Orlando Health

Orlando Health Pediatric Residency Program

Welcome

Welcome to the Pediatric Residency Training Program at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children , part of Orlando Health in Orlando, Florida. Here you will find a concise description of our program. Our program is unique among pediatric training programs in its scope and design, and we invite you to take a closer look.

Our pediatric residency training program is one of eight residencies offered. The downtown Orlando campus includes Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, the Pediatric Ambulatory Center, and Health Sciences Library . The pediatric facilities are on the same campus as Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC) and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando . Arnold Palmer Hospital is the largest free-standing facility of its kind in the southeast.

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children is located on the downtown Orlando Health campus and is our primary teaching hospital. It has a 17-bed Pediatric ICU unit in addition to the 33-bed Bert Martin's Champions for Children Emergency Department and Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center, the only one of its kind in Central Florida. The ED treats approximately 30,000 pediatric patients annually and is staffed by a medical team that includes physicians board certified in pediatric emergency medicine, emergency medicine, and pediatric surgery. They also have access to sub-specialist in various areas including pediatric cardiology, endocrinology, hematology/oncology, nephrology, neurology, orthopedics, plastic surgery, pulmonology and urology. The pediatric emergency department also has two child-life specialists who calm children worried about procedures. The hospital relies on a family-centered philosophy to create a unique child-based environment. Specially-designed programs help children adapt to hospital life through play activities including a special outdoor fun area called Play Works, medical role-playing, interaction with other kids in play rooms, Healing Arts and Project P.L.A.Y., a pre-admission orientation program.

Arnold Palmer Hospital is a major referral center for subspecialty pediatric care. Examples include the Cystic Fibrosis Center, Congenital Heart Institute at Arnold Palmer Hospital and Miami Children's Hospital, the Hematology/Oncology Program, Spina Bifida Center, Diabetes Program, Asthma Clinic, the HUG-Me Pediatric HIV/AIDS Program, ECMO for infants and older children, Fetal Diagnostics Program, and the End-Stage Renal Diseases Program.

Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies is a state-of-the art 11 story facility with a 112-bed NICU and an active newborn nursery with over 14,000 annual deliveries. The hospital contains 400,000 square feet, has 30 labor and delivery rooms, postpartum, high-risk antepartum units, along with full gynecology and reproductive services. Winnie Palmer Hospital is attached to Arnold Palmer Hospital by a two-level connector.

Our daily activities are typical of any large, tertiary-care children's hospital and allow the resident exposure to a wealth of complex and unique pediatric disorders. The combination of all of these resources with the impressive volume of primary care and general pediatric patients creates an ideal setting for a comprehensive education in clinical pediatrics.

Orlando Health has an impressive history of dedication to excellence in pediatric resident education. On these pages you will find details on the most important aspects of our program. Our residents believe that the strength of our program lies in the dedication of a well-defined academic faculty, the learner-centered philosophy of education, the vast clinical experience available, and the presence of a major children's hospital in the attractive location of Orlando, Florida.

            





Faculty

Joan Younger Meek, MD, MS, FAAP, FABM
Academic Chairman & Residency Director, Pediatric Medical Education
Orlando Health, Arnold Palmer Hospital
Clinical Associate Professor, Florida State University

Dr. Meek has served as the Director of the Pediatric Residency Training Program since 2004. She has served as Director of General Academic Pediatrics since 2001. Dr. Meek earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Kentucky. She received her Doctor of Medicine Degree with High Distinction from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, where she was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. She completed Pediatric Residency Training at Duke University Medical Center.

After serving active duty in the United States Army, Dr. Meek joined the full-time faculty of the Pediatric Residency Training Program at Orlando Health/Arnold Palmer Hospital in 1994, serving as Medical Director of the Pediatric Faculty Practice from 2001-2004. Dr. Meek is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. She is Board Certified in Pediatrics and as a Physician Nutrition Specialist. She is a Registered Dietitian, Board Certified as a Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition, and is an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners and is a past president of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. She is currently the Chair of the United States Breastfeeding Committee. Dr. Meek is the editor-in-chief of the American Academy of Pediatrics New Mother's Guide to Breastfeeding, published in 2002. She serves the American Academy of Pediatrics as Breastfeeding Coordinator for the Florida Chapter and is the Education Chair of the AAP Section on Breastfeeding.

Dr. Meek is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Florida State University College of Medicine and directs the Pediatric Clerkship at the Orlando campus. In addition, she provides oversight for all pediatric academic and medical education affairs at Orlando Health. Her academic interests are in the areas of breastfeeding and pediatric nutrition, about which she has published and given multiple professional presentations and media appearances. She received the Pediatric Resident's Teaching Award in 1996.



General Academic Pediatrics

 


Nicole Bramwell, MD
Medical Director
Division Chief of General Academic Pediatrics

Dr. Bramwell Received her Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Howard University. She is a graduate of Howard University College of Medicine and completed her residency at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and was elected Chief Resident. She is the Clinical Director of Orlando Health/Arnold Palmer Hospital Outpatient Faculty Practice. Dr. Bramwell joined the full time faculty of the residency program at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in 2002 and is a recipient of the Arnold Palmer Hospital Commitment to Excellence Award.


John B. Campbell, MD
Pediatric Generalist

Dr. Campbell is a graduate of the University of Minnesota where he received his BA, BS, and MD degrees. He completed a residency in Pediatrics and practiced general pediatrics for three years before taking his residency in Radiology. He is board certified in Pediatrics and Radiology and fellowship trained in Pediatric Radiology. He was the first radiologist in Florida to be awarded the Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in Pediatric Radiology by the American Board of Radiology. He now examines candidates for the CAQ for the American Board of Radiology. Dr. Campbell was director of Pediatric Radiology at the Children's Hospital in Denver before assuming that position at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children when the hospital opened in 1989. He is a member of 24 medical societies, both here and abroad, and a Fellow of the American College of Radiology. Dr. Campbell has served 38 visiting professorships, presented at 54 postgraduate courses, authored 79 medical articles or chapters in books, and made 101 presentations at various medical society meetings. The above includes 31 international presentations. He serves as editorial reviewer for Skeletal Radiology, Pediatric Radiology, and the American Journal of Roentgenology and Radiology. Dr. Campbell was awarded The Pediatric Subspecialist Teaching Award in June, 2010.


Eva Desrosiers, MD
Pediatric Generalist

Dr. Desrosiers received her Bachelor of Arts in biology from Cornell University. She is a graduate of the University of Pennslyvania School of Medicine and completed her residency at AECOM/Montefiore Medical Center. After completing her residency, she joined the faculty at Harlem Hospital Center as assistant attending. She also held the title of assistant clinical professor at Columbia University/College of Physicians and Surgeons until she joined the faculty at Arnold Palmer Hospital in July 2006. Dr. Desrosiers is the Co-Director of In the Zone – a Community Connection for Child Health Promotion.


Janice Howell, MD
Pediatric Generalist

Dr. Howell received her Bachelor of Science in Physical & Occupational Therapy from McGill University. She is a graduate of the Medical College of Pennsylvania and completed her residency at Montreal Children's Hospital and fellowship at McGill University Faculty of Medicine. She joined the faculty of the residency program at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in 1996. Dr. Howell has also been invited to lecture at various medical colleges and universities. She has authored and co-authored a number of publications.


Robert Middleton, MD
Pediatric Generalist

Dr. Middleton received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School where he was a recipient of the university of Michigan Medical school Merit Scholarship, as well as the University of Michigan Scholar Recognition award. Dr. Middleton completed his pediatric residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. He did a chief residency year at Henry Ford, as well as Children’s Hospital of Michigan. Dr. Middleton joined the full-time faculty of the residency training program at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in 2007.  Dr. Middleton was awarded The Pediatric Residents Teaching Award in June, 2010.


Anita Moorjani, MD
Pediatric Generalist

Dr. Moorjani received her Bachelor of Science with high honors from the University of Florida. She also completed her Medical Degree at the University of Florida. Her pediatric residency was completed at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia. She was previously in private practice for 5 years and was a Clinical Instructor of Pediatrics at the Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Moorjani joined the full-time faculty of the residency program at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in 2007.


Colleen Moran-Bano, MD
Pediatric Generalist

Dr. Moran-Bano received her Bachelor of Science in Economics & Pre-professional Studies with high honors from the University of Notre Dame du Lac. She is a medical graduate of the University of South Florida. Dr. Moran received her Masters in Biomedical Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina. She completed her residency at the University of North Carolina and completed her fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Moran joined the faculty of the residency program at Orlando Health and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in 2004. She has participated in several clinical trials and also received the Teaching Award in 2005.


Douglas Short, MD
Pediatric Generalist

Dr. Douglas Short received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Florida where he graduated with honors. He is a graduate of the University of Florida Medical School and completed his residency in pediatrics at Shands Teaching Hospital. Dr. Short joined the full-time faculty of the residency program at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in 1992. He received the Residency Teaching Award in 2000 and was awarded The Pediatric Faculty Award in 1993 and in June, 2010..


David Skey, MD
Associate Program Director, Inpatient Pediatrics

Dr. Skey received his Bachelor of Science in History from the University of Illinois. He is a graduate of Brown University Medical School where he was a recipient of the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement. Dr. Skey completed his pediatric and chief residency at the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia. He is a member of the AOA Medical Honor Society and a National Health Corps. Scholar. Dr. Skey joined the full-time faculty of the residency program at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in 2006.


Odette Stanley-Brown, MD
Medical Director, Pediatric Faculty Practice

Dr. Stanley-Brown received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Hunter College in New York where she graduated with honors. She is a graduate of Yale University School of Medicine and completed her residency in pediatrics at the University of Miami. Dr. Stanley-Brown joined the full-time faculty of the residency program at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in 2006.


Penelope Tokarski, MD
Associate Director, Pediatric Residency Training Program

Dr. Tokarski received her Bachelor of Science, Summa cum Laude from Nazareth College. She is a graduate of Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine and completed her residency at Pediatrics Children's Hospital. She is currently serving as the assistant director of adolescent medicine at Orlando Health. Dr. Tokarski has received several awards including the Pediatric Residents Teaching Award in 1989. She has published a number of articles on the topic of Child Abuse in various medical journals.


Adolescent Medicine


Veenod Chulani, MD
Director, Adolescent Medicine

Dr. Chulani Received his Bachelor of Science in Biology, Cum Laude, from Ateneo de Davao University. He completed his residency at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York in Pediatrics were he was elected chief resident. He then completed his fellowship at the University of Southern California and is the Director of Adolescent Medicine at Orlando Health/Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. He is the medical director for Teen Xpress; a mobile health unit that provides primary medical care, physicals, immunizations and counseling for at-risk youth in Orange County middle and high schools. Dr. Chulani is the Director of In the Zone – a Community Connection for Child Health Promotion.  Dr. Chulani joined the full time faculty of the residency program in 2003 and received the Citation for Academic Excellence Award four years in a row. In 2006 and in 2009 Dr. Chulani was awarded the Pediatric Faculty Award.


Pediatric Endocrinology


Richard A. Banks, MD
Pediatric Endocrinology

Dr. Banks received his Bachelor of Science from Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. He completed his residency in Pediatrics at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas and then completed his Fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology at the University of Florida Shands Teaching Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. Dr. Banks has had several publications and is Board Certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Endocrinology.


Paul Desrosiers, MD
Director, Pediatric Endocrinology

Dr. Desrosiers attended college and medical school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC. He performed his pediatric residency at the University of Florida at Gainesville, Fl. He did his first year of his pediatric fellowship in Genetics, Endocrinology, and Metabolism at the University of Florida, and then was asked to move to the University of Oklahoma Children's Hospital with his mentor Dr. Owen Rennert, to complete his fellowship, which he completed in 1978. He completed 6 years in the US Navy as the only pediatric endocrinologist at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Va. In 1984 he came to Orlando as the Director of Medical Education for the Department of Pediatrics at the Orlando Regional Medical Center. In 1992 he devoted himself to the full time practice of pediatric endocrinology here at ORMC. In 1997 he began work at the Nemours Children's Clinic, Orlando as the Chief of Pediatric Endocrinology. In 2006 he began work as the Medical Director of Pediatric Endocrinology at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in the Medical Education Faculty Practice. He is an active Clinical Courtesy Professor of Pediatrics at the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fl. and also an active Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of North Florida in Tallahassee, Fl. His clinical research interests are in the area of pediatric short stature and precocious puberty. Dr. Desrosiers is committed to the greater Orlando community and to the endocrine patients of central Florida.


Joshua Yang, MD
Pediatric Endocrinology

Dr. Yang received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Wheaton College (IL) where he graduated with honors. He is a graduate of the Texas Tech University HSC School of Medicine and completed his residency in pediatrics at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in 2003. After residency, he went on to complete a postgraduate fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA. Dr. Yang joined the pediatric endocrinology faculty practice at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in 2006.


Pediatric Gastroenterology


Jeffrey A. Bornstein, MD
Pediatric Gastroenterology

Dr. Bornstein grew up in Massachusetts. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He completed his Pediatric Residency training at Wildford Hall USAF Medical Center in 1992 and served as a pediatrician in the Air Force before completing his Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Fellowship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He is proud to have serviced in the United States Air Force for ten years before moving to Orlando. Dr. Bornstein is board certified in Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. Dr. Bornstein is married and has two children. He is active in the community and his synagogue. He is the Medical Director for Pediatric Gastroenterology. Dr. Bornstein received Orlando's Best Doctor award 2005, 2006 and 2008.


Reinaldo Figueroa-Colon, MD
Pediatric Gastroenterology

Dr. Figueroa-Colon received his Bachelors of Science degree in Natural Science at the University of Puerto Rico and graduated from medical school at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan Puerto Rico. His post graduate training was the University Children's Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He then completed his Fellowship at Oklahoma Children's Memorial Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in Pediatric gastroenterology. He Dr. Figueroa-Colon also completed a Fellowship at the university of Iowa Hospitals and Clinic, Iowa City, Iowa in Pediatric Nutrition. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, Sub-Board in Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition and a Diplomat of the American Board of Nutrition. Dr. Figueroa-Colon is also certified by the American Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists. Dr. Figueroa-Colon's clinical interests include General Pediatric Gastroenterology, Infant Nutrition and Childhood Obesity.


Devendra I. Mehta, MD, MBBS, MRCP, MS
Pediatric Gastroenterology

Dr. Mehta received his Bachelors of Science degree in Clinical Tropical Medicine at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Lond, United Kingdom and graduated from medical school at UMDS of Guys and St. Thomas, London, United Kingdom. He completed his post graduate training in Pediatrics at the Hospital for Sick children in Toronto, Ontario. He then completed his Fellowship in Academic Pediatrics at Guy's Hospital in London, United Kingdom and his Fellowship in Pediatric Gastroenterology at Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Mehta is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, Sub-board in Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition and the Royal College of Physicians. Dr. Mehta's clinical interests are intestinal malabsorptio, acute diarrhea, intestinal malabsorprion, pancreatic disorders and gastric emptying.


Pediatric Pulmonology


Daniel Garcia, MD
Pediatric Pulmonology

Dr. Garcia was born in Orlando, Florida. He is a graduate of University of Miami School of Medicine. He completed his Pediatric Residency training at University of Miami School of Medicine/ Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida in 2003. Dr. Garcia completed his Pediatric Pulmonology Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine/ Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas in June 2006. During his fellowship he performed research at the Baylor College of Medicine Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Influenza Research Center. His research was in the area of viral respiratory disease epidemiology and prevention. His specific focus was respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus infections in children with cystic fibrosis. In July 2006, Dr. Garcia joined the Pediatric Pulmonology Faculty Practice at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. He is a member of the faculty of the residency program at Arnold Palmer Hosptial for Children as well. Dr. Garcia is married and has one daughter. His areas of interest in pediatric pulmonary are asthma, viral respiratory infections, cystic fibrosis and sleep disordered breathing. He is fluent in Spanish.


Carlos E. Sabogal
Pediatric Pulmonology

Dr. Sabogal received his Bachelor of Science from the Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal/School of Medicine in Lima, Peru. He completed his residency at the University of Miami and then completed his Fellowship in Pediatric Pulmonology at the University of Miami. He is Board Certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Pulmonology. Dr. Sabogal received the Teaching Award as a Junior Resident and the Teaching Award as a Fellow. He is married and has five sons. Dr. Sabogal has had numerous publications and is currently the Director of the Pediatric Pulmonology Faculty Practice at Arnold Palmer Hospital and a Clinical Assistant Professor of the Department of Clinical Sciences at Florida State University.


Mark Weatherly, MD
Pediatric Pulmonology

Dr. Weatherly received his Bachelor of Science from Alma College in Alma Michigan. He completed his residency in Pediatrics at Michigan State University and then completed his Fellowship in Pediatric Pulmonology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin. He is certified is General Pediatrics and Pediatric Pulmonology. Dr. Weatherly has had numerous publications and participates in many volunteer activities. Dr. Weatherly is the Co-Director for the Cystic Fibrosis Center at the Nemours Children's Clinic, a Clinical assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Florida State University and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Central Florida.  Dr. Weatherly was awarded the Pediatric Subspecialist Faculty Award in June, 2010.


Pediatric Nephrology


Maricor Grio, MD
Pediatric Nephrology

Dr. Grio received her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Miami. She is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Medicine and completed her residency at Orlando Health in Orlando, Florida. After residency, she went on to complete a postgraduate fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at the University of Michigan Health System. Dr. Grio joined the pediatric nephrology faculty practice at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in 2006.


Jorge A. Ramirez, MD
Director, Pediatric Nephrology

Dr. Ramirez is a graduate of the University of Monterrey Medical School. He did his residency at The Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, New York, where he also served as Pediatric chief Resident. He participated in a Pediatric Nephrology Fellowship at the UCLA Medical Center, UCLA School of Medicine. In both 1991 and 1992, he was the winner of the UCLA Fellowship Award from The National Kidney Foundation of Southern California. Dr. Ramirez was awarded the Pediatric Faculty Award in 2002 and the Pediatric Residents Teaching Award in 2009. He has authored and co-authored numerous articles and textbook chapters in the area of metabolic bone disease and renal transplantation.Dr. Ramirez holds certification with the American Board of Pediatrics and Pediatric Nephrology. He currently is the Director of Pediatric Nephrology at Arnold Palmer Hospital for children and Women. In 2006, Dr. Ramirez was chosen as one of the top 100 doctors in Central Florida by Orlando Magazine.


Erin Connelly, MD
Chief Resident/Junior Faculty Pediatric Education

Erin N. Connelly received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology/Pre-Medicine with Honors from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee, FL. She received her Medical Degree from Florida State University College of Medicine in Tallahassee, FL. She completed her Pediatric Residency at Orlando Health and was elected Chief Resident in 2010. Erin’s interests in the field are General Pediatrics and Child Abuse Medicine. Her personal interests include spending time with family & friends, mentoring youth, motivational speaking, playing piano, listening to music, and her dog, “Honey.”



Colleen McLeod, MD
Chief Resident/Junior Faculty Pediatric Education

Colleen L. McLeod received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with Honors from University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL. She attended Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, DC for the Basic Sciences and received her Medical Degree from Ross University School of Medicine in Portsmouth, Dominica. She completed her Pediatric Residency at Orlando Health and was elected Chief Resident in 2010. Colleen’s interests in the field are General Pediatrics, Community Pediatrics, and International Health. Her personal interests include spending time with family & friends, anything outdoors, traveling, photography, long distance running, water sports, live music, and her dog “Sawyer.”

 

Pediatric Allergy/Immunology
Laila W. Alidina, MD


Pediatric Anesthesiology
Carlos Archilla, MD
Karen Bender, MD
Lisa Christensen, MD
Martine Denn, Md
Dara Green, MD
Susan Hussein, MD
Carol Klim, MD
Michael Marzouk, MD
Marnie Robinson, MD
Rebecca Hassoun Welch, MD
James Yoachim, MD


Pediatric Cardiology
Susan E. Desjardins, MD
Craig E. Fleishman, MD
David G. Nykanen, MD
Aykut Tugertimur, MD
Elizabeth Welch, MD


Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery
William d. DeCampli, MD


Pediatric Critical Care
Mary M. Farrell, MD
Lawrence D. Spack, MD
Shoba K. Srikantan, MD
Mark E. Swanson, MD
John A. Tilelli, MD


Pediatric Generalists
Howard M. Pelteson, MD
Jennifer S. Thielhelm, MD
Mitchel W. Madden, DO
Alix G. Casler, MD
Kimberly H. Bougoulias, MD
Sunita Raj, MD
Marta E. Rodriguez, MD
Stuart H. Janousky, MD
Deborah M. Marcus, MD
Tammy McDowell, MD
Pamela D. Andrew, MD
David M. Duany, MD
Brian E. Harris, MD
Mark B. DiDea, MD
Gregory J. Coffman, MD
Armando S. Garcia, MD
Gullermo E. Garcia, MD

Pediatric Genetics & Development
Lynda C. Pollack, MD


Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Don E. Eslin, MD
Vincent F. Giusti, MD
Alejandro Levy, MD
Robert Sutphin, MD


Pediatric Hospitalist's
Dianna Brozyna, MD
D. Scott Hamblin, MD
Sara Hmielowski, MD
Corie Opdyke, ARNP
Ira Pinnelas, MD
Russ Prather, MD
Matthew Seibel, MD
Susan Shultz, MD
David Sunnenberg, MD
Thida Tanpattana, DO


Pediatric Infectious Disease
Catherine L. Lamprecht, MD


Pediatric Infectious Disease/Undergraduate Medical Education
Michael J. Muszynski, MD


Pediatric Neonatology
Gregor C. Alexander, MD
David Auerback, MD
Shannon C. Brown, MD
Ana M. Diaz-Albertini, MD
Douglas E. Hardy, MD
Brian Lipman, MD
Michael J. McMahon, MD
Paul A. Palma, MD
Angelina C. Pera, MD
Jose A. Perez, MD


Pediatric Neurology
Ronald G. Davis, MD
Carl R. Barr, DO
Jasna Kojic, MD


Child Protective Team (CPT)
Marius L. Kesler, MD

Pediatric Urgent Care
Robert J. Cooper, MD


Teaching Staff from other Departments
John B. Campbell, MD
Joseph N. Foss, MD
Kathryn M. Garrett, MD
Orlando R. Gonzalez, MD

Stanley I. Hand, MD
Louis C. Blumenfeld, MD

Jay C. Albright, MD

Mark A. Birnbaum, MD
Jose A. Herrera-Soto, MD
Ray D. Knapp, Jr., MD
Jonathan H. Phillips, MD
Charles T. Price, MD

Marc S. Levy, MD
David Miller, MD
Ross A. Morgan, MD
Donald A. Plumley, MD

Christopher A. Gegg, MD
Greg Olivaria, MD
Jogi V. Pattisapu, MD
Eric R. Trumble, MD

Michael A. Keating, MD
Mark A. Rich, MD

Mark C. Clark, MD
Jay L. Falk, MD
Jose Ramirez, MD
Pediatric Radiology
Pediatric Radiology
Pediatric Radiology
Pediatric Pathology

Pediatric Ophthalmology
Pediatric Ophthalmology

Pediatric Orthopedics & Pediatric Sports Medicine

Pediatric Orthopedics
Pediatric Orthopedics
Pediatric Orthopedics
Pediatric Orthopedics
Pediatric Orthopedics

Pediatric Surgery
Pediatric Surgery
Pediatric Surgery
Pediatric Surgery

Pediatric Neurosurgery
Pediatric Neurosurgery
Pediatric Neurosurgery
Pediatric Neurosurgery

Pediatric Urology
Pediatric Urology

Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Emergency Medicine
Pediatric Emergency Medicine

 

Curriculum

Medical students are often impressed by the size of our faculty and the fact that most of the faculty is full time with defined responsibilities for education and academic pursuit consistent with the traditions of the best university-based programs. This is certainly by design and is possible because of Orlando Health's dedication to education, the need for an academic base for a quality children's hospital, and the partnership with our subspecialty colleagues. Core faculty members are recruited as experts in their fields, whether it is in general academic pediatrics or a subspecialty. Our residents have experience with a large volume of patients under the educational direction of a diverse group of educators within a carefully orchestrated curriculum aimed at producing well-rounded pediatricians.

The curriculum is structured to provide increasing levels of responsibility for patient management, supervision of junior residents and medical students and teaching. Emphasis is placed on primary care education as well as exposure to complex and tertiary care pediatrics. Diversity of experience is considered to be an important goal as is evidence-based learning. Our program is also designed to place the resident within the framework of the Central Florida community, utilizing specially designed rotations within the community. We recognize that pediatricians must understand their role as important members of their local community.

Pediatric Residency Curriculum

PL-1
Ambulatory - 3 blocks
Developmental/Behavioral - 1 block
Newborn Nursery (WPH) 1 block
Inpatient Pediatrics (APH) - 4 blocks
NICU (APH) 1 block
Pediatric Special Care - 1 block
Adolescent - 1 block
Elective – 1 block

PL-2
Ambulatory - 1 block
Community Medicine – 2 blocks
Emergency Medicine - 1 block
Newborn Nursery (WPH supervisory) 1 block
Inpatient Pediatrics (APH – one supervisory) 2 blocks
Night Float (floor) (supervisory) 1 block
NICU (WPH) 1 block
PICU – (split PICU/PSCU) 1 block
Electives* (electives split between years 2-3 and CPT 0.5 block) 3 blocks


PL-3

Ambulatory - 3 months
Emergency Medicine - 1 month
Inpatient Pediatrics (APH supervisory) - 1 month
NICU (WPH supervisory) 1 month
PICU (APH supervisory) 1 month
Night Float (PICU)- 1 month
Electives* (electives split between years 2-3) 5 months

* 1 Block = 4 weeks
* Includes hematology/oncology selective.

Community Rotations

Our community-based rotations are truly unique among residency programs. It is our philosophy that well structured clinical experience in the local community adds to the richness of the pediatrics curriculum. We have developed rotations in local pediatric office practice and developmental/ behavioral medicine in the community. .

Local Pediatric Practice

Residents are assigned one-month blocks in community medicine in the offices of local practicing pediatricians. Pediatricians who participate as faculty for this rotation attend Faculty Development Courses specifically designed to enhance their ability to provide community-based education of residents.

Developmental/Behavioral Rotation

The Developmental/Behavioral rotation is a combination of campus-based academic and community-based experience. Residents rotate through the Developmental Center of the children's hospital, within the Behavioral Pediatrics Division, the Division of Neurology, plus assignments in the community. Structured experiences are provided at multiple community sites in the Orlando community that deal with developmental and behavioral problems in pediatrics. Examples include local pediatric psychiatry practices, local organizations designed for mentally, physically and emotionally handicapped children, and rehabilitative services. The pediatric resident not only learns developmental and behavioral medicine, but also acquires an important understanding of community resources.

In the Zone
Community Connection for Child Health Promotion

In the Zone is an initiative of the pediatric residency training program at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and it community partners. It brings pediatric residents out of the examining room and into the community where they can get to know children, youth, their families and their health concerns and resources better.


Through the In the Zone program, pediatric residents partner with agencies serving children, youth and families in the Parramore community and beyond to provide home visitations, health education, health navigation, mentorship and advocacy.

 


Descriptions of Conferences



Noon Report (Morning Report)

This conference is held at APH in the Peds Residents Conference Room. A modified, problem-based learning (PBL) method is used for this conference with a facilitator and content expert(s) in attendance. The discussions are learner-centered and driven. The goal of Noon Report (Morning Report is to acquire skills in case presentation and communication, critical and organized thinking in approaches to diagnosis and management of patients admitted to the hospital, and as a session for discussing interesting or educational cases.

Grand Rounds

This one-hour conference is held at Winnie Palmer Hospital auditorium on the 1st floor and begins promptly at 0800 except during months when a department business meeting is held on the second Tuesday. It features topics of general pediatric interest, state-of-the-art updates on specialty topics, and Clinicopathology Case Conferences (CPC) presentations. Visiting professor presentations and presentations by national and international speakers prominent in their fields are part of the Grand Rounds series. The monthly schedule is available by contacting the Academic Pediatrics Office at 407 649-6876 . CME credit is available for physicians as a service of Orlando Health's Department of Medical Education.

Teaching Conference

These conferences generally feature attendings from academic, pediatric and the various specialties who present a topic of importance to resident education. The first three months of conference covers important topics of basic general pediatrics and educational topics of urgency especially designed for residents at the intern level.

Journal Club

This conference is held every month. Principles of evidence-based medicine and critical review of the literature are stressed. Scientific and statistical method is taught using a practicum-based educational method. Residents are given specific assignments for Journal Club and are provided individual mentoring by the Journal Club faculty attending prior to the presentation. Competency in assessing the scientific literature is documented for each resident.

Academic Chairman's Conference

This conference is conducted by the academic chairman of Pediatrics and covers a variety of topics such as residents as teachers, adult learning theory, professionalism, ethics, and the practical side of practicing pediatrics. Principles are reinforced by resident involvement and through role-playing. Residents are asked to attempt to solve a variety of theoretical dilemmas associated with being a resident and physician.

Prep Course/Board Review

Faculty members facilitate these conferences. The goal of this series is to offer a condensed comprehensive review of specific topics in pediatrics and provide practice board-style questions on the presented material. The American Academy of Pediatrics Review and Education Program (PREP) is used to facilitate one of these sessions. Other resources include commercially available board-review DVDs, the PREP Self-Assessment, and assigned readings based on general pediatrics textbooks.

Pediatric Emergency Medicine Conference

This is a one-hour joint meeting with the Department of Emergency Medicine and the Department of Pediatrics held monthly at alternating locations of Winnie Palmer Hospital and Orlando Regional Medical Center. Third-year residents assigned from each department present a case (or cases), lead the discussion and then present a didactic lecture. This conference is enhanced by the use of audiovisual presentation with slides or computer projection and a handout with appropriate references.

Radiology Conference

Faculty from the Department of Pediatric Radiology review films with residents to illustrate important aspects of pediatric radiology. Residents are often asked to critically interpret films and provide differential diagnoses. Interesting cases of the past month are also reviewed at this conference.

Continuity Conference

This conference is held to discuss issues pertinent to well-child care and common pediatric ambulatory conditions. The format varies depending upon the subject matter being discussed. These are highly interactive conferences based upon assigned readings from the pediatric literature.

Subspecialty Conferences

A monthly teaching conference is held by most subspecialties. Problem based learning is emphasized with the subspecialty attending(s) leading the session. The curriculum is designed to cover the breadth of pediatric subspecialty care over the course of the residency subspecialty program.

Resident Conference Assignments

Residents in the program are assigned didactic presentations throughout the three years of residency. The goal is to ensure that the resident is familiar with methods of reviewing the medical literature and then synthesizing the information in a manner that is educational and clinically relevant. In this way, the resident will gain experience in organizational, educational, presentation as well as writing skills.

Resident Conference Participation

Developmental/Behavioral Medicine Conference

Residents assigned to the Developmental/Behavioral rotation will prepare a conference based on their rotation. Topics can be selected from a list provided by the developmental/behavioral rotation coordinator on any subject pertinent to pediatric growth and development or behavioral pediatrics.

Prep Conference

Senior residents will review and present an article from the Pediatrics in Review continuing education journal. Following the presentation, board style questions are asked from physicians.

Grand Rounds

Each third year resident selects a topic of interest, researches that topic, and in consultation with a faculty mentor prepares a Grand Rounds presentation. This presentation is of the caliber expected from continuing medical education for practicing physicians.

Orlando Health Downtown Orlando Facilities

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies

Our healthcare organization continues to grow in an impressive fashion. In Central Florida, women of childbearing years are projected to increase more than 6% over the next 5 years.
Projected growth for pediatric care is close to 9%.

Occupancy rates for Arnold Palmer Hospital are spectacular. Over the last four years, there have been more births at Arnold Palmer Hospital and Winnie Palmer Hospital than any other hospital in the state of Florida.

Winnie Palmer Hospital is one of the busiest labor and delivery units in the nation. More than 14,000 infants are born at each year. Currently there are 158 beds at Arnold Palmer Hospital and 273 beds at Winnie Palmer Hospital including:

  • Pediatric and Neonatal ECMO Center
  • Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery Center
  • Congenital Heart Institute at Arnold Palmer Hospital and Miami Children's Hospital

Orlando Regional Medical Center

221,800 outpatient and acute care visits per year
Only Level One Trauma Center in Central Florida

Pediatric Outpatient Center

11,000 square feet located within the Outpatient Center building, expressly designed for pediatric resident outpatient education with 34,000 acute care and continuity patient visits annually, making it one of the busiest pediatric practices in Central Florida.

Health Sciences Library and Clifford E. Graese Community Health Library

The Graese Health Sciences Library is a full service library, staffed by full time medical librarians; located on campus and available to all housestaff and attending physicians. The library features an extensive book collection of more than 2,000 titles and a journal collection of 375 subscriptions as well as access to Internet databases such as MEDLINE and OVID web gateway.

Fast Facts

ACGME RRC Accreditation

2007 Full accreditation, 5 years
2004 Full accreditation, 3 years
1998 Full accreditation, 5 years
1992 Full accreditation, 5 years

Academic Affiliations

  • Florida State University College of Medicine (clinical, education)
  • University of Florida (clinical, education and research)
  • University of Central Florida College of Medicine
  • Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville (rotating transitional residents)

Medical Student Education Programs

Our program provides a major clinical campus for the core and elective pediatric rotations for third- and fourth-year medical students of Florida State University College of Medicine. University of Florida College of Medicine students may choose any of our pediatric electives as well as sub-internship electives and are given preference according to our academic affiliation. Many students choose fourth-year medical school electives and sub-internships.

Number of Residents (Current)

42
Pediatrics
2 Chief Residents/Junior Faculty

Current Residents

PL-1
Suzanna Attia
Ryan Brogan
Jake Deines
Angela Goodwin
Amy Hatcher
Joseph Henderson
Meghan Martin
Debra Munro
Kevin O’Brien
Omolade Oduala
Erika Ondrasek
Eric Remster
Adam Ruskowski
Erika Shelburne
Fernando Suarez

PL-2
Katherine Bovee
Ngoc Du
Erin Frick
Lonna Gordon
Sabina Holland
Sasha Monteil
Vi Ngo
Roshni Patel
Sandra Rodriguez
Melissa Roewe
Eric Schlekeway
Jamie Singleton
Samuel Stephenson
Melissa Valentin

PL-3
Michelle Asher
Kyle Bow
Andrea Burns
Suzanne Davis
Carolina Echeverri-Arranz
Nicole Fields
Lindsay Kahn
Nevine Mahmoud
Carey McDade
Patoula Panagos
Pamela Ponce
Elizabeth Tatum
Colette Waite

PL-4
Erin Connelly – Chief Resident, Junior Faculty
Colleen McLeod – Chief Resident, Junior Faculty

Institution Awards and Recognition

Orlando Health is a great place to work. We are proud of our most recent awards for excellence.

  • Arnold Palmer Hospital Ranks 26th in U.S. News & World Report's 2008 Edition of America's Best Children's Hospitals
  • Arnold Palmer Hospital recipient of Medal of Honor for Organ Donation for 2007 & 2008
  • Orlando Health was named Employer of Choice by Employer of Choice, Inc. Orlando Health was one of only three hospitals in Florida and the 18th employer nationally to achieve this distinction.
  • Orlando Health was selected as one of the top 100 companies for working families by the Orlando Sentinel for the 11th time.
  • Top 100 Doctors in America by Woodward/White Publishing
  • Top 100 Hospitals in America by HCIA
  • Consumer's Choice Award by National Research Corporation
  • Top 100 Hospitals in Cardiac Intervention by HCIA
  • Top 100 Orthopedic Hospital by HCIA
  • A "Most Wired" Health Care System by Hospitals & Health Networks
  • MONEY magazine listed Orlando Regional Medical Center among the best hospitals in the Sunbelt Region for the treatment of congestive heart failure, stroke and spinal fusion.
  • Fourth Best Florida Employer for Working Women by the Florida Commission on the Status of Women
  • Florida Children's Forum Family Friendly Business Award
  • Vision Award for Diversity by the Downtown Orlando Partnership
  • The Saratoga Institute named Orlando Health "Best in America" for its accomplishments in Training and Development.

Application Requirements

  • Resident candidates must apply through ERAS - Electronic Residency Application Service.
  • A personal interview is required. The Academic Chairman reviews each application in ERAS. If you are selected for an interview you will be notified by e-mail with a letter of invitation. Interviews are done by invitation only.
  • Resident candidates must request USMLE scores to be forwarded via ERAS before the scheduled interview date. Osteopathic applicants must request NBOME scores to be forwarded by ERAS.
  • No USMLE cut off score, however you must pass on your 1st attempt.
  • A minimum of three letters of recommendation in addition to the dean's letter are required.
  • Interview dates are November through January.
  • The deadline for applying to the pediatric residency program is December 1st.
  • Graduation cut-off is 5 years. If less than 5 years, you need 1 year of “hands on” clinical experience. An Observership does not count.
  • We accept international medical graduates, and the ECFMG certification is required before we will list an international medical graduate on our rank list.
  • We do not sponsor or offer any type of Visa’s, Observerships, Externships or Prematches.

Contact Us

If you require more information, wish to apply to our residency program, or to sign-up for an elective rotation or acting internship, you can reach us by e-mail at pedsres@orlandohealth.com or by phone at 321.841.8562 or fax 407.872.0544.

Joan Y. Meek, MD, MS, FAAP
Academic Chairman, Pediatrics
Pediatric Residency Program Director

Erin Connelly, MD
Chief Resident, Junior Faculty

Colleen McLeod, MD

Chief Resident, Junior Faculty

Tina Zimmerman
Academic Program Manager

Lisa Bailey
Senior Residency Coordinator

Luanne Kromko
Senior Residency Coordinator