Meet Jen

Jen Carmona graduated from Parkland College in 2002 with an associate in science and then graduated from the Illinois State University in 2005 with a double major in Kinesiology with emphases in Exercise Science and Athletic Training. Jen worked as an Athletic Trainer in Las Vegas for over 7 years, until she went back to school for Respiratory Therapy. Jen graduated from Carrington College in 2014 and subsequently received her Respiratory Therapy license.

Jen has since worked as a Respiratory Therapist in acute care and adult and pediatric skilled nursing. Jen received her master’s in healthcare administration in 2018 and her Doctorate in Business Administration in 2022. In February of 2022, Jen began an Administrator in Training program at Silver State Pediatric SNF, and subsequently passed her Administrator’s exam in August and received her license in September of 2022. Jen became the Administrator of Silver State Pediatric SNF in December of 2022. Jen’s drive, compassion, and willingness to help others will ultimately ensure success and exceptional quality of care is achieved at the SSP!

Meet Lucia

Lucia brings over 25 years’ experience from numerous health care settings. Upon receiving a Bachelor of Science in Community Health from New Mexico State University she went on to graduate from Texas Woman’s University with a Master’s of Occupational Therapy. Lucia’s first position included providing occupational therapy services to four long term care facilities over two states. She quickly fell in love with her profession as it fits her personality and natural skill set perfectly. If you ask her, she’ll say, “I hit the career lottery.”

As our Neurotherapy Rehabilitation Program takes form, Lucia is the Therapy Director. Lucia’s background in therapy and commitment to quality improvement is sure to serve our kids well.

• What was your favorite toy as a kid? Slinky
• If you had a superpower, what would it be? Healing
• What’s your most worn-out book from childhood?One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish By Dr. Seuss
• If you could eat one thing every day for the rest of your life, what would it be? Peanut butter
• What is your favorite thing about yourself? Sense of humor

Meet Dr. Parks

Dr. David Parks is a 1972 Harvard graduate who went to the University of Florida College of Medicine before practicing medicine in the Navy for several years. Dr. Parks, a pediatric pulmonologist and associate professor in the UNLV School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics, believes that patient education and establishing rapport with patients and their families are essential to the art of medicine.

Dr. Parks knows that a good doctor does not always accept what they are told at face value. “One of the things that I teach medical students and residents is how to interact with young patients,” he said. “In response to my questions, sometimes patients and their parents answer what they think I want to hear. I compare their report of symptoms with medication use and pulmonary function and sometimes get suspicious. I teach medical students and residents to always be skeptical. Pay attention to the details. Understand the day-to-day variations. If they are not taking their medications like they should, it may be because they do not understand how to do it properly or perhaps, they just cannot afford it. “

For asthma patients, he developed a two-page “asthma action plan” that details what they should do while living with asthma, how to use an inhaler, and the actions to take when different symptoms arise.

“My goal is to have my asthma patients be completely symptom-free and on the least amount of medicine,” he said. “The three reasons why asthma is not controlled is due to compliance–compliance—compliance. This may mean they are not taking the medicine at all, not taking it correctly, or not taking it at the right time. It’s important to teach patients the how and, if they are having problems, to figure out the ‘why.’”

After decades of practicing medicine, Dr. Parks concludes, “As a doctor, you have to understand both the ’science of medicine’ and the ‘art of medicine,” he said. “The ’science of medicine’ is understanding the underlying pathophysiology of the disease process, developing a treatment plan, and prescribing the correct therapy. The ‘art of medicine’ is how you work with and communicate with the patient and how you teach them to control their underlying problem. It is the art of how to use your scientific knowledge to your patient’s benefit.”

Meet Dr. Montalvo Stanton

Dr. Evelyn Montalvo Stanton is a graduate of the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School where she subsequently held a position as the clinical associate professor of pediatrics. She also served in New Jersey as Barnabas Health Medical Group’s Division Director of Pediatric Pulmonology. Dr. Montalvo Stanton also completed a research fellowship in pediatric pulmonology at the Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. Later, Dr. Stanton taught at the New York City medical school, which eventually led to her current position as the chair of the UNLV School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics in Las Vegas, NV.

Fluent in English and Spanish, Dr. Montalvo Stanton has published research that has appeared in Pediatrics in Review as well as publications for the National Resources Defense Council and the American Lung Association. Specifically, her community outreach in New Jersey, which was often the subject of media attention, was largely centered on pulmonary education and asthma.

Other incredible achievements include the creation of a toll-free bilingual helpline, and a website to assist parents, schools, and community-based organizations about asthma related topics and support events.

• What was your favorite toy as a kid?  Dolls
• If you had a superpower, what would it be?  Transport myself
• What’s your most worn-out book from childhood?  Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
• If you could eat one thing every day for the rest of your life, what would it be? Bread
• What is your favorite thing about yourself? Hope and Persistence

Meet Juliet

Juliet has been a Physical Therapist (PT) for about 40 years since graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has worked in various settings including hospitals, outpatient therapy clinics, Skilled Nursing Facilities, schools, and home health. The last 20 years of her career has been in pediatrics, which has led her to be part of the team here at Silver State Pediatric.

Juliet’s passion for physical therapy began in high school after witnessing another student return to school with a broken neck from a canoeing accident. The student was supposed to be paralyzed but with the help of physical therapy, miraculously the student was able to walk. Juliet immediately became intrigued with the field of physical therapy and always felt her achievement to become a PT was a gift from God. Juliet’s appreciation for her life-long career allows her to support and give back to her University’s PT program as gratitude. “My profession has been very rewarding, and I look forward to what the future has to offer here at Silver State Pediatric.”

• What was your favorite toy as a kid? Barbie Dolls
• If you had a superpower, what would it be?To read people’s minds
• What’s your most worn-out book from childhood?Winnie the Pooh books
• If you could eat one thing every day for the rest of your life, what would it be? Potato Chips
• What is your favorite thing about yourself?Work hard to be the best self I can be

Meet Doug

Doug Springer graduated from the second class of Respiratory Therapists in upstate New York and began his career in respiratory at the young age of 19. Doug worked as a floor therapist for many years before moving to Phoenix, AZ in 1988 to begin working as a home care therapist. Soon after, Doug was given the tremendous opportunity to become a HME manager where he successfully built a home care business. From that success, he was extended on offer to develop a Respiratory Therapy department, with a deadline of four months, at a hospital in Kansas. Doug magnificently achieved the task of developing the RT department, and was granted a letter of accommodation by JACHO. During his time in Kansas, Doug was also asked to train as a NRP instructor at Denver’s Children’s Hospital to instruct nurses and therapists for the preparation of a newly constructed level-two NICU. After Kansas, Doug traveled to San Antonio, Texas to work in a 72-bed NICU following a destructive hurricane. In the NICU, he gained experience working with oscillators, jet ventilators, and many other types of acute care respiratory equipment. Finally, Doug moved to Las Vegas, NV to help construct a ventilator unit for a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF). He helped in the assembly of the 50-bed adult ventilator unit, and another eventual 25-bed adult ventilator unit, which was successful in rehabilitating and weaning patients off ventilators for their transition back home. Doug has seen many changes over the 40 plus years working in Respiratory Therapy and is thankful and optimistic to be starting another chapter of his career as the Director of Respiratory at Silver State Pediatric.

• What was your favorite toy as a kid? Bike
• If you had a superpower, what would it be? Be Invisible
• What’s your most worn-out book from childhood?Encyclopedias
• If you could eat one thing every day for the rest of your life, what would it be? Pizza
• What is your favorite thing about yourself?Jack of all trades, master of none

About Dreamer

• Breed: Labrador Retriever
• Birthdate: 02/10/2019
• Teammates: James and Ruth Oaks

Dreamer is a Certified Facility Dog that has been professionally trained to work in a healthcare setting as an important part of a child’s treatment process. She is a sweet girl who absolutely adores providing assistance and spreading her love to those who need it most. In her time off Dreamer loves to go on adventures, hiking, laying by the pool, and playing with her favorite toys a plush pizza and giant carrot.

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