Pediatrics

Let kids be kids.

Knowing that every child is unique, our providers offer personalized guidance, support and advice for each family.

With four convenient locations, treating everything from runny noses to broken bones, we have you covered.

As a trusted community healthcare partner, we teach families about a wide variety of health factors, including illness, growth, behavior and development, helping them raise happy, healthy children who grow into happy, healthy adults.

To schedule a pediatric appointment, give us a call at 386.425.KIDS.

High Level Pediatric Care

Halifax Health – Pediatric Emergency Department is here to ensure that our youngest patients have access to the best possible care when they need it most. Featuring twelve private rooms and a pediatric resuscitation room, the Pediatric Emergency Department is fully-staffed with board-certified emergency pediatricians, trauma surgeons, emergency department physicians and intensivists who have been specially trained to care for pediatric patients. Halifax Health's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit provides care 24 hours a day for pediatric patients that require a higher level of care. The Pediatric Emergency Department works closely with Speediatrics, our NASCAR-themed inpatient pediatric unit, and our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (Pediatric ICU) which is located at Halifax Health Medical Center in the Betty Jane France Center for Pediatrics. The Pediatric ICU at Halifax Health Medical Center utilizes a multi-disciplinary team focused on caring for young patients.

The team of experts includes:

  • Pediatric intensivists (physicians who specialize in pediatric intensive care)
  • Critical care nurses
  • Respiratory therapists
  • Rehabilitation therapists
  • Pharmacists
  • Dietitians
  • Medical social workers

Depending on the needs of the child, other specialists may be involved in his or her care. The Pediatric ICU at Halifax Health Medical Center has the best trained, best qualified and most comprehensive staff in the area.

With four conveniently located offices in Volusia/Flagler counties, we are here to provide high level pediatric care for the littlest members of your family.

  • Daytona Beach - Keech Pediatric Neighborhood Care
  • Ormond Beach, Booth Road
  • Palm Coast
  • Port Orange

Halifax Health | Brooks Rehabilitation – Pediatric Rehabilitation is proud to provide pediatric therapeutic services for the children in our community that have neurological, physical, developmental and learning disabilities. Our team of pediatric rehabilitation experts work with each child to create an individualized care plan that takes into account their developmental and educational needs while also incorporating their home environment and family needs.

Services include:

  • physical therapy
  • occupational therapy
  • speech therapy
  • infant feeding therapy
  • pediatric recreation

A pediatric urologist treats issues with a child’s or teen’s kidneys, renal pelvis, ureter, bladder and urethra in males and females. In addition, disorders of the penis and testicles in males and disorders of the vagina in females are also conditions treated by a pediatric urologist.

We offer leading edge minimally invasive treatments, including laparoscopic and robotic surgery for pediatric urologic conditions.

The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Halifax Health Medical Center is the section of the hospital dedicated to the treatment of children who need the highest level of medical attention and care. Children are admitted to the PICU when their needs can’t be adequately met on the hospital’s main floors when they need closer monitoring of their condition (such as after surgery) or they are taking medications that must be carefully supervised. Halifax Health offers the only Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in the area, providing services 24 hours a day.

Caring and Dedicated Staff of the PICU

The PICU of Halifax Health Medical Center utilizes a multi-disciplinary team focused on caring for young patients.

  • Pediatric Intensivists (Doctors who specialize in pediatric intensive care)
  • Critical care nurses
  • Respiratory therapists
  • Rehabilitation therapists
  • Pharmacists
  • Dietitians
  • Nurse Case Managers

Depending on the needs of the child, other specialists may be involved in his or her care. The PICU at Halifax Health has the best trained, qualified and most comprehensive staff in the area.

What to Expect in the PICU

Children are often admitted to the PICU because of the intensive care or testing they need. Halifax Health recognizes that the hospital environment can be very intimidating to young patients (and their parents). Such anxiety is normal, but knowing what to expect can do a great deal to ease the fears of the patients and parents. Every child’s experience will differ depending on their needs, but some of them may include:

IVs

An intravenous catheter (IV) is a small gauge needle attached to a very thin tube and may be given to a child to administer fluids or medication. Once inserted into a vein, the needle is removed leaving just the soft tubing. Arterial lines may be used to closely monitor blood pressure and oxygen levels in the blood.

Medications

One of the reasons children may be admitted to the PICU is to monitor them when taking medications that are particularly strong or may have side effects. The medication may be given orally, in a pill or via other methods, such as an IV.

Monitors

A large part of the stress of the hospital environment is being attached to a lot of blinking, beeping machinery; but closely monitoring a child in the PICU is of the utmost importance.

  • Chest leads – Small sticky pads which connect to wires from the monitor and are used to measure heart and breathing rate
  • Pulse oximetry machine (pulse ox) – Attached to a finger, toe or for very small children, across a foot and used to measure oxygen levels in the blood. It is painless and non-invasive
  • Blood pressure cuff
  • EEG pad – Sticky pad is placed on the side of the patient’s head to measure brain activity

Tests

A child may need to undergo tests to determine more about their condition. All of these tests are painless and used solely to gather information and help with treatment.

  • X-rays
  • Ultrasounds
  • CAT scans
  • MRIs

The PICU at Halifax Health Medical Center is designed to offer the full gamut of care to its young patients, from physical, to emotional, to spiritual. Halifax Health employs top talent in specially trained nurses and specialty pediatricians, offering excellent counseling and support services for patients and families.

Speediatrics, the pediatrics unit at Halifax Health, was designed with the idea of caring for the whole child in mind. Brightly decorated with a racing theme, Speediatrics creates a cheerful and reassuring environment for children. The Daytona International Speedway is nearby the medical center, and NASCAR drivers often come to visit with young patients during Race Week and other events. There are displays of memorabilia from NASCAR cars and drivers, and the Speediatrics Wall of Fame has autographs from many famous visitors.

Halifax Health – Betty Jane France Center for Pediatrics was designed with the idea of caring for the whole family in mind. Brightly decorated with a NASCAR racing theme, Speediatrics creates a cheerful and reassuring environment for the children that are receiving care and for their families.

The Daytona International Speedway is located near the medical center, and NASCAR drivers often come to visit with young patients during Race Week and other events. There are displays of memorabilia from NASCAR drivers and cars, with autographs from the many famous visitors on the Speediatrics Wall of Fame. With the help of the NASCAR Foundation and community partners, we are able to create positive and memorable experiences for the children and families that come to Speediatrics.

The NASCAR theme is carried throughout all aspects of our 32-bed pediatric unit, even with the ceiling tiles that have the Speediatrics characters on them. First opened in 1999, it was newly renovated and reopened on November 10, 2010. Speediatrics cares for more than 2,000 children each year, including about 300 of those receiving care in the PICU. Speediatrics care extends to the Pediatric Emergency Department located in Halifax Health Medical Center’s Emergency Department, France Tower Ground Level and is also NASCAR-themed.

What can I expect in the Speediatrics Unit?

  • Highly experienced physicians and pediatric intensive care specialists are supported by a team of skilled nurses and staff
  • Sleep beds for parents in patient rooms
  • Teen Room with movies, video games and activities for older children
  • Kids Room with toys and activities for younger children
  • Parent Lounge
  • Iconic signature wall that includes autographs from drivers and other guests who have visited the unit
  • Betty Jane France Pediatric Resource Library consisting of a computer/printer with access to top pediatric medical books and publications
  • Laptop computers available to patients for use in their rooms with patient access to the Internet and email to communicate with their schools, families and friends

Meet Your Pediatrics Team

Pediatric Emergency Team

Dania Rumbak
MD, Medical Director of Pediatrics
Dania Rumbak
MD, Medical Director of Pediatrics

Dania Rumbak, MD, is a board-certified pediatric physician and is the Medical Director of Pediatrics, Halifax Health Pediatric Emergency Department.

Originally from South Africa, Dr. Rumbak grew up in Tampa. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and her medical degree from the University of South Florida. Dr. Rumbak completed her pediatrics residency and pediatric critical care fellowship at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx, NY.

She previously practiced pediatric medicine at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital at Columbia University and Hassenfield Children’s Hospital at New York University. Dr. Rumbak also served as Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of a healthcare start-up called Baby Doctor.

Dr. Rumbak is extremely excited to be at Halifax Health, and back in Florida. In her spare time, she loves exploring all that Central Florida has to offer with her husband and two boys.

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Scott Furer
MD
Scott Furer
MD

Scott Furer, MD, is a board-certified pediatric physician. He earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla. He completed his pediatric residency at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Dr. Furer has worked in a wide range of different settings throughout the county at specialized children’s hospitals, and in remote clinics in the Himalayas and Dominican Republic. He loves being a pediatrician and says it’s the best job in the world as there is nothing more rewarding than trying to help kids feel better.

Dr. Furer grew up in Florida and loves living near the water. He enjoys going to theme parks and sporting events, binging on Netflix, anything outdoors and bringing his Corgi puppy all around town.

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Lindsey Johnson
MD
Lindsey Johnson
MD

Lindsey Johnson, MD, is a board-certified physician in pediatrics, neurocritical care, clinical neurology, headache medicine and autoimmune disorders, and takes calls for pediatric stroke alerts. Originally from Altavista, Va., Dr. Johnson earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia, in Richmond, Va. He received his medical degree from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. He completed his residency in pediatrics at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, Va.

Dr. Johnson practiced general pediatrics for two years in Richmond, Va., before coming to Florida where he completed his fellowship in pediatric critical care at the University of Florida in Jacksonville, Fla. His training included trauma ICU, CVIVU and pediatric emergency medicine. He practiced pediatric critical care in Charleston, W.Va., and at Shands Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla., and pediatric emergency medicine at Wolfson Children’s Hospital, also in Jacksonville, Fla.

While at Shands Hospital, he began the first pediatric transport team in Jacksonville, personally riding on 99 transports. Dr. Johnson served as the medical director for the Halifax Health Pediatric Critical Care Unit from 2000 – 2018. During that time he accumulated a great diversity of experience with trauma and neurocritical care pediatric patients.

Dr. Johnson is excited to join the Halifax Health Pediatric Emergency Department and sees it as an opportunity to help pediatric patients in their hour of greatest need and have an impact on their long-term health.

In his spare time, Dr. Johnson’s hobbies include music, movies and learning foreign languages (he speaks Spanish, Portuguese and French). His greatest treasure is his wife, and their 11 children.

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Marie AntonyRajah
MD
Marie AntonyRajah
MD

Marie AntonyRajah, MD is a board-certified pediatrician. She graduated from John Carroll University in Ohio with a Bachelor's of Science degree before going o to Ross University School of Medicine. AntonyRajah completed residency in pediatrics at Wright State University, also in Ohio.

AntonyRajah has served as a pediatric emergency physician at various hospitals throughout Florida since becoming a doctor, including Nemours Children's Hospital in Orlando, Fla.  She has also shared her knowledge as a faculty member including at University of Central Florida College of Medicine.

 

 

 

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Pediatric Provider Team

Salman Ahmed
MD
Salman Ahmed
MD

Primary Location

200 Booth Rd., Ste A

Ormond Beach, FL 32174

Salman Ahmed, MD, FAAP graduated from Dow Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan in 1989. He completed his pediatric residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Amarillo and Lubbock, Texas. Afterward, he spent four years doing a fellowship in Pediatric Infectious Disease and Pediatric Rheumatology at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He is board-certified in General Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Disease. In addition to English, he speaks Urdu and is married with four children.

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Kristen Combs
MSN, CPNP-PC
Kristen Combs
MSN, CPNP-PC

Kristen Combs, MSN, CPNP-PC is a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She graduated from the University of South Florida in May 2015 and has a nursing background in Neonatal and Pediatric
Intensive Care. Prior to joining the team, Kristen worked at Nemours Children’s Hospital for the Interventional Radiology division, where they specialize in vascular anomalies.

She belongs to the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and is certified in Pediatric Advanced Life Support. In addition to caring for our littlest patients, her passion is to provide a comforting environment to both the child and their family. She was born in Pittsburg, Penn., but has resided in Florida since the age of six. She enjoys going to the beach with her family and attending concerts and dance functions with her daughter.

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Ellen Nicole Desimone
MSN, FNP-BC
Ellen Nicole Desimone
MSN, FNP-BC

Ellen Nicole Desimone graduated from University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.  She began her career as a Registered Nurse working at Halifax Health in the intensive care unit and emergency room/trauma. Desimone went on to earn her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of North Florida. Since then, her primary focus has been in pediatric primary care. In addition, she is a Florida State University adjunct faculty member teaching graduate-level Physician Assistant students the art of pediatric medicine. Desimone is a  Certified Lactation Counselor offering breastfeeding support to new moms and is a mother of three children herself. She loves the relationships she makes with families and children in our community through her work. 

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Andrew C. Halpern
MD
Andrew C. Halpern
MD

Education & Fellowship

University Medical School of Debrecen

Medical Education

Debrecen, USA

September 1987 – September 1994

Residency

Flushing Hospital Medical Center

Flushing, NY USA

July 1998 – June 2001

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Amy Kim
MD
Amy Kim
MD

Amy Kim, MD, graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Wheaton College in Illinois. She went on to earn her Doctor of Medicine from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio and completed her residency at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's residency program also in Cleveland, earning a global health certificate. During her formal education, Dr. Kim earned several awards, including the President's Award and a spot on the Wheaton College Dean's list. She has co-authored various medical publications, presented at lecture series and has medical research and teaching experience. Additionally, Dr. Kim has volunteered for numerous community organizations, from fundraisers to free clinics and teaching students about healthcare. In her free time, she enjoys baking, spending time in nature and playing board games with her siblings.

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Sarah Lower
DNP, FNP-C
Sarah Lower
DNP, FNP-C

Sarah Lower, APRN, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. Lower received her nursing degree from Daytona State College and went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at University of South Florida's College of Nursing. From there, she attended University of Florida earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice in its prestigious College of Nursing program.

During her career, Lower has worked in both office and hospital settings from family care and internal medicine to pediatric care, cardiology and palliative care. She has served as an intensive care nurse, cardiovascular intensive care nurse and cardiac procedure unit nurse. Additionally, she has volunteered at a rural clinic in Eastern Central Florida giving back to the community. 

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Holly Murch
MSN, FNP-BC
Holly Murch
MSN, FNP-BC

Holly Murch, APRN, has an extensive background in pediatric care having previously worked at a dedicated children’s hospital, a pediatric intermediate care unit (PICU), and a pediatric hematology/oncology
department at a teaching hospital. In addition to being a registered nurse, she is also a certified pediatric nurse and has received family nurse practitioner national certification from two separate nationally-recognized organizations. Holly received her Master of Science in
Nursing from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in St. Augustine, Fla.

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Darrah Shields
MD
Darrah Shields
MD

Darrah Shields, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician who graduated from Stetson University in DeLand, Fla., with a Bachelor of Science degree in Integrative Health Science. She earned her Doctor of Medicine degree at St. George's University School of Medicine in St. George's, Grenada, and went on to complete her residency with the University of South Alabama School of Medicine at the USA Children's and Women's Hospital. Dr. Shields has participated in various academic research programs and presentations and has been an active leader in formal programs throughout college and residency. Outside of the office, Dr. Shields enjoys golf, soccer, cycling, traveling and music.

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Contact Us

To schedule a pediatric appointment, give us a call at 386.425.KIDS or please click on the link below.