Licensed Psychologists
Rene Barbieri-Welge, Ph.D.
Rene has been a licensed psychologist since 1998 and has worked at Rady Children’s Hospital since 1999. She is also a licensed speech-language pathologist since 1983. Rene specializes in developmental assessment of infants and young children with a wide range of developmental issues, including prematurity, prenatal substance exposure, failure to thrive, developmental delay, language delay, autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Angelman’s syndrome. She received her doctorate in psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Prior to coming to Rady Children’s, Rene completed her postdoctoral training in pediatric psychology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Rene is bilingual (English/Spanish).
Ayala Ben-Tall, Ph.D.
Ayala has been a licensed psychologist since 1999 and has worked at Rady Children’s Hospital since 2000. She received her doctorate in counseling/clinical/school psychology, with emphasis in child clinical psychology, from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She completed a predoctoral internship at Johns Hopkins/Kennedy Krieger Institute with an emphasis on treatment for children with autism spectrum disorders and feeding disorders. She also completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship specializing in the evaluation and treatment of children with developmental disabilities and mental health disorders at Brown University Medical School. At the Developmental Evaluation Clinic, Ayala specializes in the evaluation of a variety of developmental and behavioral concerns including autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and learning/developmental problems. She is part of two multidisciplinary teams in Rady Children’s Developmental Services, including the Feeding Team, where she provides psychological/developmental support within multidisciplinary feeding evaluations and treatment groups. Additionally, she is a member of the Cochlear Implant Team, providing pre-cochlear implant psychological and developmental evaluations. Ayala has also served as a clinical supervisor and mentor to predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees.
Debra Broadbooks, Ph.D.
Debra has been a licensed psychologist since 1999 and has worked at Rady Children’s since 2004. She earned her doctorate from the California School of Professional Psychology in San Diego (now Alliant University). She specializes in psychoeducational evaluation of school-aged children with learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, other behavioral disorders and executive dysfunction, as well as in developmental assessment of preschool-aged children with a variety of learning, social, attentional and behavioral disorders.
Katherine Buchanan, Ph.D.
Katherine is a licensed psychologist and has worked at Rady Children’s Hospital since 2021. She is also a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) and holds a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Psychology. Katherine earned her doctorate in School Psychology from the University of Houston and completed her doctoral internship within Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District’s Psychological Services Department. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Rady Children’s. Katherine has experience providing comprehensive evaluations and evidence-based treatment to children with a wide range of developmental, academic, and health concerns across educational and medical settings. At Rady Children’s, Katherine provides developmental evaluations to children ages 0-5. She is passionate about working with young children and partnering with their families to help them thrive.
Stephany Cox, Ph.D.
Stephany has been a licensed psychologist since 2017 and started at Rady Children’s in 2023. She is a pediatric neuropsychologist with expertise in medical conditions including congenital heart disease, genetic disorders, extreme prematurity, and neonatal brain injuries. At the Developmental Evaluation Clinic, Stephany specializes in comprehensive neurodevelopmental evaluations of young children who present with a variety of developmental concerns including autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, executive functioning, and learning difficulties. Prior to joining the team, Stephany was an Associate Clinical Professor and pediatric neuropsychologist at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. At UCSF, she helped to establish and served as the co-director for Healthy Hearts & Minds, a neurodevelopmental follow-up program for patients with congenital heart disease. Stephany received her doctorate in clinical and school psychology from the University of Virginia. She completed a predoctoral internship in pediatric psychology at Children’s Hospital Orange County and a postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology from Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC.
Amanda Hyatt, Ph.D.
Amanda has been a licensed psychologist since 1987 and started working at Rady Children’s Hospital in 2022. Before joining the team, Dr. Hyatt worked at Loma Linda University Health in the capacity of an assistant professor and as a full-time neuropsychologist participating in transdisciplinary team evaluations at an autism assessment clinic. Amanda specializes in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychologist evaluations of young children and adolescents. She received her master’s degree in early childhood special education from the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana and her doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. She completed her doctoral internship and two years postdoctoral training in the Department of Pediatric Neurology at the University of Minnesota Hospitals and Clinics under the oversight of Dr. Kenneth Swaiman, a pediatric neurologist. Dr. Hyatt’s career has centered on fostering optimal development in children and adolescents who struggle with neurodevelopmental, neurological, learning and social-emotional challenges. Specifically, she has focused on the assessment of these patients as she strongly believes that a comprehensive diagnostic assessment leads to a fuller understanding of the child/adolescent as well as a relevant and dynamic treatment plan.
Melina Islas, Ph.D.
Melina is a licensed psychologist and has worked at Rady Children’s Hospital since 2023. She completed her doctoral internship in Utah with the Jordan School District and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Rady Children’s Hospital. She completed her doctoral degree at The University of Arizona in school psychology. She has extensive experience with school systems including knowledge of the services schools provide and the processes necessary to access these services. Melina conducts comprehensive evaluations for children ages 0-5 with complex needs, including trauma, mental health needs, and developmental concerns. She works with families at Rady Children’s Developmental Evaluation Clinic and also completes all evaluations for Rady Children’s KidSTART Center. Her goal is to provide parents and caregivers with a thorough understanding of their child’s strengths, challenges, and overall development and to arm parents with actionable next steps to addressing their child’s needs as necessary.
Carolyn Korbel, Ph.D.
Carolyn has been a licensed psychologist since 2009 and has worked at Rady Children’s Hospital since 2015. She specializes in pediatric neuropsychology, including evaluation of autism spectrum disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, learning disorders and concerns in the area of emotional and behavioral regulation. Carolyn received her doctorate from the University of Utah. Prior to coming to Rady Children’s, Carolyn completed an internship at Primary Children’s Medical Center and post-doctoral training at the Neurobehavioral Clinic & Professional Psychology Group.
Rosalva Martinez, Psy.D.
Rosalva has been a licensed psychologist since 2015 and joined the Rady Children’s Hospital team in 2021. She received her Doctor of Psychology degree in clinical psychology from Biola University- Rosemead School of Psychology in 2009. Prior to coming to Rady Children’s, Rosalva provided community-based clinical interventions to at-risk children and families. She specializes in providing comprehensive developmental evaluations for children ages 0-5 in both English and Spanish, who present with a variety of developmental and mental health needs. Rosalva is also part of a multidisciplinary team that treats young children with feeding issues.
Victoria Moore, Psy.D.
Victoria has been a licensed psychologist since 2008 and has worked at Rady Children’s Hospital since 2015. She provides comprehensive developmental evaluations for a broad range of developmental, behavioral and mental health concerns, with a particular focus in autism spectrum disorders. Victoria received her doctorate of clinical psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Prior to coming to Rady Children’s, she completed a pre-doctoral internship at the May Institute, a postdoctoral fellowship at the Watson Institute and provided evaluation, diagnosis and treatment at the Southeast Missouri State University Autism Center. Victoria has taught courses in psychology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and at Southeast Missouri State University. She is currently a co-director of the Rady Children’s Hospital APPIC-approved Postdoctoral Fellowship Program.
Mercedes Pratt, Ph.D.
Mercedes is a licensed psychologist and has worked at Rady Children’s Hospital since 2022. She earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Bowling Green State University and completed her predoctoral internship at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Prior to coming to Rady Children’s, Mercedes gained specialized experience working with young children with autism spectrum disorders and developmental delays through her postdoctoral fellowship at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center- Children’s Health Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities. In her current role, Mercedes specializes in comprehensive diagnostic evaluations of young children for a variety of developmental and mental health related concerns. Her goal in working at Rady Children’s Hospital is to provide compassionate care, help families understand their child’s strengths and challenges, and guide them toward valuable services
Postdoctoral Fellows
Shaina Maginot, Psy.D., Postdoctoral Fellow
Shaina is a postdoctoral fellow from the California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University, San Diego, where she received her doctorate in clinical psychology. She completed her APA internship at The Help Group in Los Angeles, where she conducted psychoeducational evaluations, neuropsychological evaluations, and provided mental health services to children with various neurodevelopmental disorders. Shaina also has a terminal master’s degree in Trauma Psychology and Global Mental Health from the University of Denver where she had the opportunity to provide psychological services both abroad and in the Denver area. Shaina’s goal in working at Rady Children’s Hospital is to provide equitable, compassionate care and to build meaningful connections with her patients.
Fabiola Martinez Pesante, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow
Fabiola is a bilingual (English/Spanish) licensed psychologist in Illinois, and is currently expanding her expertise as a postdoctoral fellow at Rady Children’s Hospital since 2024. She earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Ponce Health Sciences University in Puerto Rico. During her doctoral internship in Missouri, she gained valuable experience in conducting psychoeducational and neuropsychological assessments, along with providing mental health services to children, families, and individuals across various age groups. Fabiola also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Chicago, specializing in comprehensive evaluations for Autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in individuals aged 2 to 21. With a diverse background working in both community and hospital settings, she has developed a deep understanding of integrated mental health care. At Rady Children’s Hospital, Fabiola is committed to helping parents and caregivers understand their child’s unique developmental strengths and needs. By creating an open and supportive environment by building trusting relationships with families. Her goal is to equip them with clear, practical steps to meet their child’s developmental needs, always with compassion and sensitivity.
Charity Thomann, Ph.D., MAT, Postdoctoral Fellow
Charity is a postdoctoral fellow from Fielding Graduate University, where she received her doctorate in clinical psychology. She completed her doctoral internship at Compass Health Network, part of the National Psychology Training Consortium. At Compass, Charity worked with children and adolescents, both in outpatient and school settings. She has experience conducting neurodevelopmental and diagnostic evaluations. Charity’s goal in working at Rady Children’s Hospital is to partner with caregivers and their children to help them understand their child’s overall development, strengths, and challenges. She also aims to provide caregivers the next steps they need to support their children.
Therapists
Kathryn “Kate” Bae, ACSW
Kathryn “Kate” is an Early Childhood Mental Health Therapist with a strong background in child development and family support. She earned her Master of Social Work from California State University of Northridge in 2024, and completed her internship with the Developmental Evaluation Clinic at Rady Children’s Hospital in 2023. Before transitioning to social work, Kathryn spent 7 years as a play-based preschool teacher, utilizing her bachelor’s degree in Child and Adolescent Development. Driven by her passion for child development, teaching, and advocacy, Kathryn pursued a career in social work to continue supporting families in the community. She is trained in trauma-informed practices and is currently working toward certification in Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) to enhance her ability to provide evidence-based interventions at DEC.
Carla Dykes, LMFT
Carla has been a licensed marriage and family therapist since 2016. Prior to coming to Rady Children’s in 2021, Carla worked with individuals, couples, and families with severe mental illness in various settings, which included non-profit, group practice, and private practice in both San Diego and Riverside counties. Carla has supervised postgraduate individuals pursuing licensure with the Board of Behavioral Sciences in California. Carla brings a non-judgmental approach to her treatment, and incorporates treatment interventions from cognitive-behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, and motivational interviewing modalities. Carla’s goal in working at Rady Children’s Hospital is to help parents and children feel comfortable and confident in navigating their journey and reaching their treatment goals.
Triage and Care Coordination
Kailee Gronow, M.S., Child and Family Specialist
Kailee became an integral part of the Rady Children’s team in 2022 as a Child and Family Specialist. With a foundation in Psychological Brain Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master’s degree in Psychology from Arizona State University, she adeptly links families to essential resources during evaluation waits, optimizes patient access, and provides clinical triage. Kailee’s experience includes crisis counseling and behavioral intervention, particularly with LGBTQ+ youth through the Trevor Project. Her goal is to empower families with the tools for their child’s growth and development journey, while also excelling in care coordination and guiding families through the referral process.
Manisha Phadnis, Child and Family Specialist
Manisha joined Rady Children’s in 2023 as a Child and Family Specialist in San Diego. She provides Care Coordination and Triage services to support families and connects them to resources and specialized services. A graduate of Miami University and certified in Child Development and Child and Family services she has worked with children for many years as a Child advocate. Her experience living abroad in Africa and the Middle East as a humanitarian and volunteer has allowed her to understand the cross-cultural sensitivities. Manisha has supported her local communities in San Diego as a Court Appointed Special Advocate/CASA, a volunteer with a Child Life Specialist at Rady Children’s and with One Safe Place/Family Justice Center. Her continued commitment is to help build positive connections and provide collaborative efforts to Children and Families in our diverse communities.
Allison Scofield, Child and Family Specialist
Allison joined Rady Children’s in 2021 as a child and family specialist for DEC in Murrieta where she provides care coordination services and support to families in southwest Riverside County. She is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst and has worked with children and families for many years in home and educational settings.In her previous work, she was certified as an early intervention specialist by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and provided service coordination to families in an early intervention program. Allison is committed to helping families access available resources to help support their child’s growth and development.
Administration
Meghan Lukasik, Ph.D., Manager & APPIC Co-Training Director
Meghan has been a licensed clinical psychologist since 1998 and has worked at Rady Children’s Hospital since 1999. Meghan specializes in the assessment of infants and young children. She has extensive experience in diagnostic assessment of neurodevelopmental disorders and early mental health concerns. She is the former clinical director of Rady Children’s KidSTART program; a program for children ages 0-5 with complex developmental and mental health needs. In addition to providing direct clinical service, Meghan currently manages the Developmental Evaluation Clinic and is the Co-training director for the clinic’s APPIC-approved postdoctoral fellowship program. Meghan’s goal in working at Rady Children’s Hospital is to positively impact the lives of children by working in partnership with their families and other professionals.
Teresa Therieau, M.P.H., Director
Teresa Therieau (pronounced Terio), holds an undergraduate degree in psychology and sociology from University of California, Riverside, and a Master’s in Public Health from San Diego State University. Teresa’s most recent experience is as vice president of operations at TrueCare (formerly North County Health Services), a federally qualified health center in northern San Diego County. Previously, Teresa directed the primary care and psychiatric services at St. Vincent de Paul Villages (Father Joe’s). She is also an active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Throughout her career, Teresa has focused on making high quality behavioral health services available to all people and now looks forward to bringing her experience and passion to Rady Children’s.
Payal Beam, L.C.S.W., Senior Director of Developmental Services
Payal joins Rady Children’s following her successful tenure at Mental Health Systems in San Diego, where she served as vice president for six years. During her time there, she oversaw multiple service delivery programs for children, youth, adults and older adults, including outpatient, residential treatment programs, employment and housing for families affected by behavioral health disorders. Additional responsibilities included ensuring the quality of clinical and direct services, adhering to program budgets and collaborating with city and county services, housing agencies, colleges and universities, and other community-based organizations throughout San Diego and San Bernardino counties.
Esther Choi, MHA, Business Analyst, Developmental Services Behavioral Health Programs
Esther Choi has been working as the Business Analyst for Developmental Services since 2023. She is currently working to support several behavioral programs, including the Developmental Evaluation Clinic through data analysis and reporting, financial management, and program development. Esther received her master’s in healthcare administration from the University of Southern California. She is particularly passionate about utilizing data analysis to improve the delivery of healthcare services.
Stephany Aiello, M.Ed., BCBA Manager, Developmental Services Programs & Services, Rady Children’s Medical Plaza – Murrieta
Stephany currently supports the Murrieta clinic in Riverside County and serves as the manager of developmental services programs and services, namely the Autism Discovery Institute, Alexa’s PLAYC, and the Developmental Evaluation Clinic, and has been in that role since 2022. She has worked in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) since 2005 and has been a BCBA since 2015. Stephany obtained her undergraduate degree in Psychology in 2006 through the University of the Pacific and participated as an undergraduate research assistant in the behavior analysis lab from 2005 – 2006. Stephany continued post-graduate behavior analysis research and fieldwork experience through the University of the Pacific from 2006 – 2011. Stephany obtained her Master’s degree in School Psychology through the University of Cincinnati in 2014. Stephany’s areas of interest in behavior analysis include verbal behavior, the assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior, effective supervision, and behavioral economics. Stephany has worked with kids of various ages and skill levels, including those as young as 18 months old through teens transitioning into young adulthood. Stephany has worked with kids in the home, school, group home, and center-based settings and has experience developing and implementing a wide range of evidence-based ABA practices to help improve the lives of children and their families. Stephany has worked throughout the state of California, from Humboldt County down to San Diego County.