Directors

Raun D. Melmed, MD
Medical Director

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Michel Ann Wilds
Executive Director

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Developmental Pediatricians

Raun D. Melmed, MD
Developmental Pediatrician & 
Medical Director

Dr. Raun Melmed, medical director of the Melmed Center and a developmental and behavioral pediatrician, founded Developmental Pediatric Associates, now known as the Melmed Center in 1989. He is a co-founder and the medical director of the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center. A native of South Africa, he... (click here to continue reading)

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Agnes Bilog, MD
Developmental Pediatrician

Dr. Agnes Bilog is a developmental/behavioral pediatrician who completed her residency training in pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin (affiliate of the Medical College of Wisconsin) in 1996. She pursued her fellowship training in developmental pediatrics at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in... (click here to continue reading)

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Kathleen Shefner, MD, FAAP
Pediatrician

Dr. Kathleen Shefner is a Board Certified Pediatrician who completed her residency at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. She was in private pediatric practice initially in Arcadia, CA for 15 years, then in Syracuse, NY for 12 years before relocating here in Arizona at Melmed Center.​ (click here to continue reading) 

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Charissa Pe Benito, MD
Developmental Pediatrician

Dr. Charissa PeBenito is a developmental/ behavioral pediatrician who completed her residency training in pediatrics at the Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center New York in 2000. She completed her fellowship training in Developmental Pediatrics at the New York University School of Medicine in 2003. She is... (click here to continue reading)

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Anna DeOcampo, MD
Developmental Pediatrician

Dr. Anna De Ocampo started at the Melmed Center in 2006. Prior to joining the Melmed Center, she had 5 years of clinical practice experience at Greenville Hospital Medical Center where she had teaching responsibilities as... (click here to continue reading)

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Nurse Practitioners

Jane Privateer, RN, MSN, PsyNP
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner 

Jane Privateer, the clinical director of the Melmed Center and a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, has been with the Melmed Center since 1998. Jane is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and specializes in the care of ADHD in both pediatric and adult populations. She brings over 20 years of experience working with children and adults in developmental...(click here to continue reading)

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Chyllia Dixon, PsyNP
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner 

Chyllia is Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Grand Canyon University and a Master of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Arizona.  She has certificates from the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts in Life Coaching, Hypnotherapy, Polarity Therapy, and Massage Therapy. (click here to continue reading)

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Chris Peluso, DNP, MHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Dr. Chris Peluso is a psychiatric nurse practitioner, specializing in the care of both children and adults. He has many years of experience with a wide range of psychiatric illnesses. He has been a psychiatric nurse for more than 22 years and remains passionate about his profession and the care he provides for his patients...(click here to continue reading)

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Occupational Therapists

Craig Ciuk, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist

Craig Ciuk has been an occupational therapist at the Melmed Center since 2001. He is originally from Michigan and received his degree from Saginaw Valley State University.

When working with children, his focus of treatment is on neurodevelopmental and...(click here to continue reading)

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Psychologists

Julie Weston, PhD
Psychologist

Dr. Julie Weston is a licensed child clinical psychologist who has been with the Melmed Center since 2007.  Her practice focuses primarily on comprehensive diagnostic assessments of neurodevelopmental disorders, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, and Intellectual Disability...(click here to continue reading)

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Molly Gregan, PsyD, NCSP
Psychologist

Dr. Molly Gregan joined the Melmed Center as a Licensed Psychologist in June 2021. Dr. Gregan is a Licensed Psychologist through the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners.  She is a seasoned professional with experience ...(click here to continue reading)

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Educational Advocate

Nutritional Therapy

Ricki Light, MEd
Educational Advocate

Ricki Light is an Educational Advocate and Strategist at the Melmed Center since 2000.  She has over forty years of educational experience including teaching special and general education in Toronto, Canada, and Los Angeles... (click here to continue reading)

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Jan Katzen, AMI, CFP, CN
Nutritional Therapist & Educator

Jan began working at Melmed Center in 2017 and works with children, adolescents, and adults to identify and improve eating habits that may negatively impact physical and mental well-being. Services begin with a complete health and nutritional history...  (click here to continue reading...) 

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