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Dr. Bennett moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to study at Stanford University, where he met his wife, Sara Liu, MD, who also practices at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Pediatrics – Monterey. His family moved to Monterey in 2012. Prior to that, they lived in the Santa Cruz area, where Dr. Bennett was the pediatric medical director at Dominican Hospital. Dr. Bennett has been practicing in the Monterey area for over 16 years. His medical interests include pediatric asthma, allergies, and ADHD. Outside of work, Dr. Bennett enjoys running, basketball, traveling, and spending time with his three daughters.
Todd Dwelle, MD
Dr. Dwelle grew up in the Central Valley of California and moved east for his medical training. After he met his wife in New York, the family decided to return to Monterey in 2002. In 2017, Dr. Dwelle was awarded the Clinical Excellence Award for Primary Care by Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. He has a special interest in advancing medical technology such as telehealth visits. He enjoys spending time with his children, flying, swimming, road biking, and backpacking.
Dr. Lee knew from a young age that she wanted to be a doctor. She is a Texas native and moved to the Bay Area for her undergraduate studies at Stanford University. She went back to Texas to obtain her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, where she met her husband, Harsha Mittakanti, MD, a urologist. After completing her residency, she returned to the Bay Area, where she practiced in San Francisco for a few years. She joined the Monterey practice in 2019. In her free time, she enjoys running, hiking, biking, and spending time with her husband and toddler.
Dr. Liu is a California native and has lived and practiced pediatrics on the Central Coast since 1998. She joined the Monterey practice in 2014. Dr. Liu loves pediatrics and comes home from work every day thinking it’s the best job in the world: “It’s such a privilege to be a small part in the lives of my patients as I watch them grow and thrive.” Dr. Liu also enjoys spending time with her husband, James Bennett, MD, and their three daughters, traveling, trying new restaurants, hiking, and reading.
Dr. Mulgrew was born and grew up in Orange County, California, and spent his undergraduate, medical school, and residency years in Northern and Southern California. After completing his residency, he moved with his wife and two small children to Seattle, where he completed a fellowship in sports medicine and served as a team physician for the Washington Huskies. He and his family then returned to Southern California for two years, where he worked in private practice. He joined the Monterey practice in 2016. Dr. Mulgrew is happy to be living and working in Monterey, where he can surf, play drums, and enjoy spending time with his wife and three children.
Julia Pederson, MD
Dr. Pederson grew up in Southern California and was drawn to medicine when her grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. After graduating from Harvard University, Dr. Pederson received her medical degree from the Stanford School of Medicine. She completed her residency at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago before moving back to the West Coast. Dr. Pederson has won several awards, including the Global Health Initiative Travel Award in 2017 and the Pediatric Resident Teaching Award in 2016. She joined the Monterey practice in 2019. In her free time, she enjoys running and walking with her daughter and their dog, as well as birding.
Dr. Tao has lived and practiced pediatrics in Monterey since 2008. Previously, she taught family practice residents at Natividad Medical Center, a UCSF-affiliated teaching hospital, which allowed her to further enhance her competency in medicine. Throughout her education and training, Dr. Tao has been the recipient of multiple awards and certificates of appreciation for excellence in both academic achievement and patient care. She loves working with children and is living out her dream of being a pediatrician. Dr. Tao enjoys singing, dancing, running, films, and spending time with family and friends.
Dr. Yu received his bachelor of science in cell development biology from the University of California, Berkeley. He then graduated from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and completed his residency at the UCI School of Medicine in Irvine. He joined Stanford Medicine Children’s Health at Bayside Medical Group in 2010 and transferred to the Monterey location in 2022. His professional interests include asthma care, physical fitness, and nutrition. In his spare time, Dr. Yu likes to go biking and hiking, go on medical missions, and read to his two daughters.
Helen Pavis
Helen Pavis began her nursing career over 25 years ago. She has a wealth of experience in a variety of clinical settings, including 16 years of acute inpatient general pediatric nursing. Most recently, she managed a pediatric gastroenterology office and was an advice nurse for patient calls.
Julie M. Smith, PNP
Julie Smith is a native of the Monterey area. She grew up in Salinas and moved to the Midwest to complete her education. After finishing her nurse practitioner education, she spent a year working in a pediatric emergency department. She joined the Monterey practice in 2012 and enjoys assisting families with the health of their children. In addition to well and sick visits, she focuses on adolescent health, asthma, and obesity. When not working, she spends time with her husband, stepdaughter, and son. She enjoys golf, exercise, reading, and crossword puzzles.
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