Ask the Pediatrician

Don't miss this chance to ask three local pediatricians anything as you prepare for your newborn. Expectant parent's questions will guide the discussion. Parents of newborns are also welcome

Hollywood: April 23rd at 6:30pm

• Dr. David Feazell
• Dr. Rachel Kramer
• Dr. Bess Raker

Westlake Village: TBA

• TBA
• TBA
• TBA

Santa Monica: TBA

• TBA
• TBA
• TBA

Here are some possible topics:

• Well baby care: what is the schedule?
• How will I know if my baby is sick?
• When should I call the doctor?
• Which thermometer is best to use?
• Normal Baby Behaviors (hiccups, sneezing, burping)
• Skin care-rashes, wipes, diaper cream, lotion, powder
• What is colic and can it be prevented?
• When might my baby sleep more?
• Blocked tear ducts
• Whooping cough epidemic (Pertussis)
• Vitamin D supplement
• Vaccines

Snacks will be served. $10 per couple.
Space is limited to 14 couples. Register today by calling:

Santa Monica: 310-998-1981 |  Hollywood: 323-469-5300 | Westlake Village: 805-777-7179

Meet Our Pediatricians!

Dr. Peter Antall, MD Teaching in Westlake Village Dr. Peter Antall, MD is a general pediatrician and a partner at Conejo Children’s Medical Group in Thousand Oaks. Peter grew up in both Cleveland, Ohio and Boston, MA. He attended George Washington University School of Medicine, completed his residency at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, and then completed one year of fellowship in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Stanford University. Peter is a full time practicing general pediatrician but has many other professional interests. Peter has been chief of pediatrics at Los Robles Hospital, he has created and currently manages the ER pediatrician program at Los Robles, and he has developed a smartphone app called Pocket Pediatrician. Peter is also the Pediatric Medical Director at Specialists On Call, a telemedicine company based in Westlake Village. Peter is an avid bicyclist and lives in Westlake Village with his wife, three daughters, and a multitude of pets.

Dr. Monique F. Araya, MD, FAAP Teaching in Hollywood A native of Los Angeles, Monique Araya is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a Board Certified Pediatrician in private practice. She and her partners, Jerry Whitman, MD, and Rachel Kramer, MD, are one of the most well established pediatric offices in Beverly Hills. After completing her undergraduate education at UC Davis, Monique continued her education overseas and then in New Jersey. In 2000, Monique completed her Pediatric Residency in Cleveland, Ohio at Case Western Reserve University Hospitals. She moved to San Luis Obispo, CA in 2001 where she began her career as a General Pediatrician. She established an mediated an educational forum in San Luis Obispo for Pediatricians to discuss medical studies and patient cases to improve both knowledge and patient care. In 2006 Monique moved back to Southern California and joined the staff of Cedars Sinai Medical Center. At her private practice breastfeeding is supported and encourage by her partners as well as her staff, including two nurses who are educators trained in lactation. She has two young children and has spent the last ten years enjoying watching all of the children in her life learn and grow.

Dr. Leila Bozorgnia, MD Teaching in Santa Monica Leila Bozorgnia, MD, is a board certified Pediatrician and owner of a new private practice in West Los Angeles. Dr Leila grew up in Fresno, California. She attended UC, Irvine where she completed a Bachelors of Science in Biology. Dr. Leila obtained her medical degree from The Chicago Medical School. In 2007, she moved to Los Angeles to complete her residency training at LA County -USC Women's and Children's Hospital. After training, she worked for two years in private practice and urgent care. Dr. Leila speaks English, Spanish, and Farsi. She lives in Santa Monica with her husband.

Miriam de Lyon, MD Teaching in Westlake Village Dr. Miriam de Lyon, board certified in general pediatrics, has been in pediatric practice in Thousand Oaks for 21 years. Growing up in NC, she graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in Biology. She then obtained her MD degree from UNC - Chapel Hill School of Medicine and followed her husband to New York where she completed her residency in Pediatrics at Westchester County Medical Center. Following her husband again, she re-located to CA where she and her husband have raised their two sons, ages 20 and 23. Dr. de Lyon enjoys working with new parents, trying to work in partnership with families and supporting them in whatever style of parenting they choose. She has been blessed to be a partner in a long-standing pediatric practice in Thousand Oaks, Los Robles Pediatric Medical Group, where the goal is always the very best possible care for infants, children, and young adults. Her nurses call her "the baby whisperer."

Dr. Rebecca DiMundo, MD Teaching in Santa Monica Rebecca DiMundo, MD, is a Pediatrician and owner of a small private practice in Santa Monica. She attended medical school at Keck USC School of Medicine, then completed residency in Pediatrics at L.A. County - USC Women's and Children's Hospital in Los Angeles. After graduation she spent 5 years working with the National Health Service Corps bringing medical care to underserved communities along the Texas - Mexico border and in the Central Valley of California before returning to her hometown of Los Angeles. She lives with her husband and 3 children.

Dr. Danelle Fisher, MD Teaching in Santa Monica Dr. Danelle Fisher is a native of Los Angeles. She graduated from college at UC Santa Barbara with High Honors and then attended medical school at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York. She completed residency in general pediatrics at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Dr. Fisher is the owner of Westchester Pediatric Medical Group in the Westchester area of Los Angeles. She spent five years as the chair of pediatrics at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica and currently serves as the vice-chair. This appointment has her father, Dr. Stuart Fisher, a urologist who practiced at St. John's for 40 years, bursting with pride. She is a past board member of the Los Angeles Pediatric Society. One of her proudest accomplishments has been her participation on three medical missions to Africa. But best of all was when she and her husband welcomed their son Joseph into their lives in December 2011.

Dr. Sonya Sethi Gohill Teaching in Westlake Village Dr. Sonya Sethi Gohill is the proud owner of Brentwood Pediatrics, a small private pediatrics office in Brentwood. "Dr. Sonya" grew up in Los Angeles, and attended Stanford University, where she graduated with distinction. She then attended medical school at UCLA, and stayed there for residency. She has been in private practice since 2002, and opened her own office in June, 2010. She is also trained as a certified lactation educator. Dr. Sonya lives in Santa Monica with her husband and two sons, Dilan (5) and Jaiden (2).

Dr. Bob Hamilton, MD Teaching in Santa Monica Dr. Bob Hamilton is a pediatrician who has practiced in the Santa Monica area for the past 27 years. He is a graduate of UCLA's School of Medicine and did his pediatric internship and residency at UCLA as well, serving as Chief Resident during his final year of training. Dr. Hamilton is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at UCLA and has served as President of the Los Angeles Pediatric Society. He is the father of 6 children and has 3 grandchildren.  He enjoys gardening, biking and reading and leads medical mission teams to Africa twice each year. He is the founder of Pacific Ocean Pediatrics and practices with Jenna Roberts, MD and his daughter, Noel Salyer, MD

Dr. Lisa Hauselman, MD Teaching in Hollywood Lisa Hauselman is a board certified pediatrician and founding partner of Premier Pediatrics Beverly Hills. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Lisa wanted to explore the East Coast and earned her undergraduate degree in History and English at the University of Pennsylvania. She then moved to New York City to attend Columbia University's post baccalaureate program in pre-medical studies. Upon returning home, Lisa attended medical school at UCLA School of Medicine, graduating with honors. Nothing made her father, Dr. Stephen Shapiro (former Chief of Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center), more proud than to walk his daughter down the aisle at her medical school graduation. She continued in her father's footsteps by completing her residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the same hospital her father had trained at 30 years before. Lisa lives with her husband Nick and two beautiful children: Sophie (7) and Moses (4) who continue to make her a better pediatrician every day with their love and support.

Dr. Rachel J. Kramer, MD, CLE Teaching in Hollywood A native of Los Angeles, Rachel Kramer is a Board Certified Pediatrician in private practice. She and her partners, Jerry Whitman, MD, and Monique Araya, MD, are one of the most well established pediatric offices in Beverly Hills. After completing her undergraduate education at UCLA, Rachel traveled to Israel where she completed her medical school studies at the University of Tel Aviv, graduating at the top of her class. In 2001, Rachel returned to Los Angeles to complete her General Pediatrics residency training at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she was awarded Resident of the Year for her excellence in patient care, and the Neonatology Award for superior knowledge in the field of newborn medicine. During her residency, Rachel realized the great need in the community for breastfeeding knowledge amongst medical professionals. She created the lactation elective for pediatric residents at Cedars-Sinai, one which continues to this day. After completing her residency, Rachel received formal training in lactation through UCLA and became a Certified Lactation Educator. She is among a small handful of Southern California physicians who have this certification. Rachel is on staff at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she is active in leadership in the Department of Pediatrics. She lives with her husband and three adorable daughters, ages 7, 4 and 1 in Los Angeles.

Michael P. Melman, M.D., F.A.A.P. Teaching in Westlake Village Michael P. Melman, M.D., F.A.A.P., is a board certified Pediatrician and partner at Pediatric Affiliates Medical Group which has offices in both Agoura Hills and West Hills.  Michael was raised in New York City and Long Island, New York.  He received his Bachelor’s degree, with distinction, from Cornell University. He then attended medical school at The University of Buffalo School of Medicine, where he graduated cum laude. After receiving his medical degree, Dr. Melman served as a pediatric leukemia research fellow for the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute in Washington, DC. There, he received a Cancer Research Training Award and published two papers on acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He then headed south to Atlanta, Georgia, where he completed his pediatric residency at Emory University in 2003.  Following his pediatric residency, Michael moved west to California and joined Pediatric Affiliates Medical Group, where he has been for the past 9 years. Michael was board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in 2004 and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the American Medical Association. He lives with his beautiful wife Brianna (a nurse), his 10 month old son, Bronx, and his dog, Mickey.  He is an avid body-builder and enjoys spending his free time weight training at Gold’s Gym and exploring the outdoors. He also served as a volunteer physician on the Malibu Search & Rescue Team.

Dr. Bess Raker, MD Teaching in Hollywood "Dr. Bess" as her patients affectionately call her, is the co-founder of Beverly Hills Pediatrics and an attending physician and on the teaching staff at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She is committed to educating parents about the care of her young patients and is particularly passionate about newborn growth and development and first-time parenthood. Like her pediatrician father who practiced for 25 years, she loves pediatric medicine because of the deeply personal relationships she forms with her families. Dr. Raker completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas, Austin, where she graduated as a Dean's Distinguished Graduate, and she received her medical degree from the University of Arizona. She completed her residency at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles in 2002, where she is still involved with their Pediatric Advisory Committee and fundraising.

Dr. Noel Salyer, MD Teaching in Santa Monica A board certified pediatrician, was born and raised in Santa Monica, CA. She earned her undergraduate degree from University of California, Los Angeles and then completed her medical degree at University of California, Davis. She stayed in Northern California and did her pediatric residency at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University. She also has an interest in international medicine and has spent time in Africa on several medical mission trips. After completing her training, she moved back home and joined Pacific Ocean Pediatrics in 2010. She is excited to be working at POP alongside her father, Dr. Robert Hamilton. She and her husband Kyle live in Santa Monica with their two small children, Nathan and Emery.

Dr. Ken Saul, MD Teaching in Santa Monica Kenneth Saul, M.D. was born in Cleveland, Ohio. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate, he received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Northwestern University in 1976 and his Medical Degree from Ohio State University in 1979. Choosing Pediatrics as his specialty, he did his internship and residency at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles before entering private practice in Thousand Oaks, California, in 1982. Over the years, Dr. Saul has received recognition for his clinical studies in the areas of newborn Jaundice, bed-wetting and vaccines. He is often the requested speaker for medical lectures around the country, as well as for local parent groups on a variety of medical topics. During his career Dr. Saul has also written articles for several prestigious medical journals and authored a monthly column for Family Life Magazine.

Dr. Lisa Stern, MD Teaching in Santa Monica Dr. Lisa Stern, has been a practicing pediatrician in Santa Monica for 18 years. She started her career with Harvey Karp at Pier Avenue Pediatrics and they joined Tenth Street Pediatrics in 1997. With seven pediatricians caring for patients 365 days per year, Tenth Street is the largest private practice in west Los Angeles. Lisa originally hails from NYC and attended Barnard College and New York Medical College. She came west to train in general pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and then in pediatric hematology-oncology at UCLA. Along the way Lisa raised two wonderful daughters, one of whom is in college and one who is graduating from high school this year. In her free time, Lisa is an avid hiker, yogi, and skier. She is also dedicated to improving healthcare in Third World countries. This summer Lisa and her daughter volunteered at an orphanage in Kenya.

Dr. Carla Tahan, MD Teaching in Westlake Village Dr. Carla Tahan is a Board Certified Pediatrician and member of the AAP who has been practicing general pediatrics for 17 years. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from UCLA and pursued graduate studies in Public Health with an emphasis in health education. She also spent some time teaching in the Los Angeles and Fresno Unified School Districts. She went on to get her medical degree from George Washington University and completed her pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. In 1999, Dr. Tahan started her own private practice in Oak Park in association with Dr. Andrew Matthew. She currently lives in West Hills with her husband and her two children, Michael (10 yrs) and Christina (8 yrs).

Dr. Betsy Weisz, MD Teaching in Westlake Village Dr. Betsy Weisz graduated from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1979 and received her MD from Albany Medical College four years later. While in medical school, Dr. Weisz met her future husband, Dr. Russell Spadaro. The two then did their pediatric training together at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. After residency Dr. Weisz worked for CIGNA Healthcare in the San Fernando Valley where she eventually became the Chairman of the Pediatric Department as well as the Pediatric Department Head at Medical Center of North Hollywood. In 2001 Dr. Weisz joined the staff of North Oaks Pediatrics. In April 2008 Dr. Weisz became a founding partner at Oak Tree Pediatrics and More. Dr. Weisz is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is an active member at Los Robles Hospital and is currently the Chairman of the Pediatric Dept and the Vice-Chair of the Credentials Committee. She is also bilingual in English and Spanish.