The Team

As a mother myself and triple board-certified physician in Pediatrics, Anesthesiology, and Pain Medicine, I understand the frustration of watching your child suffer while doctors dismiss their pain or tell you "it's just growing pains."

I specialize in helping children and teens who:

• Have been told their pain "isn't real" or they need to "just push through it"
• Miss school regularly due to unexplained pain
• Need documentation and coordination for school accommodations (504 plans, IEPs)
• Suffer from complex conditions like sickle cell disease, migraines, or chronic pain syndromes
• Have lipedema (often hereditary - if you have it, your daughter might too)

After training at Seattle Children's Hospital, University of Washington, UC Irvine, and Children's National Medical Center, I've spent 17+ years helping children get the care they deserve. I don't just treat pain - I partner with schools, coordinate with your child's other doctors, and ensure your family has the support you need.

What sets my practice apart:

• We listen and believe you - Your child's pain is real, and we take it seriously
• School advocacy - I provide medical documentation and work with schools for accommodations
• Comprehensive coordination - One physician managing your child's complex pain care
• Lipedema diagnosis for young girls - Early detection changes everything
• Culturally responsive care 

If you have lipedema, there's a strong chance your daughter will develop it too. 

Early diagnosis in childhood or adolescence can:

• Start conservative treatment before progression
• Prevent years of being told to "just lose weight"
• Set up proper management to reduce pain and mobility issues later
• Provide validation and understanding during critical developmental years

I'm one of the few pediatric pain specialists who diagnoses and treats lipedema pain in children and teens.

My work on pediatric pain has been presented at international conferences and published in leading medical journals, including award-winning research on sickle cell disease care. I've trained at and practiced at:

• Seattle Children's Hospital
• University of Washington School of Medicine
• Children's National Medical Center
• Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
• Howard University Hospital

For children and teens suffering from:

• Treatment-resistant depression or anxiety
• Chronic pain that hasn't responded to other treatments
• PTSD or severe emotional distress

I offer safe, monitored ketamine therapy with pediatric-specific protocols 

As a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Children and volunteer with Operation Smile International, I've provided care to underserved children across the globe - from Honduras to Sierra Leone. These experiences remind me daily why accessible, compassionate pediatric pain care matters.

At Cultured Therapeutics,  we will :

• To take your concerns seriously from the first appointment
• To coordinate with your child's school and other doctors
• To develop a treatment plan that works for your family
• To advocate for your child when others won't listen

If you're tired of being dismissed, if your child is missing school, or if you suspect your daughter might have lipedema, let's talk.

For years, you've been dismissed. Told to "just lose weight" when you have lipedema. Told your depression is "all in your head." Denied by insurance. Brushed off by doctors who don't listen.

I believe you. And I can help.

20 years of pain medicine experience

• Former Director, GW Hospital Ketamine Infusion & Research Program
• Former Director, GW Spine and Pain Center
• Double board-certified: Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine
• Washingtonian Top Doctor (2018, 2020, 2021)
• Trusted provider to Congress, Supreme Court, White House personnel

Thousands of patients treated with ketamine therapy. Over a decade specializing in treatment-resistant conditions when nothing else works.

I treat:

• Treatment-resistant depression & anxiety
• PTSD
• Chronic migraines
• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
• Fibromyalgia
• Neuropathic pain
• Lipedema-related pain

What makes us different:

• Research-backed protocols from GW Hospital
• In-clinic IV infusions (gold standard) or at-home options
• Comprehensive mental health integration
• Personalized treatment plans

Do you have:

• Legs/arms that won't slim down despite diet and exercise?
• Pain, tenderness, or easy bruising in fatty areas?
• A family history of similar body patterns?
• Years of doctors telling you to "just lose weight"?

You likely have lipedema - affecting 11% of women, widely misdiagnosed.

I provide:

• Expert diagnosis and staging
• Conservative treatment (manual lymphatic drainage, compression, pain management)
• Surgical referrals to specialized lipedema surgeons
• Insurance documentation and authorization support
• Family screening for daughters and relatives
• Telehealth consultations

You're not lazy. You're not making it up. Lipedema is real, and you deserve proper treatment.

You're heard - We take time to understand your story

You're believed - Your pain is real and we validate your experience

You're supported - From diagnosis through insurance battles to treatment

You get results - Evidence-based care that actually works

Recognized nationally for advocacy in pain care and expanding access to ketamine therapy.

Whether you need lipedema diagnosis, ketamine therapy, or comprehensive pain management - let's talk.