Professional Staff

Directors

Raun D. Melmed, MD
Medical Director

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Michel Ann Wilds
Executive Director

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Developmental Pediatricians

Agnes Bilog, MD
Developmental Pediatrician

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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)

Shabana Jessani, MD
Developmental Pediatrician

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Dr. Shabana Jessani is a developmental/behavioral pediatrician who joined the Melmed Center in 2004. She completed a fellowship in developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Schneider Children's Hospital, a division of North Shore Long Island Jewish Medical Center, in New York. Her residency training... (click here to continue reading)

Anna DeOcampo, MD
Developmental Pediatrician

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Dr. Anna DeOcampo is a board certified developmental/behavioral pediatrician who came to the Melmed Center after 5 years of subspecialty practice at the Greenville Hospital, University Medical Center, located in Greenville, South Carolina. During her practice she had teaching responsibilities as... (click here to continue reading)

Charissa PeBenito, MD
Developmental Pediatrician

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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)

Raun D. Melmed, MD
Developmental Pediatrician & 
Medical Director

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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)

Johanna Domer, MD
Pediatrician

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Dr. Johanna Domer is a general pediatrician who completed her residency training in 2001 at St. Joseph's Hospital. She received additional training in developmental and behavioral pediatrics at the Arizona Child Study Center until 2003. She enjoys working with children with various developmental issues, including... (click here to continue reading)

Kathleen Shefner, MD, FAAP
Pediatrician

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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)

Nurse Practitioners

Jane Privateer, RN, MSN, PsyNP
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner 

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Jane Privateer, the clinical director of the Melmed Center and a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, has been with the Melmed Center since 1998. She specializes in care of both children and adults. She brings over 16 years of experience working with children in developmental pediatric, psychiatric, and rehabilitation settings. Her multiple strengths include a strong clinical and...(click here to continue reading)

Chris Peluso, DNP, MHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

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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)

Joe Kalush, PMHNP, APRN-BC, PsyNP
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

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Joe Kalush is a psychiatric nurse practitioner who completed his education at the University of Michigan and Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, Tennessee. He is a board certified advanced practice registered nurse and came on staff with the Melmed Center in 2012. Joseph sees children and adults. He is an avid sports fan and often plays golf and volleyball. 

Richard Wade
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

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Richard Wade is certified family nurse practitioner currently attending Brandman
University to complete his Doctorial degree in May 2017, and preparing for his
certification as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Richard has 9 years of
advance nursing experience providing a variety of comprehensive acute care in the
hospital and skilled nursing... (click here to continue reading)

Occupational Therapists

Craig Ciuk, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist

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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)

Psychologists

Kristin Abbate, MA, PsyD
Psychologist

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Dr. Kristin Abbate joined the Melmed Center in 2011. She received her Bachelors degree in Psychology and Sociology from Tulane University. She completed both her Masters degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, as well as a Doctoral degree in Clinical...(click here to continue reading)

Janet Chao, EdD
Psychologist

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Dr. Janet Chao has been with the Melmed Center since 1995. She brings over twenty-five years experience from employment in public schools, clinics, and private practice. She is originally from the Chicago area and attended University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. She received a Masters...(click here to continue reading) 

Julie Weston, PhD
Psychologist

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Dr. Julie Weston received her Masters degree and Doctorate at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2006. She completed her internship and fellowship training at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s Hospital specializing in both child...(click here to continue reading)

Charles Fratantoni, MS
Certified School Psychologist

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Mr. Fratantoni joins Melmed Center with over 30 years of experience as a school psychologist in Illinois and Arizona. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in psychology at Loyola University of Chicago and earned his Master of Science degree from the NASP-approved program of school psychology at Illinois State University in... (click here to continue reading)

Educational Advocate

Nutritional Therapy

Ricki Light, MEd
Educational Advocate

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Ricki Light is the Director of Education at the Melmed Center and has worked with the practice since 2000. Ricki has her Masters degree in Educational Counseling and School Administration. She has over twenty- five years of special and general education teaching experience and worked as an Inclusion Facilitator... (click here to continue reading)

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

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Jan Katzen studied nutrition and health under   the tutelage of the Director of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition at the London Metropolitan University.   She interned with the founder of Foresight Preconceptual Care and has served on the advisory boards of the Mother and Child Foundation (UK), the Montessori Education for Autism Foundation (UK), and ePap Nutritionals in South Africa. (click here to continue reading...) 

Coaches

Erinn Juliano, MS, CPT, RBT
Administrative Assistant
Support For Life Care Coach
Certified Personal Trainer
ABA Program Manager

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Erinn Juliano has been with the Melmed Center since 2004. She earned her Bachelor degree from Grand Canyon University in Athletic Training, with a minor in Coaching. She went on and received her Masters degree in Exercise Science with an emphasis in Fitness and Wellness. She is also a NASM Certified Personal Trainer specializing in Weight Loss. Erinn is responsible for the coordination of care for patients involved in the Support For Life program, ABA Program Manager and is also our Administrative Assistant, and trainer to all new employees.