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Care Team

The Center for Advanced Pediatrics, is dedicated to comprehensive, family focused health care for our infants, children, adolescents and young adults. We are a dedicated and gifted team of professionals comprised of:

Care team

Lauren Pambianchi

APRN, CPNP-PC

Nurse Practitioners

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.

care team

Kym D’Agostino

APRN

Behavioral & Mental HealthNurse Practitioners

Norwalk

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

care team

Ariana Komaroff

DNP, FNP, IBCLC

Lactation SpecialistsNurse Practitioners

Darien, Norwalk

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.

care team

Alison Bevan

Sleep Specialist

Darien, Norwalk

As a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant, I’m dedicated to offering parents the guidance and support they need to have a well rested family.

Whether you’re a new mom with questions about how to gently shape your newborn or infant’s sleep, or the parent of an older child that has trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep, I’m here to guide you through the process of helping them develop the healthy sleep habits that are crucial to their growth and development and your family’s quality of life.

I’m currently available for consultations in all our offices. Consultations include a complete assessment of your child’s s sleep needs and sleep challenges, a step-by-step plan for implementing change, and follow-up phone calls and visits to support you throughout the process.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Alison Bevan call any of our offices.

Alison’s Sleep Help Blog

care team

Lindsey Bloomenthal

LCSW

Behavioral & Mental Health

Norwalk, Darien

I am a licensed clinical social worker and have practiced in a variety of settings in both New York City and Connecticut. I did not start out in social work though and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theatre from the Boston Conservatory and had initially set out to be a singer and actress. After auditioning and performing for a few years I decided to go to graduate school to become a social worker.

I attended Hunter College School of Social Work in New York City and upon graduation began working at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Greenwich Village. There I worked in both inpatient and outpatient Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health. During my time at St Vincent’s I got married and had my first child. Outgrowing our New York City Apartment we decided to make the move to the suburbs and settled in Connecticut. There I set up a private practice and worked at the Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut as a therapist. Most recently I have been working with, Effective School Solutions, running a program within Warde High School in Fairfield servicing adolescents struggling with a variety of mental health issues. I use an eclectic approach in my therapy with individuals drawing from psychodynamic psychotherapy, attachment therapy and also use cognitive behavioral therapy skills when helpful.

I am a mother to two little boys and in my free time love to sing, hear live music, ski, go for runs and spend time with friends and family.

I am excited to join the team at The Center for Advanced Pediatrics and look forward to using my years of experience working with children, teens and families to help people to become their best and happiest selves!

care team

Ashley Courtney

PA-C

Physician Assistants

Pediatric Urgent Care and Primary Care

I love working in Urgi-Kids because you never know what the day is going to be like.

I’ve always know I wanted to work with kids, so pediatrics was a natural choice for me. I volunteered at a children’s hospital in undergrad and I loved it. Working with kids is interesting as you see them grow and change over the years.

I completed my Master of Physician Assistant Studies at MCPHS University in Boston after earning my B.S. in Allied Health at East Tennessee State University. 

I have worked as a Physician Assistant treating campers and staff at a YMCA Camp, treating everything from homesickness to head injuries and am adept at many types of urgent care skills and procedures. I have also worked as a respiratory therapist and sleep technologist, helping critically ill patients at all ages. 

I like to swim, hike and knit. I also play the violin in the Norwalk Gamer Symphony Orchestra.

NCCPA CT State License
NCCPA Certified Physician Assistant
BLS & ACLS American Heart Association
Registered Polysomnology Technologist
American Association for Respiratory Care CT State License
Registered Respiratory Therapist

Member of
American Academy of Physical Assistants
Physician Assistant Student Society