Physical Therapist

Stefani has been a pediatric physical therapist since 2009. She earned her doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Pittsburgh, following an internship at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, and expanded her experience in private and public schools and early intervention. She believes setting the foundation for a child’s future — through patient and family education, rapport, and enjoyment of activity — can change the trajectory of a child’s life. Outside the clinic, she loves traveling, trying new restaurants, staying active, and cheering on her daughter Scarlett at gymnastics meets.

Physical Therapist & Team Lead

Kelli Ruiz is a pediatric physical therapist with over 12 years of experience specializing in the birth-to-three population. She holds a kinesiology degree from Penn State University and a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Temple University.
Kelli has treated children with various diagnoses, including torticollis, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and developmental delays, working in school districts and early intervention programs across Tennessee, Maryland, and Kentucky. She is passionate about helping children meet milestones and coaching parents to support their progress.
Outside of work, Kelli enjoys reading, strength training, and trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Physical Therapist

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Ale is passionate about helping children move, grow, and thrive. She earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from UCSF/San Francisco State University and her bachelor’s from Cal State Long Beach, and is DMI Certified at Level C, using evidence-based, play-centered approaches to help her patients reach their goals. A gymnast from ages 3 to 12 and a coach for six years, she discovered her love for working with children through coaching — the experience that inspired her pediatric career. Outside of work, Ale enjoys running, trying new foods, and has recently taken up crocheting.

Physical Therapist

Originally from the East Coast, Sammy is dedicated to helping children build strength, confidence, and independence through movement. She earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from USC, a Master of Science from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Science from Boston University. Her play-based approach blends imagination, physical activity, and her energetic personality to create sessions that are both effective and fun, with close family collaboration for successful home carryover. A registered yoga teacher, Sammy weaves yoga into her sessions — and in her free time loves traveling, cooking, surfing, hiking, and snowboarding. She lives in LA with her husband and their two adorable cats.

Occupational Therapist

Born and raised in Southern California, Kelsey earned her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California and has a background in pediatrics, maternal health, and infant development.
For her doctoral capstone, she created and implemented Tiny Explorers, a developmental playgroup supporting infant motor skills, sensory exploration, and caregiver education. This experience strengthened her skills in program development, caregiver coaching, and supporting families during early development and transition.
Outside of work, Kelsey enjoys staying active, spending time outdoors, traveling, baking, and playing sand volleyball.

Speech Therapist

Cheryl is a licensed speech-language pathologist holding a Certificate of Clinical Competence through ASHA. She earned her master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Adelphi University in Long Island, New York, and has experience working with diverse pediatric populations in clinic settings. Cheryl believes communication should be joyful — she creates child-led, play-based sessions that build on each child’s unique strengths and interests, with a passion for early intervention and individualized, neurodiversity-affirming care in close partnership with families. Originally from Culver City, Cheryl enjoys tennis, reading, trying new restaurants, watching Bravo, and satisfying her sweet tooth.

Infant Development Specialist

Born and raised in Santa Monica and West Los Angeles, Sofie earned her Bachelor's degree in psychology from California State University Long Beach. Sofie brings valuable experience working with children aged 0–5 in preschool settings and as a dedicated nanny. Her journey into speech-language pathology was inspired during volunteer work at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Saint John’s Hospital and a pediatric occupational and speech therapy clinic, where she discovered her true calling.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Sofie enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, exploring new coffee shops, savoring live music events, playing soccer, watching sports, and catching the latest movies on the big screen.
 

Infant Development Specialist

Kaitlin is a dedicated teacher with a strong academic foundation in child development and psychology from Whittier College. She was born and raised in Manhattan Beach, where she still resides.  She brings both compassion and structure into her classroom, creating a safe, engaging space where children feel supported and inspired to learn.
With a deep understanding of how young minds grow and thrive, Kaitlin uses her background in psychology to tailor her teaching approach to the individual needs of each student. Her goal is to foster curiosity, confidence, and kindness in every child she works with.
Outside of the classroom, Kaitlin enjoys a creatively rich and relaxing lifestyle. She’s an avid soccer player, loves to embroider and macrame, and is a huge beach lover. 

Infant Development Specialist

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Gabby comes from a strong Mexican heritage. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Cal State Fullerton in Child and Adolescent Studies with a concentration in Early Childhood Development, and over the past five years has worked with children of all ages across preschools, recreational programs, and non-profit educational services. Her passion for early intervention grew from witnessing children reach important developmental milestones and supporting families through those meaningful moments. In her free time, Gabby enjoys cooking, baking, spending time with loved ones, and treating herself to coffee and boba.

Human Resources

Marisol is a knowledgeable HR Professional with over 10 years of expertise in full cycle HR, including workplace compliance, policy development, and employee engagement. She is passionate about emotional intelligence and fostering authentic work environments where people can thrive. Known for her balanced approach, Marisol combines strategic problem-solving with genuine empathy for others.
 
Outside of work, Marisol is a proud wife and mom of two. She enjoys an unlimited amount of coffee, life in the mountains, staying active, baking her own sourdough, and spending quality time with family and friend.

Scheduling Coordinator

Melissa is a dedicated healthcare scheduling professional with experience coordinating and supporting clinical teams in fast-paced healthcare settings. With a background working closely with children and families, she brings a compassionate, patient-centered approach to scheduling and care coordination. She is skilled in maintaining accuracy, clear communication, and confidentiality while ensuring smooth daily operations.
 
Outside of work, Melissa enjoys spending time with family, traveling, cooking, and tutoring during her free time. 
 

IS Team lead

Bri specializes in how neurological development impacts movement, learning, and behavior. She holds a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Washington University in St. Louis and a Bachelor’s in Biology with a minor in Psychology from Columbia College. She works with children with neurodevelopmental disorders — including cerebral palsy, autism, and developmental delays — contributes to research on sensory processing and learning differences, and leads adaptive dance and sports programs that help children build confidence through movement. Outside of work, Bri enjoys dancing, hiking, weight-lifting, and discovering new coffee shops.

Physical Therapist & Team Lead

Ann is a Los Angeles native who earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California. She has extensive experience treating children of all ages with neuromuscular conditions in the outpatient setting at California Children’s Services, with specialized expertise in adaptive equipment and mobility solutions.
Ann has a special love for working with the 0–3-year-old population and is passionate about helping children reach their fullest potential through therapy, family education, and advocacy.
Outside of the clinic, Ann is a proud mom of three. She enjoys reading, cooking, and traveling, and she is actively involved in her children’s schools.

Physical Therapist Program Lead

A Los Angeles native, Karina earned her bachelor’s in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Dickinson College and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Colorado. She has worked with children from birth through adolescence across clinic, school, aquatic, home health, and hospital settings — caring for diagnoses including developmental delay, torticollis, cerebral palsy, autism, anoxic brain injury, and IVH/hydrocephalus. Bilingual in English and Spanish, she is committed to addressing the health care disparities many communities face. Outside the clinic, Karina enjoys staying active, trying new restaurants, reading, cooking, being outdoors, and traveling.

Occupational Therapist

Samantha has over five years of experience providing high-quality care across the lifespan. She grew up in New York, earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Boston University, and completed her master's in Occupational Therapy at St. Augustine University of Health Sciences. Specializing in neurological rehabilitation and pediatric therapy, Samantha has worked in schools, rehabilitation centers, and home health, treating conditions such as sensory processing issues, fine motor delays, attention deficits, and motor planning difficulties.
She has expanded her expertise through mentorship with neuro-optometrists for vision therapy and clinicians specializing in the SOS approach to feeding

IS Manager

Haley Feinstein, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and earned her master’s degree from Syracuse University. She has over a decade of experience working with a diverse pediatric population in school and clinic settings. She is Hanen-certified (It Takes Two to Talk and More Than Words) and has a strong passion for early intervention. 
Her areas of focus include early language development, language delay, Autism Spectrum Disorder, gestalt language processing, and supporting children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
Outside of work, Haley enjoys planning weekend trips, reading, exploring new restaurants, and going to her local farmers market.

Speech Therapist

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Jen earned her bachelor’s in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Miami University and her master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Nova Southeastern University. Her clinical background spans early intervention, autism, gestalt language processing, articulation and phonology, fluency, childhood apraxia of speech, and AAC. She is especially passionate about helping young children with expressive and receptive language delays and speech sound disorders — and empowering families with tools to support communication at home. Outside of work, Jen enjoys exercising, going on walks, spending time with friends, and playing the harp for weddings and special events.

Infant Development Specialist and Social Media Coordinator

Andrea Trujillo is a first-generation Latina who earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders from Cal State LA and an AA in Liberal Arts from Santa Monica College.
She has been working with children for the past four years, beginning as a preschool assistant and eventually advancing to the role of lead preschool teacher. 
Working with children is something Andrea truly loves whether teaching, playing, guiding their growth, or sharing laughs. She believes every child has something unique to teach and feels fortunate to be part of their journey. 
Outside of work, Andrea enjoys going to the gym, traveling, exploring new coffee shops, crafting, walking by the beach, and spending time with her family.

Infant Development Specialist

Jennifer was born in Nicaragua and raised in Los Angeles. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State University, Dominguez Hills. For the past six years, she has worked in early childhood education, including roles in Early Intervention and Early Head Start, where she supported children with diverse developmental needs and collaborated closely with families to promote healthy growth and learning. Jennifer is passionate about nurturing children’s development through play-based approaches that honor each child’s unique strengths. In her free time, she enjoys activities that allow for creative freedom, trying new restaurants, and exploring new places.

Operational Lead

Madeline is the beating heart of VKT's administrative operations, working from her remote setup to expertly manage our scheduling needs.
With a meticulous eye for detail and unmatched organizational prowess, she ensures that our day-to-day tasks run seamlessly behind the scenes. Madeline's versatility and unwavering commitment make her an invaluable asset to our team. 
On the weekends you can find Madeline directing/putting together films, hiking with friends or making delicious brick oven pizzas.  We're lucky to have her as a member of our team.

Scheduling Lead

Originally from the East Coast, Malisa is a proud Marine wife of 12 years, which has allowed her to live in various cities, states, and countries.
She is excited to be a part of the Vida Kids Therapy team, where she already feels like family.
Malisa brings dedication, flexibility, and a strong sense of community to everything she does, both professionally and personally.
Outside of work, Malisa enjoys spending time with her family, hosting game nights, and volunteering with the USO. As the proud mom of an energetic 11-year-old daughter, she enjoys a life full of adventure and fun.

Scheduling Coordinator

Sarah is thrilled to be a part of the Vida Kids team! She brings her knack of coordination and organization, as well as her team-player energy, to the scheduling team. As the dedicated make-up scheduler, Sarah ensures families get the care they need despite life's many unexpected changes. 
 
Outside of work, Sarah is an actor and writer based in Southern California, as well as a wife and dog mom to two rambunctious Welsh Corgis. She's also an avid reader of many genres! On her days off, you can catch her drinking coffee with her nose in a book and dog or two curled up at her feet.