Meet the Team

Meet Jen

Jen Carmona graduated from Parkland College in 2002 with an associate in science and then graduated from the Illinois State University in 2005 with a double major in Kinesiology with emphases in Exercise Science and Athletic Training. Jen worked as an Athletic Trainer in Las Vegas for over 7 years, until she went back to school for Respiratory Therapy. Jen graduated from Carrington College in 2014 and subsequently received her Respiratory Therapy license.

Jen has since worked as a Respiratory Therapist in acute care and adult and pediatric skilled nursing. Jen received her master’s in healthcare administration in 2018 and her Doctorate in Business Administration in 2022. In February of 2022, Jen began an Administrator in Training program at Silver State Pediatric SNF, and subsequently passed her Administrator’s exam in August and received her license in September of 2022. Jen became the Administrator of Silver State Pediatric SNF in December of 2022. Jen’s drive, compassion, and willingness to help others will ultimately ensure success and exceptional quality of care is achieved at the SSP!

Meet Lucia

Lucia brings over 25 years’ experience from numerous health care settings. Upon receiving a Bachelor of Science in Community Health from New Mexico State University she went on to graduate from Texas Woman’s University with a Master’s of Occupational Therapy. Lucia’s first position included providing occupational therapy services to four long term care facilities over two states. She quickly fell in love with her profession as it fits her personality and natural skill set perfectly. If you ask her, she’ll say, “I hit the career lottery.”

As our Neurotherapy Rehabilitation Program takes form, Lucia is the Therapy Director. Lucia’s background in therapy and commitment to quality improvement is sure to serve our kids well.

• What was your favorite toy as a kid? Slinky
• If you had a superpower, what would it be? Healing
• What’s your most worn-out book from childhood?One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish By Dr. Seuss
• If you could eat one thing every day for the rest of your life, what would it be? Peanut butter
• What is your favorite thing about yourself? Sense of humor

Meet Dr. Ruchi Garg

Dr. Ruchi Garg is double board-certified in pediatrics and pediatric hospitalist medicine. She has been practicing at Sunrise Children’s Hospital for the past 19 years. Dr. Garg currently serves as the Medical Director at Silver State Pediatric SNF in Las Vegas, Nevada. She received her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency training in pediatrics at the University of Nevada School of Medicine.

As the Medical Director at Silver State Pediatric SNF, Dr. Garg leads a team of medical, respiratory, and therapeutic healthcare professionals to provide exceptional care for children with complex medical conditions. She partners with families to develop individualized care plans that address the unique needs of each child. Dr. Garg is committed to ensuring that the goals for each child are heard and incorporated into their medical and therapeutic care plan.

Dr. Garg has a special interest in providing family-centered care and is dedicated to ensuring that her patients and their families receive the highest quality of care. She is also involved in medical education and serves as an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Nevada School of Medicine. Dr. Garg is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is honored to serve as the Medical Director at Silver State Pediatric SNF and to help children with complex medical conditions reach their full potential

Meet Heather Spaulding

Meet Dr. Parks

Dr. David Parks is a 1972 Harvard graduate who went to the University of Florida College of Medicine before practicing medicine in the Navy for several years. Dr. Parks, a pediatric pulmonologist and associate professor in the UNLV School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics, believes that patient education and establishing rapport with patients and their families are essential to the art of medicine.

Dr. Parks knows that a good doctor does not always accept what they are told at face value. “One of the things that I teach medical students and residents is how to interact with young patients,” he said. “In response to my questions, sometimes patients and their parents answer what they think I want to hear. I compare their report of symptoms with medication use and pulmonary function and sometimes get suspicious. I teach medical students and residents to always be skeptical. Pay attention to the details. Understand the day-to-day variations. If they are not taking their medications like they should, it may be because they do not understand how to do it properly or perhaps, they just cannot afford it. “

For asthma patients, he developed a two-page “asthma action plan” that details what they should do while living with asthma, how to use an inhaler, and the actions to take when different symptoms arise.

“My goal is to have my asthma patients be completely symptom-free and on the least amount of medicine,” he said. “The three reasons why asthma is not controlled is due to compliance–compliance—compliance. This may mean they are not taking the medicine at all, not taking it correctly, or not taking it at the right time. It’s important to teach patients the how and, if they are having problems, to figure out the ‘why.’”

After decades of practicing medicine, Dr. Parks concludes, “As a doctor, you have to understand both the ’science of medicine’ and the ‘art of medicine,” he said. “The ’science of medicine’ is understanding the underlying pathophysiology of the disease process, developing a treatment plan, and prescribing the correct therapy. The ‘art of medicine’ is how you work with and communicate with the patient and how you teach them to control their underlying problem. It is the art of how to use your scientific knowledge to your patient’s benefit.”

Meet Juliet

Juliet has been a Physical Therapist (PT) for about 40 years since graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has worked in various settings including hospitals, outpatient therapy clinics, Skilled Nursing Facilities, schools, and home health. The last 20 years of her career has been in pediatrics, which has led her to be part of the team here at Silver State Pediatric.

Juliet’s passion for physical therapy began in high school after witnessing another student return to school with a broken neck from a canoeing accident. The student was supposed to be paralyzed but with the help of physical therapy, miraculously the student was able to walk. Juliet immediately became intrigued with the field of physical therapy and always felt her achievement to become a PT was a gift from God. Juliet’s appreciation for her life-long career allows her to support and give back to her University’s PT program as gratitude. “My profession has been very rewarding, and I look forward to what the future has to offer here at Silver State Pediatric.”

• What was your favorite toy as a kid? Barbie Dolls
• If you had a superpower, what would it be? To read people’s minds
• What’s your most worn-out book from childhood? Winnie the Pooh books
• If you could eat one thing every day for the rest of your life, what would it be? Potato Chips
• What is your favorite thing about yourself? Work hard to be the best self I can be

Meet Dawn

Dawn DeYoung, DHSc, RRT, RCP graduated from Adrian College in 1994 with a Baccalaureate degree in Exercise Science. In 2005, she obtained her associate degree in respiratory therapy from Erie Community College in New York. She became licensed as a Registered Respiratory Therapist in NY and began her career at Strong Memorial Hospital as a Burn-Trauma ICU and Trauma Emergency Room therapist. She relocated to Las Vegas in 2007 and was licensed as a Respiratory Care Practitioner in NV. She received her Master’s degree in Respiratory Care Leadership in 2015 from Northeastern University. In 2019, she graduated from A.T. Still University with her Doctorate degree in Health Sciences. In addition to working in Burn Trauma, she has held roles as a respiratory therapy department supervisor, faculty member at both an associate and master’s degree respiratory care program, Program Director for Carrington College’s Respiratory Care program, Director of Cardiopulmonary Services and Point of Care Testing at Valley Hospital Medical Center, and Clinical Liaison for PAM Rehab Hospital of Centennial Hills. While at Valley Hospital she created new respiratory care positions at the hospital to help advance the field. These included the COPD Navigator, the Progressive Mobility RT, and the Point of Care Coordinator. She helped develop curriculum and testing standards as a member of the Respiratory Science Assessment writing team for the Nevada Department of Education. She is also a reviewer for the Respiratory Care Journal. Dawn is currently the Clinical Liaison and Director of Respiratory Therapy at Silver State Pediatric Skilled Nursing Facility.

• What was your favorite toy as a kid? Lite Brite
• If you had a superpower, what would it be? The ability to time travel
• What’s your most worn-out book from childhood? Probably a coloring book
• If you could eat one thing every day for the rest of your life, what would it be? Chicken Fingers with hot sauce
• What is your favorite thing about yourself? I am not afraid to pursue new things and challenge myself