Three smiling women sitting together on a white studio floor, with one wearing a pediatric gastroenterologist coat.

Meet your

Feeding Team

Three specialist. Different expertise. One collaborative approach.

We combine our medical, developmental, and feeding expertise to provide whole-child care that empowers families and supports children eat every stage of growth.

Smiling female pediatric gastroenterologist in a white lab coat holding a stethoscope beside a display of tropical fruit.

Dr. Rachel Ruiz

Medical Director, Pediatric Gastroenterologist,
Certified Lactation Consultant (CLC)

  • Dr. Ruiz is a board-certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist with a special interest in pediatric nutrition, feeding difficulties, and Gl conditions that impact growth and development.

    • Feeding disorders & ARFID

    • Growth & nutrition concerns

    • GERD, constipation & gut-brain disorders

    • Eosinophilic esophagitis (EOE)

    • Feeding tube management

    • Celiac Disease

    • B.A. from Dartmouth College

    • M.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

    • Pediatric residency Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

    • Pediatric gastroenterology fellowship Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford

  • English and Spanish

  • SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

    “First Bites, Big Impact: Guiding Families Through Starting Solids with Safety and Confidence.”
    Virtual Grand Rounds.Department of Pediatrics at University Kansas Medical Center, KS (April 21, 2026)

    “Pediatric Feeding Therapies: Screening and Intervention Pearls for the General Pediatrician.”
    Invited CME speaker. Department of Pediatrics at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center CME Symposium, Mountain View, CA. (October 4, 2025)

    “First Bites, Big Impact: Guiding Families Through Baby-Led Feeding with Safety and Confidence.”
    Virtual Grand Rounds. Department of Pediatrics at New York Medical College, NY. (September 24, 2025)

    “A Transdisciplinary Approach to Feeding.”
    Grand Rounds. Department of Pediatrics at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. (November 29, 2023)

    “Plenary: Basics of Baby Led weaning and the Science of Starting Solids” and “Safely Introducing Self-Feeding Practices.”
    Invited speaker. 65th Annual Southern California Permanente Medical Group (SCPMG) Pediatric Hybrid Symposium. Anaheim, CA. (September 22, 2023)

    “A Transdisciplinary Approach to Feeding Affected by Social Determinants of Health.”
    Podium Presentation. Feeding Matters 10th Annual International Pediatric Feeding Disorders Virtual Conference. (April 13, 2023)

    PUBLISHED BOOKS
    April 2025Rappaport K, Grenawitzke K, Ruiz R, Bajowala S, Kalami V, Best J (2025). Solid Starts for Babies: How to Introduce Solid Food and Raise a Happy Eater. Crown Publishing.

    October 2020Ruiz, Rachel M and Bass, Dorsey. Chapter 39 Parasites. Pediatric Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 6th edition. Published 2020 Oct 06. Hardcover ISBN: 9780323672931.

    POSTER PRESENTATIONS
    Ruiz RM, Kalami, V. First Foods for Baby’s First Bites: Global Parental Smartphone Application User Behavior When Introducing Solids to Babies. Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo National Meeting. October 14, 2025.

    Ruiz RM, Ralbovsky A. Choking Death Prevalence. American Academy of Pediatrics National Meeting. September 27, 2025.

    Ruiz RM, Kalami V. First foods for baby’s first bites: Parental smartphone application behavior when introducing solids to babies. Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting. April 28, 2025.  

    Ruiz RM, Laguit K, Nespor C, Gilbaugh A, Kerner JA. Improved Stool Consistency in Pediatric Short Bowel Syndrome Patients Following Introduction of Pureed Green Beans Through G-Tube. 2019 CIRTA Paris, France, July 3, 2019.

  • I love experimenting in the kitchen and on any given day you can find me fermenting something!

Woman in green scrubs sitting on the floor beside a white pedestal topped with pineapple, dragon fruit, and kiwi.

Tina Nguyen

Occupational Therapist
Certified Lactation Consultant (CLC)

  • Tina is a pediatric occupational therapist specializing in feeding, sensory processing. and motor development. She is passionate about helping children build skills and confidence at mealtimes and in daily life.

    • Pediatric Feeding Disorders

    • Sensory processing differences

    • Gross motor & fine motor skills

    • Developmental delays & disorders

    • B.A. in Psychology - UCLA

    • M.O.T. - Sammuel Meritt University

  • English and Vietnamese (Conversational)

    • Handwriting without Tears

    • ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Scales)

    • SPARK Communication: Coaching Parents to Use Hanen Strategies

    • DIR Floortime approach

    • Sensory Processing

    • Zones of Regulation

    • SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach to Feeding

  • “A Transdiscplinary Approach To Feeding”
    SCVMC Pediatric Grand Rounds (2023)

    “A Transdiscplinary Approach To Feeding Affected By Social Determinants of Health” -
    International Pediatric Feeding Disorder Conference (2023)

  • I have a love-hate relationship with creative projects—they stress me out, but once I’m invested, I refuse to stop until they’re exactly how I pictured them.

Smiling pediatric speech therapist in scrubs holding a children's book beside fruit, wooden learning toys, and children's books

Stephanie Pagatpatan

Speech Therapist
Certified Lactation Consultant (CLC)

  • Stephanie is a pediatric speech-language pathologist with expertise in feeding, developmental disorders, and communication.

    Stephanie is a member of ASHA & CalAIMH.  She also served on the board of the Asian Pacific Islander Speech Language Hearing Caucus as the PR & Media Coordinator.   She has also assisted with summer research in the Voice and Research Lab at Hong Kong University.  

    She loves helping children find their voice and feel safe and successful at mealtimes.

    • Pediatric Feeding Disorders

    • Speech and Language delays

    • Developmental delays & disorders

    • Mental health

    • B.S. in Communicative Disorder,
      Minor in Special Education -
      San Francisco State University

    • M.S. in Communicative Disorder - San Francisco State University

    • UC Davis Napa Infant-Parent Mental Health Fellowship

  • English, Cantonese (Conversational), Mandarin (Basic)

    • Specialized training in working with children on the autism spectrum through Project Common Ground, a project supported by the U.S. Department of Education. 

    • SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach to Feeding

    • P.R.O.M.P.T

    • ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Scales)

    • CAN-EAT feeding approach

    • NBO (Newborn Observation Screening)

    • Reliable in the NCAST Feeding Scales

  • “A Transdiscplinary Approach To Feeding”
    SCVMC Pediatric Grand Rounds (2023)

    “Feeding Therapies”
    SCVMC CME conference (2025)

    “A Transdiscplinary Approach To Feeding Affected By Social Determinants of Health” -
    International Pediatric Feeding Disorder Conference (2023)

    “Survey Findings of Asian and Pacific-Islanders in the speech-language-hearing sciences: Implications for recruitment and support”  - Co-Presenter
    ASHA Convention (2017)

    “Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork: Transdisciplinary Early Childhood Mental Health Practice” – Co-Presenter
    Zero to Three Conference (2017)

    “Heritage Language Maintenance of a Child With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Parent’s Perspective”
    Master’s Thesis (2015)    

    “ELLs in Middle School”                           
    NSSHLA Poster Presentation (2014) 

    Hong Kong UniversityVoice and Research Lab
    Research Assistant to Dr. Estella Ma (2013)

  • I have a soft spot for special needs dogs. I’d love to have a special needs dog rescue!