Occupational Therapy

Meet Our Team

Adriana Arellano has worked at Rady Children's since 2009. Adriana has special talents in the areas of developmental delays, feeding difficulties, sensory processing difficulties and fine motor delays.  She has worked in a school setting as well as in outpatient and inpatient settings. Adriana received her degree in occupational therapy from Samuel Merritt University. She is NBCOT-certified, California-state licensed and has completed AOTA's fieldwork educator certificate program. She is a current member of AOTA and OTAC. Adriana's goal in working at Rady Children's is to continue to grow professionally and to help children be successful in their activities of daily living. 

Kimberly Arndt has been an occupational therapist since 2001, when she began working at Rady Children's. Kimberly has skills in a variety of areas, including working with children with feeding difficulties, autism and problems with fine motor and visual motor skills. She spends her time working at our outpatient clinic, with our Feeding Team, at Alexa's PLAYC and with a local school district. Kimberly received her master's degree in occupational therapy from Ithaca College. She is a nationally certified, California-licensed occupational therapist and a current member of AOTA. Kimberly's goal is to help children reach their full potential.

Lisa Burfield became an occupational therapist in 2001 and has worked at Rady Children's since 2006. Lisa specializes in feeding difficulties, early intervention, fine motor delay, community-based social programs for kids and teens, sensory integration and spectrum disorders. Lisa received her master's degree in occupational therapy from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. She is a nationally certified occupational therapist and a current member of OTAC.

Karina Buettgenbach has been an occupational therapist since 2009. She has extensive experience in working with children with autism and developmental delay. After graduating from UC San Diego, she worked as an ABA therapist in New York City. It was there she worked with other therapists and decided to become an OT and graduated with her Master’s from the University of Southern California. Since then she has worked in pediatric clinics and home therapy programs.

Debbie Cahill became an occupational therapist in 1974 and began working at Rady Children's in 1979. Debbie works with infants and young children, specializing in feeding difficulties, handwriting and sensory integration. She has worked her entire career in pediatrics and has her advanced practice certification through the California Board of Occupational Therapy in Swallowing Assessment, Evaluation or Intervention. Debbie received her bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University. Her goal is to provide the best possible occupational therapy services and support children in their development.

Kathy Carleton became an occupational therapy assistant in 1991 and began working at Rady Children's in 1992. Kathy has special talents in treating hospitalized patients, including patients with traumatic brain injuries. She is also specializes in helping patients with fine motor skills, visual motor skills and self-care skills. Kathy received her associate's degree in occupational therapy from Madison Area Technical College. She is a certified occupational therapy assistant. Kathy's goal is to help children reach their highest level of functioning and to provide education and support to the families she serves.

Kerry Gates has been an occupational therapist since 2011 and has worked at Rady Children's Hospital since 2013. Kerry has special talent in the areas of sensory processing, fine motor delays and visual motor delays. In addition to clinical experience, Kerry has experience treating children and young adults in the public school system that primarily have the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or ADHD. Kerry received her Bachelors in Kinesiology at Sonoma State University, and received her Masters in Occupational Therapy at Dominican University of California. She is a nationally certified, California licensed occupational therapist and is a current member of AOTA. Kerry’s goal in working at Rady Children's Hospital San Diego is to provide children and their families with the knowledge and support that is needed in order to gain independence in all aspects of activities of daily living.

Mirabelle Giampaoli has been an occupational therapist since 1998 and began working at Rady Children's in 2005. Mirabelle specializes in working with children with autism and developmental delay, specializing in sensory integration, fine motor skills and visual motor skills. Mirabelle received her bachelor's degree in occupational therapy from San Jose State University. She is a certified and licensed occupational therapist. Mirabelle has special training in Therapeutic Listening. She runs the Alert Program and co-runs the Bridges Program with the Speech Department. Mirabelle also provides occupational therapy in the Limb Deficiency Clinic.  Her goal is to enhance the lives of the children she works with to the best of her ability and to continue her own learning process with new experiences.

Cindy Gittings has been an occupational therapist since 1976 and began working at Rady Children’s Hospital in 1980. She holds advanced certification in feeding and swallowing treatment and assessment. She is also a certified lactation educator counselor, which is an asset when working with the duo of mother and infant. Cindy performs diagnostic dysphagia studies using videofluoroscopy and flexible endoscopic evaluation of the swallow (FEES) in conjunction with ENT. Cindy is also an expert in treating patients with traumatic brain injuries, developmental delays, and upper extremity congenital amputation and prosthetic fitting and training. Her goal is to help families adjust and cope with the challenges before them and to help infants and children reach their highest level of functioning.

Robyn Hamberger has been an occupational therapist since 2007 and has worked at Rady Children’s since June 2009. She has special talents working with children with developmental delays, cerebral palsy, feeding difficulties and fine motor and visual motor delays. Robyn has experience working in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She received her master's degree in occupational therapy from Ithaca College and is certified in yoga for the Special Child LLC. Additionally, she is a nationally certified, California-licensed occupational therapist. Robyn’s goal in working at Rady Children’s is to provide quality patient care in order to enhance the lives of patients and their families.

Denise Hoover has been an occupational therapist since 1990 and started working at Rady Children's in January 1991. Denise has special talents in the areas of autism, sensory integration, feeding difficulties, muscle disease, handwriting, developmental delay and pediatric hand therapy. Denise has California advanced practice certification in modalities and is pursuing advance practice certification in hand therapies.  She provides consultation for the Hand Clinic and Brachial Plexus Clinic at Rady Children's.  Denise received her bachelor's degree in occupational therapy from San Jose State University. She is a licensed occupational therapist and a current member of the AOTA. Denise's goal is to provide a comprehensive program for each individual with activities that are engaging and easily incorporated into the clinic and home settings.

Molly Koustmer became an occupational therapist in 2001 and began working for Rady Children's in 2009. Molly specializes in early childhood development, concentrating on fine motor skills, visual motor skills, cognitive play skills and oral motor/feeding skills. In addition to being an occupational therapist, Molly has a degree in Education from the University of Arizona where she studied Special Education and Rehabilitation. Molly believes that a child's "work" is PLAY, and it is her goal to help children and their families be successful in their daily life.

Melissa Lambing became an occupational therapist in 2006 when she began working at Rady Children's. Melissa received her master's degree in occupational therapy from A.T. Still University of Health Science in Mesa, Ariz. She is a nationally certified occupational therapist and a current member of AOTA. Melissa's goal is to provide excellent services and assist children in reaching their full potential.

Ann Marie Mazzeo has been an occupational therapist since 1990 and began working at Rady Children's in 2001. Ann has worked in outpatient pediatrics, neonatal intensive care units, acute care and home health since 1992. She has extensive experience in neonate and infant development. She provides therapy at Rady Children's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and is a member of the RCHSD Pediatric Airway & Aerodigestive Team. Ann holds advanced certification in feeding and swallowing treatment and assessment. She is a member of the Dysphagia Team, Feeding Team and heads the NICU Developmental Committee at Rady Children's. She actively participates in staff education, providing training for fragile infant feeding and developmental support. She is a member of Rady Children's NICU Developmental Committee. Ann received her bachelor's degree in occupational therapy from San Jose State University. She is a nationally certified occupational therapist and a current member of OTAC and AOTA.

Brooke Olson has been an occupational therapist since 1995 and has worked at Rady Children's since 2010. Brooke has special talents in the areas of sensory processing, motor coordination, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism, handwriting, yoga for kids and interactive metronome. Brooke received her bachelor's degree in occupational therapy from the University of New Hampshire. She is certified in SIPT and Therapeutic Listening.  She is a current member of AOTA.  Brooke's goal is to provide the highest quality of occupational therapy and support children and their caregivers in reaching their goals.

Jill Peck-Murray has been an occupational therapist since 1979 and has worked at Rady Children's since 1982. She provides outpatient therapy at Rady Children's main campus and North County Center. Jill also works in the Rheumatology Clinic, Hand Clinic and Brachial Plexus Clinic at Rady Children's. Jill has special talents in pediatric hand therapy, including treatment of brachial plexus injuries, cerebral palsy, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, congenital anomalies and pediatric trauma. She has presented at national and state conferences on these areas . Jill has taught courses on hand therapy at Grossmont College. She received her master's degree in occupational therapy from the Texas Women's University. She is a California-licensed occupational therapist, certified hand therapist and has California advanced practice certification in modalities and hand therapies. She is president of the San Diego Hand Therapist Special Interest Group and is public relations chairperson for the California Foundation for Occupational Therapy. Jill's goal is to provide quality hand therapy to children.

Suzanne Settlemayer has been an occupational therapists since 1989 and began working at Rady Children's in 1994. Suzanne specializes in feeding disorders, sensory integration, autism spectrum disorders and age 0-3 population. Suzanne received her bachelor's degree in occupational therapy at Texas Women's University. She is a nationally certified occupational therapist and has advanced practice certification in California in swallowing assessment, evaluation and intervention.

Shilpa Shirsathe has been an occupational therapist since 1996 and has worked at Rady Children's since 2009.  Shilpa has special talents in the areas of developmental delays, autism, sensory integration, handwriting, and fine motor skills, visual motor skills and visual perceptual skills. Shilpa received her bachelor's degree from G.S. Medical College in Mumbai, India. She is NBCOT-certified, SIPT-certified and a current member of the Occupational Therapy Association of India. Shilpa's goal is to help children improve their quality of life and level of functioning.

Lauren Smith has been an occupational therapist since 2006 and has worked at Rady Children’s since 2008. Lauren has special talents in the areas of developmental delays, feeding difficulties, sensory processing difficulties and fine motor delays. She has experience in various settings including early intervention, schools  and inpatient and outpatient. settings. She is involved in the Down Syndrome Clinic at Rady Children's, as well as the Pathways Program, which is a group designed to enhance social skills and play skills with children who have autism spectrum disorders. Lauren received her master's degree in occupational therapy at University of New Hampshire. She is certified by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and licensed by the state of California. Lauren’s goal in working at Rady Children’s is to provide quality care to children and their families in order to help them reach their full potential.

Yuki Wada has been an occupational therapist since 1998 and has worked at Rady Children's since 2007. Since 1998, Yuki has worked with children from birth to school age in the clinic, home and school settings by providing individual and group therapy. Yuki has extensive experience working with children with autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, developmental delay, sensory integration disorder, fine motor delay and feeding difficulties. Yuki is SIPT-certified and trained to use the Listening Program, Therapeutic Listening, Alert Program and Beckman Oral Motor techniques. She is a licensed and nationally certified occupational therapist. Yuki received her master's degree in occupational therapy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Yuki's goal in working at Rady Children's is to provide quality service to assist children and their families in reaching their highest potential.