Nurse Practitioners

I always knew that I wanted to help children have a voice. I started out believing I wanted to be a teacher but gradually realized it was the students who didn’t have all the answers that I was most interested in helping. Once my interest in Psychology began, it never stopped.

My first job in the profession was as a mental health worker at Yale-New Haven Hospital. I was impressed with the nursing staff above all. They worked with the patients throughout the day, counseled them, created plans of care and ran the unit. I became inspired to become an advanced practice psychiatric nurse as a result.

I received my undergrad at University of Connecticut in Psychology, and my Master’s degree at Yale University School of Nursing where I became a Clinical Nurse Specialist. Once armed with my degree I moved out west to San Francisco where I worked as a nurse in many settings including in-patient hospital adolescent and adult units, psychiatric emergency rooms and a residential setting for children. Once I returned to CT I spent many years at Yale New-Haven Hospital this time as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in the Pediatric Emergency room evaluating all children with psychiatric emergencies. From there I went to Mid-Fairfield Child Guidance where I did both individual therapy and medication evaluations and treatment for both the general clinic and emergency population, in addition to teaching Yale School of Nursing graduate students.

I began at The Center for Advanced Pediatrics (TCFAP) in March of 2005 following Dr. Marconi’s vision to integrate mental health into primary care. It has been a successful endeavor that continues to grow. I currently divide my time between TCFAP and a private practice. I am always looking for ways to enhance my skills, where recently I attended a 3 day workshop at The Beck Institute of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy(CBT) where I focused on the therapy for children. I treat most mental health issues, and use a mix of CBT, behavioral therapy and collaborative problem solving and talk therapy.

I enjoy skiing in VT, vacationing in Newport, and walking my pup (with separation anxiety oddly enough!)

Yale School of Nursing-Masters in Nursing Science-Clinical Nurse Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Nursing.

University of Connecticut-Bachelors in Psychology

Adjunct Faculty-Yale School of Nursing

Member of International Society of Psychiatric Nursing

Adults often ask children “what do you want to be when you grow up?” Some children answer a rock star, a fireman, a doctor and I would always say a “nurse.” Nursing has been my passion for as long as I can remember and my profession for the past 23 years. I attended Northeastern University where I received my Bachelors Degree in nursing science. I worked as a registered nurse at Memorial Sloan Kettering for many years before moving to Connecticut to raise a family. Nursing has allowed me to work in many different settings including the local school systems, home care and dialysis. Once my children were older I decided to return to school for my masters. I attended Fairfield University where I obtained my Masters in Nursing Science and became certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner. As a nurse practitioner, I have spent time caring for the homeless population in Bridgeport at Southwest Community Health Center and seeing adolescents at the Robert E. Appleby School Based Health Center in Norwalk before coming to The Center for Advanced Pediatrics in 2007 where I enjoy especially evaluating children and adolescents for asthma and allergy.

I believe part of nursing is about giving back to the community; this is why I volunteer at AmeriCare Clinic in South Norwalk in their women’s health clinic and volunteer with many local charities. I enjoy playing tennis, skiing and summering on the Cape.

Columbia University-Doctorate of Nursing Practice

Fairfield University-Masters in Nursing Science-Family Nurse Practitioner-2005

Northeastern University-Bachelors in Nursing-1987

Adjunct Professor Fairfield University

Courtesy Faculty Yale University and Sacred Heart University

Member of American Academy of Nurse Practitioners

Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society

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.

From a very young age, I always knew that I wanted to pursue a career working with children. Whether I was babysitting the neighborhood families or volunteering within the local school systems, I always enjoyed watching children learn, grow, and develop. I first received my Bachelors Degree in Biology from Northeastern University. However, after working closely with a team of nurses at my first job as a Clinical Research Assistant, I was inspired to return to school to become a nurse practitioner. I received my Bachelors Degree in Nursing from Columbia University, continuing on to receive my Master’s Degree in Nursing from Columbia University, graduating from the pediatric primary care nurse practitioner program. While in school, I worked as a Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital in New York, NY. I decided to join The Center for Advanced Pediatrics in March 2017 to begin a career as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. While my background is mostly research, I am passionate about primary care and eager to enhance my understanding amongst the various subspecialties of pediatric medicine.

While not at work, I enjoy working out, exploring local attractions within Fairfield County, and spending time with my fiancé Andy and our adorable dog Hugo.

Northeastern University- Bachelor of Science in Biology

Columbia University- Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Columbia University- Master of Science in Nursing

Member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society

Why pediatrics? Who doesn’t love a snuggle from a baby or getting to play games during the work day? There is nothing I love more than meeting children as babies and getting the special opportunity to work closely with parents to help them grow and flourish.

I joined The Center for Advanced Pediatrics in August 2020, but grew up close by in Ridgefield, CT. While I always knew that I wanted to work in pediatrics, my passion for children grew stronger throughout my clinical rotations while completing my Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Boston College.

I went on to receive my Master’s Degree in Nursing from Columbia University, graduating from the pediatric primary care nurse practitioner program. After graduating, I worked at a pediatric private practice on the Upper West Side of Manhattan before moving back to Connecticut. It was there that my love for babies and nutrition continued to grow.

While not at work, I love to travel and spend time with my family and friends. Especially my husband Nick and puppy Henry.