2601 E. Main Street Ventura, CA 93003
Phone: (805) 643-7500 | Fax: (805) 643-7510

Pediatric Staff

Meet our team at Surfside Pediatrics! Please take a few moments to learn about our skilled practitioners and our friendly, nurturing staff.

At Surfside Pediatrics, we consider it both a great joy and responsibility to care for children. Most of us are parents ourselves, so we strive to be understanding and available to the families we are privileged to serve. We are honored that you have chosen us as your child's primary medical provider and are confident that you will be pleased with the quality of care and service that we can provide you and your family.

A vital part of our service to children begins with our outstanding staff who works hard to manage and maintain a professional, caring and supportive environment for our patients in a timely manner. Our doctors are Board Certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and are lifelong learners. Not only have they received advanced medical training in pediatrics, they continually pursue ongoing education to stay abreast of the latest in child health care.

Your child's health is as important to us as it is to you. We look forward to providing you with excellent pediatric care, in the Ventura, Ojai, Oxnard, Fillmore, Santa Paula and Camarillo areas.


Meet Our Providers

Dr. White, the providers and staff at Surfside Pediatrics focus on health promotion and health maintenance, trying to teach families how to raise healthy, confident, well-balanced children while providing excellent care for your child from newborn infants through childhood, and adolescence.

Kevin White, MD FAAP

Ventura, CA Pediatrician

Surfside Pediatrics

Dr. Kevin White is the founder of Surfside Pediatrics. He has a passion for providing the best family centered pediatric care in Ventura County. He trained originally in Nutrition and Dietetics. He attended medical school at the prestigious Dalhousie University Medical School in Canada. He completed a pediatric residency at University of Western Ontario and the Children's Hospital of Western Ontario in London, Canada. He then went on to do advanced training in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the IWK Grace Health Center in Halifax, Canada. He worked in Newfoundland (northern Canada) providing pediatric care in remote locations. Prior to opening Surfside Pediatrics, Dr. White practiced in group practices in Ventura and Santa Monica.

Dr. White Serves on the board of several charitable organizations. He is active in medical missions work and is the founder of West Africa Medical Missions. He is a nationally recognized speaker on infant nutrition. He is the past department of pediatrics Chair at Community Memorial Hospital. Dr. White is married, and father of four children and three grandchildren. His hobbies include cooking, music and travel.

Undergraduate Education:
University of Ottawa, Canada : BS Nutrition and Biochemistry, 1990

Graduate School Education:
Dalhousie University, Canada : International Development Studies, 1992

Medical Education:
Dalhousie University Medical School, Canada: Doctor of Medicine, 1996

Residency:
University of Western Ontario, Canada : Pediatrics, 1999

Fellowship:
IWK Grace Health Centre, Canada : Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 2001

Professional Qualifications and Certifications:
American Board of Pediatrics
Advanced Pediatrics Life Support Certified
LMCC, Part I
LMCC, Part ll
Neonatal Advanced Life Support

Languages other than English:
French and Italian

Affiliations:
Ventura County Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, 2001
Community Memorial Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, 2001
St John's Regional Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, 2001

Honors and Awards:
Chair of Pediatrics, Community Memorial Hospital, 2004
IWK Board of Governors Fellowship Award, 1999 and 2000
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation Award, 1990


Stacey Lowen, MD FAAP
Stacey Lowen, MD FAAP

Ventura, CA Pediatrician

Surfside Pediatrics

Dr. Stacey Lowen joined Surfside Pediatrics in 2015. She completed her undergrad, medical school and residency at UCLA. She has a passion for providing well child and urgent care to children of all ages. She has extended training in newborn breastfeeding care. She also serves on the board of the South Bay Eating Disorder Coalition and mentors Pediatric residents at UCLA. Prior to joining Surfside Pediatrics, Dr. Lowen worked at a private pediatric practice in Palos Verdes.

When not working, Dr. Lowen spends her down time with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys photography, nature hikes, going to the beach and travel.

Undergraduate Education:
UCLA: BA in Political Science, 1999

Graduate School Education:
UCI Post-Baccalaureate Program : Biology, 2003

Medical Education:
UCLA/Drew School of Medicine : Doctor of Medicine, 2007

Residency:
UCLA: Pediatrics, 2010

Professional Qualifications and Certifications:
American Board of Pediatrics
PALS

Languages other than English:
Medical Spanish

Awards:
Chairman's Award for Excellence in Pediatrics, UCLA College of Medicine, 2007
Letter of Distinction: Pediatrics, UCLA College of Medicine, 2006
Letter of Distinction: Medicine, UCLA College of Medicine, 2006
Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Award for Excellence in Emergency Medicine, 2006


Gary Winston, MD
Gary Winston, MD

Ventura, CA Pediatrician

Surfside Pediatrics

Dr. Gary Winston joined Surfside Pediatrics in November 2019. He came to us after a 42-year career in the SF Bay Area. His practice which he founded in 1977 grew to 8 pediatricians in three cities. Besides managing the practice, he also was a city councilman, president of the local IPA and served on the board and other committees of Hill Physicians Medical Group.

Dr. Winston enjoys the diagnostic aspects of pediatrics and following families and their children through the many phases of a child’s growth and development. He focuses on anticipatory guidance and preventative medicine as well as acute care. He strongly believes in evidence-based medicine. Specifically, he works with families on the chronic issues that affect us all: sleep, nutrition, weight issues, acne, chronic headaches and stomach aches, asthma and allergies, school issues, developmental concerns and more. He moved to Ventura with his wife to be close to their granddaughters. They have three daughters who live in LA and one daughter in Portland. Dr. Winston enjoys music, the beach and ocean, reading and art.

Undergraduate Education:
Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania BA in Biology, 1971

Medical Education:
Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City Doctor of Medicine, 1974

Residency:
Oakland Children’s Hospital in Oakland, California, 1974-1976
Guest Doctor Zurich Children’s Hospital in Switzerland, 1976-1977 after Guest Doctor Zurich Children's Hospital in Switzerland

Undergraduate Education:
University of California, Davis : Bachelor of Science in Psychology & International Human Rights, 2007

Medical Education:
Duke University, School of Nursing : Doctor of Nursing, 2014
Duke University, School of Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner, 2013
Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing : Bachelors of Science in Nursing, 2009

Professional Qualifications and Certifications:
Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist

Awards:
Together We Care Scholarship award, 2013
Duke-Johnson & Johnson Fellowship, 2015

Membership:
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
California Association for Nurse Practitioners - Chapter President
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners


Melissa Wilkey, CPNP, MSN, RN
Melissa Wilkey, CPNP, MSN, RN

Ventura, CA Nurse Practitioner

Surfside Pediatrics

Melissa joined Surfside Pediatrics in 2021 and we are so excited to have another wonderful Nurse Practitioner as part of our pediatric provider team! Melissa completed her nursing school at Southern Utah University and her Masters of Science in Nursing at the University of Colorado. She did her clinical training at Children's Hospital Colorado. Melissa is trained in neonatal, child and adolescent care, along with surgical and trauma specialties. She is passionate about lactation education as well.

Melissa and her husband Clark meet at Southern Utah University and moved to Colorado for Clark to pursue his medical degree. In 2020 they moved to Ventura where Clark was accepted into the resident program at Community Memorial Hospital. Melissa is very excited to be at Surfside Pediatrics. She enjoys photography, hiking, sports, cooking and seaglass hunting at the beach. Melissa and her husband enjoy traveling and exploring the outdoors with their two daughters.

Medical Education:
University of Colorado, School of Nursing: Master of Science in Nursing, 2020
Southern Utah University, School of Nursing: Bachelors of Science in Nursing, 2016

Professional Qualifications and Certifications:
Certified Nurse Practitioner- PALS, CPR, BLS, ACLS, Neonatal Resuscitation Program, Emergency Nursing Pediatric Certification

Membership:
California Association for Pediatrics Nurse Practitioners
California Association for Nurse Practitioners


Erin Baird PALS, CPR, BLS
Erin Baird, CPNP, MSN, RN

Ventura, CA Nurse Practitioner

Surfside Pediatrics

Erin Baird is a pediatric nurse practitioner who specializes in pediatric acute care and treatment of medically complex and special needs children. She also has a passion for preventative asthma treatment. She studied at the University of Pennsylvania and worked at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital before joining Surfside Pediatrics in 2016. Erin enjoys cooking, running, hiking and going to the beach. Erin is married and has two children.

Medical Education:
University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing: Master of Science in Nursing, 2016
University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 2012

Professional Qualifications and Certifications:
Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
PALS, CPR, BLS
Medical Spanish certificate, 2016

Membership:
California Association for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
California Association for Nurse Practitioners


LaRae Hansen
LaRae Hansen, CPNP, MSN, RN

Ventura, CA Nurse Practitioner

Surfside Pediatrics

LaRae joined Surfside Pediatrics in August 2022. She is originally from Minnesota and completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Minnesota in 2006 and then worked as a RN at Children's Hospital of Minnesota and at Cottage Hospital, Pediatrics in Santa Barbara. LaRae received her Pediatrics Nurse Practitioner degree at Cal State Long Beach in 2020. LaRae is married and has two children and lives in Ventura. She enjoys traveling, camping, and spending time outdoors with her family.

Medical Education:
California State University Long Beach, School of Nursing: Master of Science in Nursing, 2020
University of Minnesota, School of Nursing: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 2006

Professional Qualifications and Certifications: Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
PALS, CPR, BLS

Membership:
National Association for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
American Association for Nurse Practitioners


Marli Tiach
Marli Taich, CPNP, MSN, RN

Ventura, CA Nurse Practitioner

Surfside Pediatrics

Marli joined Surfside Pediatrics in the summer of 2023 and feels so lucky to be working with such a great community of families! Marli is a Los Angeles native and completed her undergraduate and graduate nursing education at Columbia University in New York. Following her training, she spent three years working in pediatric primary care at a wonderful practice in Denver, Colorado. She then moved to Los Angeles for three years where she worked at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles in the Department of Neurology. She is now so excited to be back in pediatric primary care working with families to help provide the best possible care to their kids.
Marli and her husband Zack met in college at UC San Diego, and then they roamed around the country as he pursued his medical training. Zack is currently an intensivist, pulmonologist and sleep medicine doctor with West Coast Pulmonary in Oxnard/Camarillo. When they are not working, Marli and her husband love exploring new restaurants, cooking, hiking, eating ice cream and going to the beach with her husband, son and puppy.

Medical Education:
Columbia University School of Nursing: Master of Science in Nursing, 2017
Columbia University School of Nursing: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 2015
University of California, San Diego: Bachelor of Science in Psychology, 2013

Professional Qualifications and Certifications: Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
PALS, CPR, BLS

Membership:
National Association for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
American Association for Nurse Practitioners


Meet Our Staff

Danica Cugnoni, Office Manager & Billing Coordinator

Danica Cugnoni, Office Manager & Billing Coordinator

Danica has been at Surfside Pediatrics since 2007. She is the office manager for Surfside Pediatrics. She is also part of our billing department assisting our patients with insurance and patient account questions. Danica has been on two mission trips with Dr. White to Africa and has a passion for international mission work. Danica lives in Oxnard and is married and has two sons. She enjoys reading, cooking, travel and sports.


Shannon Coronado, Billing Coordinator

Shannon joined Surfside Pediatrics in 2017. Shannon helps with the insurance and patient billing. Before joining Surfside Pediatrics she was worked at an ENT office in Santa Barbara for 7 years and at a OB/GYN office for 10 years. Shannon lives in Ventura and is married and has four children and one grandson. She enjoys crossFit, gardening and spending time with her family.


Adriana Becerra, Front Office

Adriana joined Surfside Pediatrics in 2019. She is one of our front desk schedulers. She worked for many years at another pediatric medical office in Ventura before joining Surfside Pediatrics. She is fluent in Spanish. She lives in Oxnard and is married and has a daughter and son. Adriana enjoys spending time with family, watching her son play baseball and cheering on the Dodgers.


Kaitlyn Karluk, Front Office, Back office Medical Assistant

Kaitlyn joined Surfside Pediatrics in 2018. She is multi talented working as one of our front desk schedulers, insurance coordinator and also floats to work as a medical assistant in the back office. Before joining Surfside Pediatrics she worked as a medical assistant at Community Pediatrics in Westlake. Kaitlyn lives in Ventura with her boyfriend and son. She enjoys spending time with her family, riding dirt bikes and camping in the desert and going to Dodger’s games.


Emma Ortiz, Front Office & Referral Coordinator

Emma joined Surfside Pediatrics in 2022. She is one of our front desk schedulers and helps with patient referrals. Before joining Surfside Pediatrics Emma had a long career at Nordstrom in WA and CA. Emma lives in Oxnard with her husband, two sons and stepchildren. she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, traveling and going to Dodger's games.


Nuvia Silva, Back Office Medical Assistant

Nuvia has been with Surfside Pediatrics since we opened our doors in 2006. Nuvia is our lead back office medical assistant. Before joining Surfside Pediatrics she was worked at another pediatric office for six years as a medical assistant. She is fluent in Spanish. Nuvia lives in Oxnard and is a mother of twin girls and a boy. She is a Dodgers sport fanatic and loves going to Dodgers games. Nuvia has been on a couple medical mission trips with Dr. White to Jamaica and enjoyed sharing the volunteer experience with her teenage daughters as well.


Alina Pena, Back Office Medical Assistant

Alina joined Surfside Pediatrics in 2022 as a back office Medical Assistant. Prior to Surfside Pediatrics she worked as a medical assistant in Illinois and New York. Alina lives in Port Hueneme with her husband who is in the military and their three children. She enjoys going to the beach, watching her children play football and cheer and spending time with her family.


Jodi Batten, Front Office

Jodi joined Surfside Pediatrics in 2022. She worked as a mental health coordinator at Vista del Mar hospital before joining Surfside Pediatrics. Jodi lives in Ventura with her two daughters. She enjoys hiking and going to the gym and the beach and spending time with her family.


Laura Tapia, Back Office Medical Assistant

Laura joined Surfside Pediatrics in 2017 as a back office Medical Assistant. Before joining Surfside she worked as a medical assistant for a Pediatrician at Clinicas del Camino Real in Moorpark. Laura lives in Oxnard and is married and keeps busy with her active son & daughter. She enjoys cooking, spending time with her family and watching the Dodgers and professional soccer games.


Emily Gomez, Back Office Medical Assistant

Emily joined Surfside Pediatrics in 2022 as a back office Medical Assistant. She lives in Ventura. Emily is also a college student at Ventura College and hopes to pursue a career in medicine. She enjoys shopping, hiking, and camping.


Keara Sylvester, Back Office Medical Assistant

Keara joined Surfside Pediatrics in 2023 as a back office Medical Assistant. Before joining Surfside she worked as a medical assistant in primary care. She lives in Ventura with her son. She enjoys shopping, going to the lake, and camping.


For more information or questions call Surfside Pediatrics at (805) 643-7500!

Hours of Operation

Monday
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday
8:30 am - 7:30 pm
Wednesday
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Friday
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

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