About us

Our Mission & Vision:

Mission: Park Pediatrics is a patient centered medical home , dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to our pediatric and adolescent patients. We provide accessible, compassionate, and evidence-based care in a respectful and culturally diverse-environment. We promote the physical and mental well-being of all of our patients, so that every child who walks through our doors can achieve his or her greatest potential in life. We feel strongly about promoting school success and incorporate the Reach Out & Read Program into well child visits. Our pediatricians give a developmentally and culturally appropriate book to all our children at their health check-ups starting from 6 months to 5 years of age.

Vision: Park pediatrics aims to provide the best quality of pediatric and adolescent care. We will be the leading pediatric patient centered medical home in the region, improving the health of our patients and community.

Lavanya Sithanandam, M.D

Lavanya Sithanandam, M.D. completed medical school at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois followed by pediatric residency at one of the nation’s top ranked children’s hospitals, Children’s National Medical Center in Washington D.C. Dr. Sithanandam is the medical director at Park Pediatrics and the director of their Reach Out & Read Program. She is a strong advocate for her patients, fluent in Spanish and is certified by the International Society of Travel Medicine. She is happily married with two beautiful sons.

Louise Wong, M.D.

Louise Wong M.D. grew up in Brooklyn, New York and went to college at Georgetown University, where she majored in biology. She received her medical degree at Weill Cornell Medical College. She then completed her pediatric residency training at top ranked Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC. In her spare time she enjoys cooking and cheering on her favorite basketball team, the Georgetown Hoyas. Louise is also fluent in Cantonese.

Izumi Suzuki M.D.

Izumi Suzuki grew up in Northern Virginia and earned an undergraduate degree at UVA, majoring in chemistry. She completed medical school at Eastern Virginia and her pediatric residency at Rainbow Babies in Cleveland in June 2020. Since then she has been working as an outpatient pediatrician and newborn nursery hospitalist at the University Hospitals Medical Practices in Cleveland, OH. She is excited to join Park Peds and return to the DMV area.

Oyindamola Ajewole, MD

Oyindamola Ajewole, M.H.S., M.D. was born in Nigeria but grew up in Baltimore, MD. She attended the University of MD College Park and earned an undergraduate degree in Neurobiology & Physiology. Dr. Oyin received her masters in health sciences and medical degree at Meharry Medical College. She recently completed her pediatric residency at Penn State’s Children’s Hospital.

Samantha Noronha, MD

Samantha Noronha, MD was born and raised in Maryland. She graduated from UMD College Park, receiving dual degrees in biology and psychology. Samantha completed medical school at New York Medical College, and a pediatric residency at Penn State Hershey. She then completed a chief resident year at Penn State before returning home to work at Park Pediatrics. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, doing puzzles, and outdoor activities with her pets. Samantha is fluent in Spanish.

Amanda Polhemus, CPNP-PC

Amanda grew up in Atlanta, GA. She has a Bachelor of Science from Vanderbilt University in Human and Organizational Development on the Health and Human Services Track, and a Masters of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, TN. After graduation, she relocated to Washington, D.C. In her free time, she enjoys running, reading, cooking, and exploring new places.

Nisha Orren, PA

Nisha grew up in central Pennsylvania and completed her undergraduate degree in biology from Saint Joseph’s University, and a Masters of Medical Sciences degree from Salus University, both in Philadelphia. After graduation, she moved to the DMV area and worked in urgent care before joining Park Pediatrics. In her free time, she enjoys running, cooking/baking, and spending time with her family, friends, and dogs.

Mimi Cao-Pham, PA-C

Mimi was born and raised in Silver Spring, MD. She received a bachelor’s degree in Neurobiology & Physiology at the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies at Shenandoah University. After graduation, Mimi moved back to her hometown to join the Park Pediatrics family. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring new food spots, working out, and taking scenic hikes. She is also fluent in Vietnamese.

Solane Kumarra, PA-C

Solane was born in Ethiopia and moved to the Maryland area with her family at a young age. She received her bachelors degree in Biology from the University of Rochester and her masters in Physician Assistant studies from George Washington University. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, trying out new cuisines, hiking, and spending time with her nieces and nephews. She is excited to be a part of the Park Pediatrics family.

Bethel Kidane PA-C

Bethel was born in Ethiopia and moved to Maryland with her family in 2012. She received a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She moved to NYC to continue her education at CUNY School of Medicine where she received her master’s in Physician Assistant studies. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring different places to eat, working out and spending time with her family and friends. Bethel is fluent in Amharic

Elyse Slabaugh, MPAP, PA-C

Elyse grew up in Sanford, North Carolina and earned her bachelor’s degree at UNC-Chapel Hill in Exercise and Sports Science. She attended Campbell University where she obtained her Master’s in Physician Assistant Practice degree. She worked for a pediatrics practice in North Carolina before moving to Maryland with her husband who is commissioned into the Air Force and attending medical school. They have two cats named Pepper and Leo. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, playing and watching sports, baking, and trying out new foods.

Cecilia Martinez, Office Manager

Cecilia was born and raised in El Salvador. She received her medical degree at Universidad Autonoma de Santa Ana. After completing training in both general Pediatrics and Neonatology in El Salvador she spent several years as a practicing physician. She moved to the United States to seek new opportunities for growth in her medical career. She works with our patients with chronic health care issues and helps our providers to to
more effectively manage their care. She is a native Spanish speaker and is also fluent in English. Outside of her medical career, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and working in her garden

Arlene Ramirez, Clinical Care Coordinator Greenbelt

Arlene was born and raised in Maryland and currently lives in Lanham with her family. Arlene is passionate about working with children and teens is excited to work as a clinical care coordinator to help patients achieve better health outcomes. During her free time she loves to spend time with her son.

Fernanda Campos, Clinical Care Coordinator Gaithersburg

Fernanda was born in California but raised in Maryland. She began working as a certified nursing assistant as a senior in high school. She enjoys working with patients and health care providers to coordinate treatment plans and to share resources with families who need help navigating the health care system. Outside of her medical career Fernanda enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.

Edlin Rodriguez, Clinical Care Coordinator Takoma Park

Edlin Rodriguez has worked as a medical assistant at Park Pediatrics for the last seven years. Her patience and good communication skills has made her a great match for becoming the clinical care coordinator at Takoma Park. Edlin comes from a big family and enjoys spending time with them and her husband and two daughters. She likes to hear music and travel with her family in her free time.

Jyothi Injeti, Billing Manager

Jyothi Injeti is the billing manager at Park Pediatrics. She joined our medical practice in 2003 as a receptionist. Jyothi is the proud parent of two children. In her free time she enjoys cooking and watching Telegu movies.

Jyothi loves working with Park Pediatrics families and is available to answer any of your billing questions. You can reach her at 301-891-6141 x 5.

Hospital Affiliations

Our physicians are affiliated with both Washington Adventist Hospital and Holy Cross Hospital.

We also have a strong relationship with Children’s National Medical Center and often refer our patients who need specialty care to the specialists at Children’s Hospital. If you are delivering at either of these hospitals, our physicians, once notified by your labor and delivery nurse, will visit your baby within 24 hours of birth.