the right pediatric provider can be a daunting task. We believe the first step in the process is to explore the provider’s qualifications.

Dr. Raj Patel Is A Board-Certified Pediatrician - Rock Hill, SC - Sunshine Pediatrics

Raj M. Patel, MD

Dr. Raj Patel is a Board-Certified Pediatrician who graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1990 and from the University of South Florida’s School of Medicine in 1996. He completed his pediatric residency in 1999 at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Women and Children in Orlando. After practicing for three years in Florida, he relocated to Rock Hill in 2002 to start Sunshine Pediatrics with his wife and son. He enjoys cooking, traveling, and is an avid sports fan.

Larry N. Byrd, MD

A native of South Carolina, Dr. Byrd received his undergraduate degree from Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC, and attended medical school at the Medical University of SC in Charleston. His internship and residence were completed in Pediatrics at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta GA. As a Board-Certified Pediatrician, he is passionate about pediatrics and loves caring for children as they grow and mature. He has been married for over 30 years to his wonderful wife Laurie, with whom he has three children and three grandchildren. His hobbies include cooking, boating, and cheering on the Gamecocks.

Larry N. Byrd, M.D. Is A Board-Certified Pediatrician - Rock Hill, SC - Sunshine Pediatrics

What is a nurse practitioner?

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice nurses who provide high-quality healthcare services similar to those of a physician. NPs can also diagnose and treat a wide range of health problems. After receiving their bachelor's degree in nursing and most typically working to advance their clinical skills, they go on to get their master's degree in nursing. This is where they further their education and clinical training beyond their registered nurse preparation. They then are eligible for state licensure and board certification in their respective area of interest and study, much like a physician.

  • Insurance

    Sunshine Pediatrics is contracted with the following insurance companies and/or physician networks. A physician network is a group of physicians that a smaller insurance company may “rent” to provide care for their members. This means many smaller insurance companies may not be on this list, but the network they use might be. Always check your card to see which network they use. While we do file claims to your primary insurance, we do not file claims to secondary insurance plans. We will, however, provide you with the information necessary to file your own claims.


    This list of insurance and networks can change at any time. We recommend that you call our billing department if you do not see your plan on this list: 803-980-7337 option 4.


    Please keep in mind:

    In order for us to file your medical claim accurately and within the timely filing requirements of your insurance plan, we request that you bring your insurance card at every visit. It is your responsibility to provide us with the most recent insurance card. If your insurance has changed, and you do not have the new insurance information, you will be asked to pay in full at the time of visit. Once the information is received and the insurance has paid the claim in full, your payment will be refunded.


    According to our contracts with the insurance companies and networks, we are required to collect your copay on the date of service. There is a $10 late fee for all copays and co-insurances not paid within 24 hours of the date of service. Deductible responsibilities are also expected to be paid at the time of service. We will accept a $50 deposit toward your deductible, but if any balance is not paid within 30 days of being invoiced, the full deductible balance on future appointments will be due at the time of service. See our Financial Policies for more information.


    We will make every effort to determine the benefits of your insurance plan prior to your visit, but it is up to you to know what your plan covers. We cannot guarantee that benefit information given to us is correct, and so the ultimate financial responsibility for any medical treatment is yours.


    We recommend that you call your plan before your visit to find out what your benefits cover. You should ask specifically about wellness benefits, sick benefits, and immunization coverage. You should also ask if any deductibles, copays, and/or coinsurances apply to each of these benefit categories and see if there is a cap or maximum benefit amount that applies to each of these as well. For a glossary of commonly used insurance terms, please see our Financial Policies.

    • Absolute Total Care

    • Aetna

    • Ambetter

    • BeechStreet network

    • Blue Cross Blue Shield

    • BlueChoice Health Plan

    • BlueChoice Medicaid (Healthy Blue)

    • Cigna

    • CoreSource (uses multiple networks)

    • Coventry HealthCare

    • First Health/Coventry

    • Humana and Humana Medicaid

    • MedCost

    • Medicaid (SC only)

    • Molina and Molina Marketplace

    • MultiPlan network

    • PAI - Planned Administrators, Inc.

    • PHCS (now MultiPlan network)

    • Premier Health Plan (now SuperMed)

    • SuperMed network

    • United Healthcare

    • United Medical Resources

  • What does board certified mean?

    Board Certification is a process where a special independent organization provides credentials to a provider, signifying a high level of professional competency. Certifications are usually time-limited, meaning that the medical professional will have to re-certify after a given time period. The recertification usually involves comprehensive testing, among other things, and demonstrates their commitment to professionalism, lifelong learning and self-evaluation.

Schedule your child’s visit with one of our providers.