Lactation Specialists

Many doctors know they want to be a doctor from a very early age. For me that was not the case, I have always had a strong interest in both medicine and the arts. As an undergrad at the University of Pennsylvania, I majored in both architectural design and biology.  After college, I further pursued my “artistic” side and received a Master in Architecture from Columbia University. I worked as an Architect in New Canaan and Greenwich for several years before starting my family. However, soon after becoming a mother, I decided to pursue my true love – medicine.  I attended the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx while continuing to raise my young family. My husband and I have been long time Fairfield County residents living with our two sons in Greenwich and then North Stamford for over 20 years. After medical school, I was a pediatric resident at the Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital and soon after joined The Center for Advanced Pediatrics as Medical Director of the Nightingales Breastfeeding Support Center and a primary care pediatrician.

In addition to being a board certified pediatrician, I am an internationally board certified lactation consultant. (IBCLC) As both a pediatrician and a mother, I’ve recognized the necessity for health care providers that understand the importance of breastfeeding and can support families to have successful and positive breastfeeding experiences. How perfect it was to find a home at Advanced Pediatrics – a place where this kind of support has been an integral part of the practice for years.

When I have free time, I still enjoy architecture and graphic design. I use those skills to create and manage the TCFAP website and Facebook pages.  I love to travel and anything to do with technology.  I’m involved with several foundations, including Circle of Care for Families with Cancer, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society,  American Academy of Pediatrics section for Breastfeeding, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, AAP Section on Breastfeeding and AAP Section on Office Administration & Management. (SOAPm)

M.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY

B.A. in Architecture, minor Biology from University of Pennsylvania

M. Arch from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture

Internship and Residency in Pediatrics at Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital

Board Certified – American Board of Pediatrics

Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics

Board Certified – International Lactation Consultant Association

Medical Advisory Board, Circle of Care

Member, Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine

Hospital Privileges at Norwalk & Stamford Hospitals

The Center for Advanced Pediatrics since 2007, Partner

Ariana, DNP, FNP, IBCLC, has worked in nursing since 1999, initially as a Registered Nurse, and currently as a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). She will complete her Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) in April 2019.

Early in her career, she worked as a registered nurse in the Neonatal ICU. Ariana’s interest in the mother-baby dyad began with her work in the NICU at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, assisting new mothers to care for their newborn. This included not only the special needs of the infant, but also breastfeeding or providing expressed breast milk to babies and understanding the challenges some women face when feeding their babies. This led her to pursue a graduate education in nursing, enabling Ariana to participate in the care of her patients more independently.

In 2004, she earned her Master’s Degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Columbia University. Since becoming an Advanced Practice Nurse, Ariana has worked with both adult and pediatric patients in general medicine as well as more specialized fields, including pediatrics, maternal- child health, gastroenterology and liver transplant.

Ariana’s role as a Nurse Practitioner and IBCLC is to provide high quality care through education and partnership with her patients.

I’m excited to be joining the Center for Advanced Pediatrics as a primary care provider and lactation specialist.

As a provider and parent, I know how important it is to have a supportive medical team. I want to help parents understand their newborn’s needs and anticipated milestones.  No question is too small, one of the favorite parts about my job is answering any questions you may have.

As your newborn grows, I will be there to help you navigate all of the exciting developments to come.

Growing up in Connecticut, I had the opportunity to explore my interest in health care by joining our local EMS, Post 53. I went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing through Villanova University. After graduating, I enjoyed working as a nurse at Stamford Hospital Emergency Department for several years before expanding on my clinical expertise in pediatrics at NYU Langone Medical Center’s Pediatric Emergency Department.  During my time there, I attended graduate school through NYU to achieve my dream of becoming a Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

I have enjoyed working with families as a provider at Southwest Community Health Center and furthered my experience by becoming a Certified Lactation Counselor to better support breastfeeding mothers.

I look forward to returning to my local community where it is my goal to develop trust and rapport with my patient and families, providing care from infancy through early adulthood.