About Us
Pediatric Minds is an inter-disciplinary clinic that specializes in providing cutting-edge evaluations and scientifically based treatments of the highest quality to children with Autism, neurodevelopmental disorders, behavioral and emotional challenges, ADHD, developmental delays including speech delay, sensory processing issues, learning disabilities (dyslexia), cerebral palsy and genetic disorders.
Your child’s treatment will be based on scientifically proven therapies that have been shown through research to work! Early childhood is a crucial time to intervene with developmental and behavioral issues and scientifically backed strategies of treatment are the only way to ensure your child’s best developmental and behavioral outcomes.
Our interdisciplinary staff
Dr. Hannauer supports the Centers Child Neurology services. She is board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology with sub-specialty training in Pediatric Neurology. As an Assistant Clinical Professor at UCLA Medical Center, she is recognized as one of the premier experts in the fields of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Autism, Epilepsy, developmental delays, pediatric behavioral issues, and learning disabilities. An integral part of the UCLA Department of Child Neurology, she is actively engaged in teaching medical students, interns and residents.
Dr. Pantea Sharifi Hannauer, MD, a is a Licensed Child Neurologist and Board Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Hannauer is highly trained in the fields of behavioral medicine, early development, Autism, Epilepsy and medication treatment. She is also part of the world renowned Pediatric Neurology Department at UCLA Medical Center, Mattel’s Children Hospital, where she actively teaches other professionals, residents and medical students. She is also actively involved in patient care at UCLA and in the South Bay community. You will have access to the most up to date research opportunities, studies, specific tests and scans only offered at UCLA if you are interested in participating. All medical tests and procedures will be completed at UCLA Medical Center, if any are needed.
Cori Fujii, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist and Clinical Director of the Early Childhood Treatment Center at Pediatric Minds. Dr. Fujii earned her PhD from UCLA and spent her graduate and postdoctoral years supervising a cognitive behavioral therapy intervention study for children and adolescents with Anxiety and Autism as part of UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. She currently supervises treatment while providing support and education to parents of children enrolled in the ECTC program. She works collaboratively with the child’s family, our multidisciplinary team, and the child’s outpatient service providers to ensure the highest quality of treatment and consistency among services. In addition, Dr. Fujii conducts a 10-week outpatient social skills group for children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, or other social challenges.
Michela Muir is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Michela has been extensively trained in applied behavior analysis since 2010. She has experience working with individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other related disabilities. Michela spent two years in Abu Dhabi successfully integrating some of the first children with ASD into a general education classroom. She has worked in a variety of states serving children and adults in residential, home and school settings. Michela provides expert treatment planning that not only will meet every child’s behavioral needs, but also supports their social emotional needs with care and dedication. Michela is the Clinical director at the Pediatric Minds Developmental Services program and oversees treatment quality at the Early Childhood Treatment Center.
Pam Ajang, PhD is a clinical psychologist with a specialty in pediatric neuropsychology. She completed her doctoral degree at Palo Alto University and obtained her clinical specialization training at various institutions including University of Miami/Jackson Memorial hospital, Children’s Hospital Oakland, and St. Mary’s Medical Center. She has maintained a private practice in the South Bay since 1999, providing assessment, therapy, and educational advocacy to families and children with various neurodevelopmental conditions. Dr. Ajang joined the team at Pediatric Minds Early Childhood Treatment Center at its inception in 2011. Here at ECTC, she continues to provide clinical intervention and parent education to families as well as supervision and consulting services.
Zoe Morash is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst Candidate. Zoe has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis for over 15 years. She has experience working in the school, home and clinic with both adults and children diagnosed with autism and other developmental disorders. Zoe enjoys the collaboration between parents and their children ensuring for their child’s success in all facets of their life.
Dr. Negar Afshar, PsyD. Is a licensed clinical psychologist. She received her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at Alliant International University. Her graduate and post-graduate experiences have included providing psychological services to children, adolescents, and young adults affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder, trauma related disorders, and developmental delays. She is experienced in the areas of psychological assessment and individual/family therapy. She is ADOS certified and has an extensive amount of experience in the diagnostic process of Autism. She is incredibly passionate about her work here at Pediatric Minds as she strongly believes in every child’s ability to thrive.
Kelly Peetz, M.A., CCC-SLP, is a licensed speech language pathologist. She conducts assessments and treatment for private practice clients and clients enrolled in the Early Childhood Treatment Program at Pediatric Minds. Kelly graduated from Indiana University with undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Communication Sciences and a Masters in Speech Language Pathology. Kelly has more than ten years of experience working with the pediatric population. She specializes in the assessment and treatment of children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Receptive and Expressive Language Disorder, Pragmatic and Social Communication Disorder, Articulation Disorder, Phonological Disorder, and more. Kelly employs a play-based approach to treatment that uses a client’s own motivation to maximize their engagement and learning. She believes play is a critical component to therapy that promotes executive functioning skills, flexible thinking, problem solving, perspective taking, conversation skills, and narrative development.
Tiffany Ng, MA., CCC-SLP is a licensed speech language pathologist at Pediatric Minds, Early Childhood Treatment Center. She received her Master of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at California State University, Fullerton. Throughout her academic and professional career, Tiffany has completed assessments and has implemented individual, and group therapy sessions with a variety of speech and language disorders including receptive-expressive language disorders, articulation/motor speech disorders, and pragmatic language disorders. Tiffany believes that every child has the potential to become an effective communicator and is passionate about helping children find their voice within a creative learning environment.
Tiffany currently provides individual speech and language therapy outpatient services and works collaboratively with our multidisciplinary team to assess patients and guide speech and language treatment for patients within the ECTC program.
Ted Hutman, Ph.D., Clinical Director of Pediatric Minds Developmental Services. Dr. Hutman is a clinical and developmental psychologist, specializing in Autism and social-emotional development. Dr. Hutman studied at Stanford and UCLA and he was an adjunct assistant professor of psychiatry at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Hutman was an investigator for the infant siblings of children with Autism study as part of the NIH/NICHD-funded Autism Center of Excellence at UCLA. He received a prestigious career development award from the National Institute of Mental Health. As a clinician, Dr. Hutman works with children with Autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and their families. He is supporting Pediatric Minds’ efforts to provide comprehensive care to our patients and to develop our collaborative research activities.