Welcome to
Silver State Pediatric
Welcome to
Silver State Pediatric

Silver State Pediatric is committed to providing exceptional care for children with complex medical conditions. We believe that a healing and development-promoting environment is essential to the well-being of our patients and their families.
We are excited and proud to share our custom murals and artwork provided by various local Las Vegas artists. The walls of Silver State Pediatrics have been transformed with over 20 unique, custom, and collaborative works of art, creating a breathtaking and tranquil environment for our patients to recoup.
Each room is uniquely decorated with countless murals and graphics, creating a fun and interactive environment. Our galaxy-themed paintings and custom artwork promote our ideas behind healing and development, fostering a positive and nurturing space.
We invite you to check out our extensive gallery and schedule a tour to experience the beauty and tranquility of our healing environment.
Thank you for considering Silver State Pediatrics for your child’s healthcare needs. We look forward to serving you and your family.


We offer a range of services in our
Battle Born Therapy Program
• Pulmonary rehabilitation
• Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy
• Oxygen therapy
• Tracheostomy care
• Ventilator management
• Nutritional services to include tube feeding to include Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)
• Medication management
• Family education and support
Our team of experienced respiratory therapists, PT’s, OT’s, SLP’s, nurses, dietitians, and physicians work together to develop individualized treatment plans that are tailored to meet the unique needs of each child.
At SSP/SNF, we are committed to providing a safe, nurturing environment where children can receive the care, they need to live healthy, active lives.
Contact us today to learn more about our pediatric pulmonary care services and how we can help your child improve to the highest functional level possible.
We offer a range of services
in our
Battle Born Therapy Program
• Pulmonary rehabilitation
• Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy
• Oxygen therapy
• Tracheostomy care
• Ventilator management
• Nutritional services to include tube feeding to include Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)
• Medication management
• Family education and support
Our team of experienced respiratory therapists, PT’s, OT’s, SLP’s, nurses, dietitians, and physicians work together to develop individualized treatment plans that are tailored to meet the unique needs of each child.
At SSP/SNF, we are committed to providing a safe, nurturing environment where children can receive the care, they need to live healthy, active lives.
Contact us today to learn more about our pediatric pulmonary care services and how we can help your child improve to the highest functional level possible.
<a name=”team”></a>
Meet the Team

Jennifer Carmona
Administrator

Ruchi Garg, DO
Medical Director

David Parks, MD
Pediatrics, Pulmonology

Juliet Buettner
Physical Therapist

Doug Springer
Director of Respiratory Therapy

Lucia Mathis
MOT, OTR/Licensed
Meet the Team

Jennifer Carmona
Administrator

Ruchi Garg, DO
Medical Director

David Parks, MD
Pediatrics, Pulmonology

Juliet Buettner
Physical Therapist

Doug Springer
Director of Respiratory Therapy

Lucia Mathis
MOT, OTR/Licensed
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. Ruchi Garg
Dr. Ruchi Garg is double board-certified in pediatrics and pediatric hospitalist medicine. She has been practicing at Sunrise Children’s Hospital for the past 19 years. Dr. Garg currently serves as the Medical Director at Silver State Pediatric SNF in Las Vegas, Nevada. She received her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency training in pediatrics at the University of Nevada School of Medicine.
As the Medical Director at Silver State Pediatric SNF, Dr. Garg leads a team of medical, respiratory, and therapeutic healthcare professionals to provide exceptional care for children with complex medical conditions. She partners with families to develop individualized care plans that address the unique needs of each child. Dr. Garg is committed to ensuring that the goals for each child are heard and incorporated into their medical and therapeutic care plan.
Dr. Garg has a special interest in providing family-centered care and is dedicated to ensuring that her patients and their families receive the highest quality of care. She is also involved in medical education and serves as an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Nevada School of Medicine. Dr. Garg is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is honored to serve as the Medical Director at Silver State Pediatric SNF and to help children with complex medical conditions reach their full potential
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.
You can follow Dreamer @
Facebook: Dreamer, the facility dog & Katlyn’s Dream
Instagram: Dreamer, the facility dog & Katlyn’s Dream